Chapter 23
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
“And tell me, what sort of pet would you like?” Deborah asked, “If you could have any animal in the world, what would it be?”
From his view by the open French doors that led to the patio, Cedric smiled as he listened to the conversation between Deborah and Adeline as they took their afternoon tea outside.
A fondness of sorts had settled into his chest every time he saw them together, which in the last couple of weeks had been often.
Deborah’s expulsion of truth had been eye-opening for him.
He had always thought that he was not a part of the problem because he made a jest of it.
However, what she had said had struck him deep.
Just because he was not paying for women’s company did not mean he had not taken something from them when such company was offered.
It had him taking inventory of himself in the last few days, causing him to put off his usual responsibilities to either think, spend time with, or watch Deborah.
It was through this that he truly began to see how much she could do despite the rage and sadness he knew burned within her.
He watched presently as Adeline tapped her chin and looked toward the clouds in the bright blue sky. Deborah’s grin grew wider as she too watched Adeline, and his heart swelled.
“I believe I should like to have a wolf,” Adeline said at last.
Both Cedric's and Deborah’s brows flew up at her answer.
“A wolf?” Deborah asked, leaning toward Adeline. “How exciting! What color would it be? A boy or a girl? What would you name it?”
Cedric laughed, giving himself away, and the two young ladies turned their heads quickly toward them. Adeline’s smile was wide and instant, while Deborah’s was slow and- God help him- almost sultry as he stepped out onto the patio to join them.
“What is so amusing?” Deborah asked, her soft voice laced with sass as she watched him come closer.
“Well, I believe most people would ask why a wolf, but you seemed to accept the answer quite readily. It makes me wonder what sort of fantasy pet you dream of,” he answered, pulling out a chair to join them.
He leaned toward her, pretending to brush a stray hair out of her face as he whispered, “I do hope it is me. I could be a very good boy and lick anywhere you would like.”
Satisfaction surged through him as Deborah instantly flushed bright red and snapped her fan open to hide the assailing color.
“What are you whispering about?” Adeline asked from across the table.
“Nothing,” Cedric and Deborah replied in rapid unison.
“I want to hear your answers to Deborah’s questions,” Cedric said, shifting the topic back to Adeline as he settled back into his chair and laced his fingers together, “Go on.”
“Well, I should like a boy wolf, I think,” Adeline told them readily, “A very big wolf, with black fur with streaks of silver in it, and golden eyes! I would name him Shadow, because I would train him to always follow me.”
“That sounds a bit frightening,” Cedric mused, swiping Deborah’s teacup to take a sip.
“Not at all,” Adeline quickly replied with a shrug, “You follow Aunt Deborah around all the time, and you are not frightening at all anymore.”
Cedric sputtered on the tea as Deborah let out a snorting laugh. It was true that ever since his decree that they not be away from one another, he had practically attached himself to the woman’s side for as many hours of the day as possible. However, he had not realized that Adeline had noticed.
“I beg your pardon, I certainly can be frightening when I want to be,” he replied, faking offense as he dabbed at the fresh tea stains on his shirt.
“Maybe,” Adeline answered with a grin, “But you are not when it comes to Aunt Deborah and I.”
Cedric chuckled.
“Well, that may be true,” he conceded, then let Adeline take over the conversation.
She asked both of them what animal they would want as a pet and why.
He had chosen a wolf as well, as he’d always been fascinated by the lore of the majestic creatures.
When it was Deborah’s turn, she pretended to ponder for a long moment before she grinned and replied, “I believe I should like one of those little monkeys.”
Cedric chuckled as Adeline burst into a fit of giggles, and his heart ebbed with joy as he watched Deborah smile sheepishly.
Time became lost to all three of them as one topic of conversation led to another.
They finished their tea, then, a few hours later, had supper together on the patio as the warm summer sun began to sink and cool the air.
Then they walked through their garden as a family; Adeline leading the way as she rambled excitedly about the type of flowers she’d seen at the conservatory and how she wanted to start growing some of her own, both there and at their estate in Calder.
Cedric listened intently to all she had to say and had barely noticed that he had reached for and held Deborah’s hand through the entire walk.
When he did notice, he startled for the briefest of moments.
He’d never strolled hand in hand with a woman before, and it took him aback that it felt so natural and calming.
However, he quickly got over it and leaned into the peace of the evening.
As the sky began to shift to purple and light gray, Adeline paused her excited chatter to yawn. Barely a moment later, she yawned again and began to rub her eyes.
“Someone is sleepy,” Deborah mused, giving Adeline a soft smile.
Adeline pouted.
“I am not sl-” Her words were cut off by another long, drawn-out yawn that had Adeline stretching up on her toes. When she finished, she let out a sad sigh and drooped her shoulders. “Maybe I am a little sleepy,” she murmured.
“Mhmm,” Deborah hummed, pulling her hand out of Cedric’s so she could place both on Adeline’s shoulders and give her a gentle squeeze. “Come, little lamb. Let us get you ready for bed.”
Cedric noticed the emptiness of his hand at once; he immediately missed the warmth that had radiated from Deborah’s palm. He flexed his fingers, trying to make the sense of yearning go away, but it did not work, so he fisted his hand and drove it into his pocket.
“Goodnight, Uncle,” Adeline said, pulling him from his thoughts.
“Goodnight, darling,” Cedric replied, opening up his other arm to embrace her.
Their familiarity with one another had grown quite a bit thanks to Deborah, and now, as Adeline kissed his cheek, he in turn brushed one against hers as if it were something he’d always done.
“Sleep well,” he told her as she pulled away.
Adeline nodded and started walking toward the house. Deborah moved to follow her, but as she stepped away, he gently caught her wrist. His heart fluttered as her vivid green eyes met his, and she smiled.
“Do you have any plans tonight?” He asked, nodding toward his niece, “After putting Adeline to bed I mean.”
Cedric reveled in the way her cheeks flushed pink, and she bashfully lowered her eyes.
“I had no particular schedule,” she answered, her voice soft and sweet.
“Would you come to my quarters after she put to bed? Share a drink with me?” He asked, wanting the decision to be entirely hers.
It was a bold question, and he knew it. While they had expressed their desires in the parlor twice and in the carriage once, he understood that inviting her to his private rooms was a step above those places.
He waited, holding his breath and trying not to panic as doubt flittered through Deborah’s eyes.
“I suppose a glass of red wine would be lovely,” she said after a moment as she offered him an apologetic smile. “However, I must warn you, I am not sure how good a conversation partner I might be. Adeline has me quite worn out from that.”
Cedric chuckled, hope blooming in his chest.
“I understand. However, we do not have to talk if you do not want to. We can simply share a drink and comforting silence,” he offered.
He smirked but quickly added, “Not that I do not enjoy conversing with Adeline, but sometimes keeping up with the various shifts in topics requires quite an effort.”
To his relief, Deborah let out a soft laugh as her smile widened.
“That sounds lovely,” Deborah agreed, shifting her hand so she could give him a squeeze. He practically preened at the touch.
“Allow me to get her settled,” she said as her hand drifted away from him, “And I shall see you anon.”