Chapter Thirty-Three
A Similar Path
“HA-KAW!”
The peacock cry shrills through the garden, and I have no doubts Amelia is there entertaining Carl and Roy. As I quickly move across the lush green grass, past all the summer flowers in beautiful bloom, I see she is indeed inside the aviary space that is dedicated to the peacocks, sitting on a bench and feeding them grapes.
She turns as she hears my footsteps on the path. Amelia immediately rises, and I feel my heart in my throat as I see the look of worry in her eyes. She gets up and opens the door to the aviary for me, and as soon as I step through, she takes a moment to shut it and lock it behind me.
“I think the last thing we need tonight is for Carl and Roy to escape and somehow get inside the house again,” she says with a gentle smile.
I allow myself to smile at that. “It’s the best-kept secret at Wintersmith Hall, their redecorating of our den.”
She moves to sit back down on the bench, and I take the spot beside her.
“Do you know what my first thought was when that happened?” she asks.
I shake my head.
“I was worried about how much I disappointed Nicholas,” she confesses. “That one of my plans went awry and he’d be so furious, he’d break up with me over it.”
I stare at her, genuinely taken aback. “What? Oh, Amelia, I hate that you even thought that for a second.”
“In my head—and my heart—I had just shown him I was incapable of producing a good idea. I had—with my brilliant idea of peacocks—showed him what little business sense I had. That I wasn’t cut out for estate work. I was afraid Nicholas would get sick of me sooner or later.”
I suck in a breath of air. Parts of this story sound exactly like some of the things I’ve felt in trying to figure out my own career path.
“But as you can see,” Amelia continues, “Nicholas didn’t feel that way. I will make mistakes, of course, but look at Carl and Roy now. They were the stars of the plant sale. They are getting their pictures tagged all over social media. When the new birds that Luke is getting have arrived and are acclimatised—and ready to be put on public display—we can really hammer home the idea that Wintersmith Hall’s aviary alone is something worth buying a garden ticket for.”
I remain silent, waiting to see where she is going with this.
“I stayed in London after graduating from uni not because I wanted to, but because I was expected to,” Amelia says quietly. She picks up a grape from the bag and throws it to Carl. “Sorry, he was giving me a scary side-eye for falling down on the snacks. Anyway, my mum saw a different future for me. Being in London, doing charity work, being a patron, going to galas, and continuing the legacy of being a Westbrook woman. She is the Duchess of Bridgewall and loves living in that way. But I never wanted that life. I just wasn’t bold enough to go against her wishes and try to pursue my dream.”
I furrow my brow. “But you came to me with your bridal ideas. What made you change your mind?”
“I saw what Liz and Bella have done,” she says. “And it hit me. If they could be bold, why couldn’t I? At that time, I thought my future was in bridal fashion. I’ve always had a knack for clothes, and I love bridal wear, so why not pursue that? My dad shot down every idea of things I wanted to do at Swallowhedge, and that’s when I came to you. But something happened when Nicholas asked me to learn estate management first. I completely fell in love with it. So much so that I no longer want to run a bridal boutique. And when my parents heard about that? They called me a flake. And I was sure your brother would think I was just that, too.”
I gasp. I feel her words straight to my core, and I can’t believe how similar our paths are right now. “You understand,” I say, my voice thick.
“I do. You’re not a flake, Violet,” she says, squeezing my hand. “You were trying to figure out your life, and sometimes we take a bit to do that. Not everyone is like Nicholas and Noah and know exactly what they want to do and go after it. Liz is like that, too. But Bella had to find herself. Just like we did.”
I nod, finding some comfort in her words.
“Now here’s how I think I can help you,” Amelia says. “I can’t guarantee anything, and I can’t say anything would happen right away, but I think it’s worth trying.”
I try not to be too hopeful from her words. “What are you thinking?”
“My mum is very connected in the London art scene,” Amelia says. “You want the life she wanted me to live. You want London, and you want to work in the arts. You might allow her to fulfil some of the dreams she had for me by helping you.”
“But how? My CV is rubbish on the experience side.”
Amelia grins at me. “Violet. The world of connections is very strong when you have a powerful, wealthy patron expressing her interests. Even more so when she’s got deep aristocratic roots. What I would like to do is explain your situation to Mum. Give her your CV and your proposed art projects. Let’s see what she can do. I think she’d be thrilled to play a role in getting you settled in London. And I think she’d be happy if you’d just go to some lunches with her or attend some charity events in return.”
