Chapter 17
Seventeen
Rhys walked through the back garden of the estate late that afternoon for two reasons.
The first reason, and the one that he would give should anyone ask, was because he needed the fresh air.
He had been cooped up in his office all day, and with the sun just now beginning its descent towards the horizon, with the air cool and crisp, and the time perfect for a leisurely stroll without the fear of sweating, why not take advantage?
Yes, a perfectly acceptable reason…
The second reason was one that he preferred not to consider too closely, even if he knew deep down that it had influenced his decision far more than the previous reason.
It was at this time, every single day, when Violet and Lucy would stroll together through the garden and towards the border of the estate.
Right now, he could see them across the way, beyond the hedges that made the garden’s fence, walking hand in hand as they crossed the green fields and enjoyed the beauty that was the setting sun.
Even at a distance, Rhys heard Lucy’s laughter, as he heard Violet’s. The little girl had certainly grown much these past few weeks, coming into herself in a way that he might have once thought impossible.
Rhys did not join them on their walk, nor did he intend to. While he was steadily growing closer to Lucy, rather enjoying the moments they spent together, he did not want to interrupt her and Violet’s time together. Really, he just liked to watch, to know that they were happy.
What was more, that they were happy made him happy.
Might he be happier if he joined them? Might he be happier if they welcomed his company?
Likely they would, but Rhys hesitated at such a notion…
and the reason for that was one that he refused to pause on, to think about at all, or risk it seeping into his consciousness for the fear that it might take hold and become real.
I merely wish for them to have time alone. That is all…
“It is a rather lovely view, do you not think?” The voice came from behind Rhys, and he started in surprise.
“Oh, yes. Very lovely,” he said awkwardly as he turned from watching Violet and Lucy. “A gorgeous sunset.”
It was Miss Beaumont who had spoken. She stood just a few feet down the path, her hands folded behind her back, and a rather coy smile on her face that was just a little wicked and far too amused for Rhys’ liking.
He’d had little to do with Rose since she had moved into his home. That was not to say that he avoided her, and he did not think that she was avoiding him. It was merely that they had no real reason to spend time together.
And while Rhys might have liked to have assumed that she was intimidated by him, as so many were, the look she gave him quickly dismissed such a notion.
“I was not speaking of the sunset,” Rose said.
Rhys was careful to maintain a neutral expression, not wanting Rose to see that she had caught him in the act. While she could make all the implications that she wanted to, it meant nothing to him and did not prove anything.
“How are you settling in, Miss Beaumont? I have not had a chance to—”
“Rose,” she cut him off, sure to smile as she did. “Please, call me Rose. I think you will find it rolls better off the tongue.”
“Rose, then,” he said. “As I was saying, how are you settling in? I have not had the chance to ask you. I hope you have been made comfortable?”
“Oh yes, very much…” Still with her hands behind her back, she sidled up next to him, and where he resisted the urge to look across the way at Violet and Lucy, she watched them obviously.
“And as you have not checked on me, I do not believe I have thanked you, which is an err I ought to correct.” She looked at him.
“Thank you, Your Grace. For everything.”
“Think nothing of it. Violet insisted, and I was happy to oblige. Truly, I am glad that you are here, and I know that Violet is.”
“Oh, she is that,” Rose said. “I do not think I have ever seen her so happy. So, again, thank you.”
“It is not my doing…” Rhys resisted the urge to gaze across at Violet, focusing instead on Rose. “Lucy is who you ought to thank.” A soft smile at the thought. “They are good together.”
“They are,” she agreed.
She said nothing for a moment, happy to go back to watching Violet and Lucy walking across the field together.
But as she watched them, she held onto that wry smile, and Rhys sensed that Rose was far from making her point.
She had not approached him so they could exchange pleasantries, and he braced himself for whatever it was that she wished to speak of.
“It is a rare thing to see Violet so happy,” she continued after a few moments of silence.
“In truth, I had worried for a time that my sister had forgotten how.” She laughed and shook her head.
“I know that might seem strange to some, but happiness is not guaranteed in life, and there are those who do not think that they even deserve it.”
Rhys said nothing, but he wondered if Rose was speaking about Violet or him.
“Violet has spent so much time worrying about other people’s happiness that she has ignored her own,” Rose continued. “More than that, she does not think that she deserves to be happy. As if it can wait until all the world’s problems are solved.”
“She seems happy now,” Rhys said as if in defense.
Rose smiled gently. “I worry it will not last. You see, Violet has spent her life helping other people, a conviction that has caused her to refuse when others wish to offer her help. She does not know how to accept help, she thinks of it as a weakness, and I worry that if this little moment here passes…” She exhaled and dropped her shoulders.
