Unlovable… Eden
CHAPTER 21
Eden sat in her dressing gown, staring out of her window all the rest of that day. She didn’t stir when her lady’s maid came to alert her that the duchess had returned from her charity meeting and was demanding Eden’s attendance. Nor did she bat an eye when her lady’s maid came back again pleading with her to go to the duchess.
When her mother came into her room, she was in a towering rage. She advanced on Eden, grabbing her arm and shaking her furiously.
“Who do you think you are, Eden Norfolk, to ignore me?”
Eden did not respond, not even meeting her gaze.
This only further infuriated the duchess, “I will not have you disrespect me like this. You are being a baby about this Phillip Randall situation, and I will not have it. Did you think I would not hear that he called here today?”
The duchess’ hand was bruising in her grasp, “Did you think I would not hear that you met with him alone?”
Her eyes were wild with accusations, “What kind of whore meets with a man like that?”
For the first time since her mother had entered the room, Eden glanced up to look at her mother, “Apparently, your daughter.”
The duchess gasped in sheer outrage, before smacking her again, “You are completely out of control!”
Eden shook her head slowly in disbelief. Then with finality, yanked her arm out of her mother’s grasp and went to move around her.
“You are not going anywhere, Eden.”
Eden looked back at her mother, her cheek starting to bruise faintly.
“I might have been able to forgive you for hitting me once, but twice would be sheer stupidity on my part. And I may be many things, mother, but I am not stupid. You have belittled and degraded me for the last time. May you rot in hell for it.”
The duchess’ eyes widened, and she whispered incredulously, “How dare you speak to me that way?”
Eden smiled faintly, “I find it ridiculously easy, actually.”
“If you chose to walk out that door, you will not be welcome back. Do you understand me?” The duchess’ threat rolled off Eden’s shoulders like rain off a rose petal.
Eden smiled in earnest this time, “That’s what I was counting on.”
She turned to her lady’s maid, who had been cowering in her dressing area.
“Please get out my dark blue velvet dress and then pack my things.”
“Everything, miss?” she stammered.
“Everything,” Eden confirmed.
“Where will you go?” the duchess demanded.
“Not that is it any of your business, but I have friends that will put me up. And if that will not do, I shall have to throw myself on father’s mercy.”
The duchess whitened, “You know that your father and I are estranged.”
Eden nodded, “Yes, and I know all of the horrible things that you have said about him. I know that he had not been a part of my life for many, many years. But I also know that you are a sad and bitter woman. So, who knows - perhaps you drove him away.”
Her mother gasped, “You do not know what you are saying! You are a vicious, cruel child!”
“And you are a self-centered bitch that is intent on ruining my life. I would say we are even. Please leave my room. I have had the most horrible day of my life. I do not need you, nor do I want you.”
The duchess looked at Eden, completely stunned at her daughter standing on her feet for the first time. At a loss for words, she hurriedly turned and rushed from the room. It was mere seconds later that Eden fell to the floor in tears.
It had taken much more than the duchess could ever realize for Eden to stand up to her. Eden had always desperately wanted her mother’s love and affection.
She raised her hand to her still smarting cheek. Why did her mother not love her? Why did Phillip not love her? Was she that unlovable?
These thoughts and more were racing through her mind, causing copious amounts of tears to fall from her long lashes. Her lady’s maid approached her, patting her back gently.
“I’ve got your dress, milady if you are ready.”
Eden changed into her traveling clothes and then helped to pack up all her things. It took a few hours and several trunks. She had sent a footman to ask Sophie if she might be able to stay with her and Elias. It wasn’t more than a quarter of an hour later that a reply came stating emphatically that she was not only welcome, but they would be offended if she went anywhere else.
Elias had come with his carriage to help her move her things, and as the last of the trunks were loaded, she turned to look at the ducal property that she had called home since infancy.
Elias knew that this must be terribly difficult for her. He had not mentioned the bruise on her face, but he had seen it the moment he arrived. Abuse of any kind was not to be tolerated, and he felt such anger at this sweet girl having to handle it all by herself. That would not be the case any longer. He only wished they had known sooner.
“Are you ready?” he asked softly.
She turned to him, startled as if just remembering he was there. “Yes. Thank you, Elias, for you and Sophie giving me a new home.”
He nodded, “We are your new family now, and you can stay as long as you need to, forever if Sophie gets her way.”
A ghost of a smile crossed her lips, “Thank you.”