I bite my lip. “Do you think she would really do it?”
“I think she would. It’s what she wants to do, I’m just not going to fill that role in her life. I want to throw grapes at peacocks and record leaks. But you? You’re a young person she can help, and I think that would make her happy. And making Mum happy will make me very happy.”
I squeeze her hand in gratitude and swallow hard before speaking. “I promise you, I will not let her down if she helps me land a position. I will not flake out, I swear to you I won’t. I would never do that to her, or to you, and I want you to know you have my word on that.”
Amelia smiles at me. “I know you won’t.”
I’m so overwhelmed with hope and gratitude that I hug her. “I know nothing is guaranteed, but this at least gives me hope whilst I try to work something out.”
She hugs me back, and then moves out of the embrace. “I have a good feeling about this. Mum has been dying for a protégée for years. It’s a win-win for both of us.”
“Did Nicholas fight with Mum and Dad after I left?” I ask.
Amelia nods. “Oh, yep, he let them have it.”
“I knew he would, and I hate that he did it. I don’t want him to be dragged into this.”
“You know your twin. He’s ferocious about protecting you.”
“I lucked out in the twin department. But I know you and Harry are close,” I say, referring to her older brother.
“Yes, we are,” Amelia says. “And Harry is another example. He ran off to South Africa to sort himself out. He’s going to come back, but he has a lot of growing to do. I think we all do in our own ways, you know?”
Suddenly I get sight of my brother coming up the garden path. “Looks like Nicholas is finished arguing with my parents,” I say, frowning.
Amelia looks up. “He doesn’t know what I’ve offered to do with Mum, but you can tell him. We have no secrets between each other.” She rises. “But I think you two need some time alone. I’m going to head home anyway.”
I give her one more hug before I leave. “I can never thank you enough for trying to help me.”
“No thanks necessary. It’s what friends do. Just like what you did for me, and we weren’t even friends yet.”
I once again think of that moment when Amelia was brave enough to seek her future by asking me for a meeting.
It turns out her bravery changed both our lives.
Nicholas comes to the aviary door, and Amelia rises to unlock it and let him in. “I’m just about to head home,” she says, winding her arms around him. “I’ll message you later. You and Violet have a lot to talk about.”
My brother drops a quick kiss on her lips. “Love you.”
I smile at that.
“Love you too.”
Amelia walks out the door, waving goodbye as she does, and then Nicholas joins me on the bench.
“Don’t you need to lock the door?” I ask.
Nicholas grins. “Amelia is a bit paranoid about that door not being firmly shut, but I’m not.”
“Well, after that painting disaster in the den, I don’t blame her,” I say, smiling at the memory.
“Now that it’s in the rearview mirror, it’s hilarious to think about.”
“It is,” I say. “By the way, if you don’t know it already, you have a fantastic girlfriend. If you don’t marry her one day, I might have to disown you as my brother.”
Nicholas quirks a brow at that, and I continue. “She’s going out on a big limb to help me, and I want to reassure her I won’t let her down. I won’t. No flittering, I swear to you.”
His forehead wrinkles in confusion. “Vi, what are you talking about?”
“She’s going to her mother for help,” I explain. “She’s going to take my plans and my CV, and she’s hoping with her mother’s connections to the art world in London, she might be able to get my foot in the door for some interviews.”
Nicholas’s face nearly lights up. “That’s my girl,” he says proudly. “She’s got such a huge heart for people she cares about.”
“She does. That’s why you need to marry her,” I tease.
“Don’t worry. I’m going to.”
I grin. From the look on his face, I know it’s true.
But I grow serious once again. “I swear to you, Nicholas, I know she’s taking a risk asking her mum to help me. I promise you, I will not, in any way, flake on her if she helps me. No jumping to another job shortly after being hired. I’ll be committed and work hard and make Amelia’s mum proud.”
Nicholas is quiet for a moment.
“What?” I ask.
“I’m so sorry I ever played a part in putting that into your head,” he says, his voice steeped with regret. “I did call you a butterfly and used the word ‘flittering,’ and if I had only known the damage it di—”
“Stop,” I say, interrupting him. “You knew I had fears behind my reasons. But how were you to know how I was processing those words? There’s no way you could.”
