Chapter 16
SIXTEEN
Holly slept soundly for the better part of the night. Only occasionally did she murmur incoherently and become agitated. On these occasions, I held her tight and whispered reassuringly.
“Everything’s all right, Holly. I’m right here and I’m not going anywhere. You’re home, and everything’s going to be fine now.”
I slept lightly, always attentive to her cries. By the time the sun began to light the sky, I was exhausted, but eager to start the day.
I sat up and looked at her.
“How are you feeling this morning?” I said when she opened her eyes.
“Susan,” she whispered hoarsely.
“Yes. I’m here.”
But she had nothing more to say.
“Are you feeling all right? Are you hungry?”
She closed her eyes.
“Holly, please talk to me.”
She turned her head to look at the far wall.
“I’m worried about you. You were found in the cold and rain.” I touched her brow, happy to find it cool. Physically she appeared all right. It was her emotional state that worried me.
She shifted over to her side and turned her back to me.
“All right.” I patted her shoulder. “Rest. I’ll go have breakfast. Maybe I’ll bring you a little something? Maybe coffee?”
She shrugged but said nothing.
I got out of bed and prepared for the day. Once dressed, I headed out to go find my mother.
What should I tell her? I hadn’t told her anything about Holly the night before. I hadn’t said anything about my search for her. There was no point worrying her. But now... I had to tell her something.
I reached her door and knocked.
“Mother?”
I heard strange shuffling sounds through the door.
“Oh!” Mother cried out. “Just a second. I’ll be right there. Hang on. I’m coming. Just a second.”
I pressed my ear to the door, confused by the odd sounds and my mother’s reaction. “Mother, are you okay in there?”
“Fine. Fine, dear. I’m...” She opened the door and looked up at me from her wheelchair, an awkward grin on her face.
“You’re hiding something, Mother. What is it?”
Under different circumstances, her girlish smile would have amused me.
“Oh, dear. I was just working on that surprise I’m preparing for you. Just a few things to put away.”
I pressed a concerned smile. She was in such a good mood, so happy. I couldn’t bear the thought of ruining it.
“When are you going to show me this surprise of yours, Mother?”
“When I’m good and ready. Now, let’s go have breakfast. I’m famished, and the waffles here are extraordinary. Oh, no offense, dear. Your waffles are delicious, too, but...”
“That’s fine, Mother. No offense taken. I’m not particularly fond of my waffles myself, but...”
“But what, dear?”
“Could we go sit in your room a moment?”
She frowned. “What is it?” And just like that, all the happiness in her face disappeared. “That look. I know that look. Oh, Susan, what is it?”
I edged my way into her room as she wheeled around to face me.
“Susan, you’re scaring me. What’s wrong?”
I sat down on the edge of her bed and forced a smile to try to lighten the situation. “It’s nothing scary, Mother, I assure you. It’s just a serious matter that I want to discuss with you.”
She reluctantly wheeled her way to me and sat still, waiting.
“I’ve discovered that Holly has been seeing one of the actors here.”
“Yes. Damen, right? I know. Oh, she does appear to be quite smitten.”
“Right. Well, Damen had a movie premier in London and Holly decided to go meet him there yesterday.”
“Oh, how nice for them. London really is lovely this time of year. Oh no, but dear... It rained a good part of the day yesterday. Did she have a good time all the same?”
“No, Mother. I’m afraid she didn’t. You see, she didn’t go to London with Damen. She went out there to surprise him.”
“Oh,” she said, her smile fading.
“Yes, and as it turns out, it is Holly who got a nasty surprise.”
“He was with another woman,” she said with a grimace. “Oh, that scoundrel!”
I let out a surprised snort. Mother was a little more worldly than I’d thought. “That’s precisely what happened.”
“Poor dear. Is she all right?”
“Mother, she’s devastated. Major Cooper brought her home last night. She’d gotten caught in the rain, she was cold, but most of all she was just... She’s heartbroken.”
“Major Cooper? Wait a minute...”
I shook my head, not wanting to get into a long-winded explanation. “He happened to be in London, he bumped into her, and he brought her home.”
“Oh, what a gentleman he is. Truly a gentleman.”
I hesitated before going on. This was already so much for her to digest.
“I have no doubt that Damen will be returning to Moon Manor soon,” I finally said.
At first, she looked at me, waiting for me to go on. But her eyes widened as she realized what I was truly saying. “Oh, poor girl. My dear, dear Holly. She’s going to have to face him. Oh, to have such treachery thrown in your face at every turn. It’ll be unbearable.”
I nodded in agreement.
She looked down at her hands. “I feel so helpless. She’s my little girl and there’s nothing I can do for her.” She looked up at me. “I want to go see her.”