“I worry that if something happens, she will ignore it, or she will refuse to admit it exists, rather than asking for help.”
“If something happens?” Rhys frowned. “What could possibly happen?”
Rose shrugged. “Hopefully, nothing. Who knows, perhaps this scene right here…” She indicated with a flick of her head towards Violet and Lucy; the little girl’s laughter drifted across the garden. “Maybe it will last forever. Obviously, I hope it will.”
Rhys’ brow furrowed as he considered what Rose was really saying.
Yes, these last few weeks had been easy, and as close to being happy as he could remember, but that did not mean it would last forever.
And, with Rhys being who he was, that darkness inside of him that he wished did not exist but knew to be lurking deep down, there was a very good chance that he would do something to ruin it all.
In fact, if my past is any indication, it is a near certainty.
And when that moment came, it would shatter this reality into pieces, breaking apart the illusion and destroying not just Violet’s tranquil little world but Lucy’s as well.
Worse still, Violet would be so determined to deny that things were falling apart, that she would say nothing. And then, slowly and surely, things would spiral until the worst happened.
Perhaps it was a bleak way to look at the world? But again, Rhys had experienced such a thing already, and while he could do little about his own misery and self-doubt, that did not have to be the case for Violet.
“Is this the part where you give me some advice?” he asked Rose.
She turned and raised an eyebrow at him. “Whatever do you mean?”
He sighed. “I get the sense that you did not come to see me so that you might lament your sister’s passing happiness. You came to advise me on how I might ensure that it continues.” He raised an eyebrow of his own.
Rose grinned. “You need to earn her trust, but you cannot make it obvious that you are doing so. Ironically, any efforts to earn her trust will be seen as false gestures.”
“That sounds like a paradox.”
“Oh, I am aware,” she laughed. “My sister is a complex creature. What she appreciates, and what she will notice most of all, are small gestures. Moments that to many might seem insignificant but to her will speak volumes.”
“Such as?”
“I will leave that up to you, Your Grace. Affection is most often found in moments where it is unexpected. Not pursued but stumbled upon. Do not force trust on her, but let it come naturally. That is how Violet will come to see you as someone whom she not only trusts, but someone whom she believes wants to help her.”
“And what of you?” he said. “If you care so much about her, ought you not to be helping her?”
“Why do you think I am speaking to you?”
Rhys exhaled sharply from his nose, acknowledging her point. She saw him do it, nodded once, and turned to watch Violet and Lucy as they slowly made their way back toward the garden. Lucy saw them both watching, and she waved eagerly.
“Why are you so certain that I even care?” Rhys asked her next, knowing the answer, but wanting to hear it said anyway. “For all you know, I care not about Violet and how she feels. As I have said many times, Lucy is who matters to me.”
“Perhaps I am optimistic,” Rose said. “Or perhaps I am not nearly as stubborn as both of you. You and Violet are the same, you know.”
“How so?”
She laughed and shook her head as if the answer was so obvious.
“Just the way that you would deny the existence of the sun in the sky, even as it burns your skin. And for no other reason than you think you have some point to make or what have you. I see things, Your Grace…” She paused, watching the other two walking closer, and smiled.
“A good thing too, because someone around here needs to do so.”
Rhys said nothing.
There could be no doubt about Rose’s true intentions for speaking with him. Yes, her sister’s happiness was a part of it, but it ran much deeper than that. She had clearly spent the last few weeks watching them and, in so doing, had come to conclusions that Rhys was not nearly willing to admit.
But what of Violet? Has she said something to Rose? Is that why…
Rhys pushed that question down. Even now, he still refused to acknowledge the suggestion that he felt more for Violet than someone whom he was glad to have in his home for Lucy’s wellbeing.
And still, he was convinced that this was for the best. Rose wanted her sister to be happy.
Better that she have as little to do with Rhys as possible.
“Thank you, Rose,” he said. “I am glad we had this talk.”
“As am I.” She then waved at Violet and Lucy, and took a step towards them, but turned to look at Rhys. “Will you come and see them? I know they will appreciate it.”
He wanted to… but he resisted that urge, lying to himself once again; the false belief that they were better off without him interrupting.
“No, I have work to be getting back to.” He took a step back. “But give them my best.”
“I will, Your Grace. Believe me when I say that.” She looked at him knowingly before turning and hurrying down the garden path.
Rhys watched for a moment as Lucy sprinted ahead, arms held wide for Rose to hug her.
He then looked further down the path; his gaze found Violet, and she watched him standing there.
A shared smile was all he allowed—an acknowledgement that he saw her before he turned and walked back toward the manor.
Rhys might never be truly happy, but if Violet was, and if Lucy was, then that would be enough.