“I should have, I’m your twin.”
“Yes, but you aren’t a mind reader. I don’t want you to say another word about it. You’re my brother and I love you, okay?”
“I love you, too.”
“So how much did you argue with Mum and Dad? Are they madder than they are about you getting the peacocks as a new morning alarm?”
Nicholas chuckles at that. “We argued, I was told to mind my place, and no, they still are angrier about me getting Carl and Roy than anything I said in defence of you.”
“Well, good, we’re already getting back to normal.” I tease.
He smiles wryly at that. “But are you okay? I know what Dad said hurt, Violet.”
I pause for a moment. “I won’t lie to you, it was gutting to hear those words from Dad. And Mum. But I’m just going to have to prove them wrong, that’s all. The old Violet would have slunk away to the gift shop. The new Violet is going to look for an opportunity to build a career. I know I’ll make mistakes. But I understand now how that makes me a human being.”
“I’m so proud of you. I really am, Vi.”
“That means a lot to me,” I say quietly. “Thank you.”
Nicholas rises. “I’m going to head back in. Are you coming?”
“I think I’m going to stay here and get some sage counsel from Carl and Roy,” I joke.
“Well, I know they have ideas on grapes and interior decor—not sure how helpful they’ll be on the CV.”
I grin and Nicholas walks out, locking the door before he leaves. I pick up the bag of grapes and throw one to Carl, but then Roy lets me have it with a big squawk and I quickly throw one to him, too.
At least I have something now. I have a feeling Amelia’s mother will try to help me. I can still send out cover letters and CVs to places around Dorset, seeking positions that will get me further experience.
I still have to tell Noah what happened, and I know he’s going to be disappointed on my behalf. This will most likely delay our plans to be closer together, and he’ll hate that as much as I do. But I know he’ll be positive and hopeful that perhaps Amelia’s mum can help get my CV in front of the right people at least.
And if anyone can understand what it’s like to have family letting them down, it’s Noah.
* * *
“This is pissing me off, Violet,” Noah says angrily over the phone. “How dare they say those things to you.”
I grimace. Obviously, I miscalculated not only how protective he is of my feelings, but how angry he would get at the idea of my parents not supporting me.
I’m talking to him at six in the morning my time, one o’clock his time, and he’s getting all wound up before his game tonight, which is the last thing I wanted.
“Let’s just focus on the fact that Amelia thinks her mum can help me,” I say, trying to redirect him.
“But I don’t understand how they can say this after seeing what you did for me,” Noah says, not letting the subject drop. “You came to Australia to give me the support I never had. That says so much about commitment and character, and for them to not see that I—”
“I didn’t tell them why I went,” I interrupt softly.
“What? What do you mean?”
I pause before speaking, gathering my thoughts. “Noah, I only told them I went to watch you play. Not why. Because that is your story to tell, not mine. So to be fair, they just thought I was dropping everything on a whim to go to Australia with no good reason.”
I hear a painful exhale on the other end of the line, then silence.
“Oh, Violet,” he finally says, his voice thick. “You don’t have to protect me like that.”
“No, I do. It’s none of their business to know my reasoning behind that trip,” I say firmly. “That was my business and yours. It’s not their right to know the why. Now we’re going to move forward, and I don’t want you looking back on this. I want you to think about your match today and think about coming home to me this weekend. I’m still meeting you in Surrey on Friday after I finish my shift, and I don’t want to come home to a salty Daddy Darby.”
I was hoping to hear him laugh, but I don’t. “I’m not finished with this,” Noah says firmly.
“You’re being too protective of me,” I inform him.
“That’s my job. I love you.”
“I know you do, and I love you, too.”
“I’ll drop this—but just for now, Violet.”
I shift the topic away from my parents, and we talk a bit more before Noah has to go. I tell him to have a great match and remind him of how excited I am to see him on Friday.
We hang up, and I set my phone on my bedside table, furrowing my brow as I replay his words in my head.
I’ll drop this—but just for now Violet.
I sigh. I have a feeling when we’re face to face on Friday, this topic will be brought up again, and Noah is going to be just as upset about it as he is right now.
But we’ll move past it and move forward—and hopefully, with the help of Amelia’s mum, I’ll be moving to London at some point and starting my career.
And that’s what I’m going to focus on.