I nodded. “Yes, but before you go, I have a possible solution that I want to share with you.”
“All right. What is it?”
“I think Holly needs to leave Moon Manor. You’ll see for yourself when you go see her. She is in such a sorrowful state that I’m sure you’ll agree.”
“We have nowhere to go, Susan. Besides, your work is here. Her work is here.”
“Not us, Mother. Just Holly. I spoke with Major Cooper last night after I put Holly to bed. He offered to allow her to stay at his London townhouse. He’s not using it while he is here in Derbyshire.”
She sat silently looking at her hands.
“Mother?”
“I hate the thought of her so far away and alone.”
“I know. Me, too. Of course, on her first day there, I can stay with her, just to get her settled. And Major Cooper will also be checking in on her regularly.”
She remained silent.
“I really think it’s the best option, Mother.”
She finally nodded. “All right,” she whispered, clearly choked up by the situation. “Now, let me go see her.”
*****
WHILE MOTHER SAT WITH Holly, I went in search of Keely and Ayra. How was I going to tell them what their main star had done to their musical talent?
“He did what?” Ayra said on hearing the story. “The... the bastard. How could he be so cold?”
Keely remained silent, but her tight jaw and pressed lips told of her disappointment.
“I’d begun to suspect there was something going on between the two of them.
I’m sorry, Susan. I should have said something.
I don’t know Damen all that well, but I certainly didn’t take him for the monogamous type. ”
“No need to apologize. I’d begun to suspect the same but said nothing. None of us are responsible for the ill-fated romance of these two. They’re adults after all.”
“And you think the best thing for Holly now is to leave Moon Manor?” Keely said.
“I don’t see how she’s going to get any work done here. Major Cooper has offered his London townhouse, and he’s prepared to supply Holly with whatever she may need to continue her work. He already has a piano, so that’s a good start.”
“I think this might be the perfect situation,” Ayra said. “I’d noticed how she was too distracted here at Moon Manor. Possibly by Damen, but also by all the activity around here. Being alone in a London townhouse will surely be good for her... inspirational.”
*****
“WHERE AM I GOING?” Holly said, her eyes still red from endless crying.
She’d spent a few hours in a silent daze. Despite Mother’s multiple attempts to get her to talk, she’d remained mute.
When she finally shook off the shock, she burst into tears. “How can I be so stupid? What sort of idiot he must take me for?” She looked at me, tears flowing. “How am I going to face him? He ridiculed me. He humiliated me. Oh, Susan...”
“And that’s precisely why you should leave Moon Manor. You’ll be staying at Major Cooper’s townhouse, and you’ll have all the peace and quiet that you need.”
She nodded then reached for a tissue to loudly blow her nose.
I helped her pack. She initially wanted to bring only a few things, but in the end, we packed everything she’d brought from Selma Sanctuary.
“I doubt I’ll be coming back to Moon Manor any time soon,” she said.
“Come on,” I said with everything ready to go. “I’ll have someone bring this all down. Major Cooper is already waiting for us.”
*****
MAJOR COOPER’S TOWNHOUSE was spectacular, but it still wasn’t enough to make Holly smile. The beautiful art on the walls didn’t interest her, nor did the modern furniture. Not even the gorgeous grand piano.
“She’ll be sleeping in the master bedroom,” Major Cooper said. “The entire house is hers.”
I nodded. “It’s very generous of you.”
I guided Holly to the bedroom. It was large and airy, and Major Cooper had even gone to the trouble of having fresh flowers brought in.
Still, Holly went directly to the bed and laid down.
I turned to Major Cooper. “She still needs a bit of time.”
He nodded as we left her alone in the room.
“If it’s all right with you, I’ll stay with her tonight,” I said.
“Stay as long as you want.” He made his way to the front door. “Oh. If you think it might give Holly a bit of motivation to work on her music, I was thinking of arranging a performance of sorts at the Theatre Royal.”
“What do you mean?”
He shrugged. “Just a display of her music to a small public. No pressure.”
“I see. I’ll mention it to her. I’m sure the idea will intrigue her once she gets over this emotional hump.”
“Good.” He set his hand on the doorknob, seemingly reluctant to leave. “I’ll be passing by to check in on her every once in a while.”
“I appreciate that.”
He opened the door and walked out. A weight lifted from my shoulders, and I couldn’t help but smile.
Major Cooper was so thoughtful, so attentive and kind. I knew it was a great honor for Holly to get a special performance at a grand venue like the Theatre Royal. Major Cooper was incredibly kind and generous. Handsome, a good temperament, and a sound mind.
Holly was in good hands.