Chapter Sixteen
“It’ll be nice that our children will grow up playing together,” Opal told Iris.
“Yes, it will. I have a feeling that, like us, they’ll be close,” Iris replied.
The two ladies sat in the drawing room. Opal held Danielle, and Iris held Stuart. The twins had just been fed, and while Stuart was dozing off to sleep, Danielle was wide-awake and seemed to be intent on studying her surroundings.
“You’ll love being a mother,” Iris said. “It’s the most wonderful thing in the world. You’ll have the pleasure of feeling your baby move inside your womb, and then after you give birth, you’ll hold the little darling and marvel that your body could produce such a miracle.”
Opal smiled at Iris’ words, though she couldn’t help but wonder what her own mother had thought while she was pregnant with her. She knew her mother was disappointed that she was a girl. Her mother had wanted all boys. Byron wasn’t the heir because Opal’s father had Warren with his first wife, but if something had happened to Warren, that would have secured the spot for Byron to assume the title. And if something had happened to Byron, she could have taken the title if she’d been a boy.
However, even though Byron was a boy, he and their mother had shared an odd relationship. Growing up, their mother had fussed over him, telling him exactly how he should do even the smallest thing, like how to pronounce each word or how to sit. She’d done the same with Opal, except there had been a contempt she’d had for Opal that hadn’t been there with Byron. She had at least liked Byron. At least until Byron went off to London.
After that, the two mostly argued. Not that Opal could blame Byron. Their mother had lost control over him, and though she had struggled to get it back, he had gained the upper hand each time she went against him. Getting the two into the same room was like waiting for someone to start a fire. Opal could never be sure what either would say that would start the shouting match.
Opal was under no illusion that Byron had been a saint. She’d overheard his coarse talk and knew very well he had his fair share of brandy, gambling, and ladies. These were things Warren had despised him for. Instead of being ashamed that he couldn’t live up to Warren’s expectations, he seemed to enjoy it. In some ways, Opal thought Byron engaged in the behaviors he did out of spite. It was his way of rebelling against their mother and against Warren. And their mother had despised him for it, often commenting that she wished she had never given birth to him, that he had disgraced the family name.
Opal released her breath and brought herself back to the present. It was good Danielle, Stuart, and her own child would never know her mother. The lady had a way of destroying everything around her. Had her mother been different, who knew how Byron would have ended up? Had it not been for Warren, Opal didn’t know how she might have fared in the midst of everything. There were some days she thought she might really lose her mind, instead of just pretending she had.
“Of course, that doesn’t mean I don’t love your brother,” Iris said. “I do. I love him more today than the moment I met him. I know he didn’t love me right away, but I fell in love with him as soon as I saw him.” She chuckled. “Some people say it’s foolish to think you can love someone the day you meet them. I’m so logical in other areas that I would be inclined to agree with them had I not fallen in love with Warren when I did.”
Forcing her thoughts off of Byron and her mother, Opal drew her attention to what Iris was saying. She smiled. “I don’t think it’s foolish,” she said. “I think it’s romantic. It’s nice to be able to meet someone and know they are the right one for you.”
“It is. The only problem comes when the other person doesn’t realize it as soon as you do. I think you and Landon fell in love right away.”
Opal’s face warmed in pleasure. “I’m inclined to agree, though I don’t think either one of us realized it at the time.”
“It’s easier to see things more clearly when you think back on it. At the time you’re involved in something, doubts and fears can make it hard to see what’s really going on.”
“You really think so?”
Iris nodded. “I think we intuitively know when something is right or wrong, but we often rationalize against our instincts. The problem is, we do this without even realizing we’re doing it.”
Curious that Iris would make such a statement, Opal asked, “Why would we do that?”
“Because it’s easy to doubt our instincts, especially when there’s nothing to prove we’re right.”
Warren came into the drawing room and smiled. “I thought I heard someone talking in here.” He went over to Iris and kissed her before he pulled up a chair so he could sit beside her. “We haven’t seen you much since you got married,” he told Opal.
“Landon and I have been busy making the townhouse feel like our home,” Opal replied. “Besides, you saw us at the dinner party.”
“I know, but it’s not the same as it was when you lived here,” he said. “I got used to having you around all the time.”
Opal couldn’t help but smile at his words. After a lifetime of not feeling like she was wanted, it was nice to know Warren missed her.
“I miss having you around, too,” Iris added, “but it’s good knowing you’re with Landon. He’s very sweet.” She glanced at Warren. “Don’t you think so?”
“I try not to think of gentlemen in terms of whether or not they’re sweet,” Warren replied. “As long as he treats Opal well, I’m satisfied with him.”
Iris rolled her eyes in good humor then told Opal, “Landon is very sweet.”
“He is sweet,” Opal agreed. “And yes, he treats me very well, Warren.”
“I hope he wasn’t afraid to come over because of the way Warren accused him of getting you with child before you married,” Iris said.
Warren sighed. “I did not. I was just surprised she’s expecting a child as soon as she is, that’s all.”
Iris giggled. “Poor Landon. He looked like he was ready to run out of here.”
“I apologized to him,” Warren said. “He seemed to be all right for the rest of the evening.”
“Landon is fine,” Opal hurried to assure him. “He’s at the park going horseback riding with his brother. I finished reading a book, so I decided to come by for a visit.” With a glance at Danielle who was smiling at her, she added, “And I’m glad I did.”
Coming here made her feel a lot more at ease with everything strange that had happened over the past couple of days.
“You’re always welcome here,” Iris told her.
“I don’t think I’ll ever get over worrying about you,” Warren said, “but I’m glad Landon is good to you.”
Iris chuckled. “Opal, I warned you he wasn’t ready for you to marry.”
“It still doesn’t seem possible she’s old enough to have a husband,” Warren said.
“Well, she is, and she’s also old enough to have her own children,” Iris replied, giving him a sympathetic smile. “I think it’s wonderful that you worry so much for her.”
“I do appreciate everything you do for me, Warren,” Opal said. “It’s nice to know you care about me.”
“I just wish I brought you to London sooner,” Warren told Opal. “If I’d had any idea your mother had been treating you the way she was—”
“It’s not your fault, Warren,” Opal interrupted. “You didn’t know what was going on.”
“Yes, but if I had gone to the country to see how you were doing, then things wouldn’t have gone on for as long as they did,” Warren said.
“There’s nothing you can do about it,” Iris told him. “At least she’s here with us now, and she has people around her who love her. That’s what matters.”
“It is,” Opal replied.
And there was no doubt she was surrounded by people who only wanted the best for her. She was very blessed. Glancing back down at her niece, she smiled. She had a brother and sister-in-law who cared about her, an adorable niece and nephew, a love match with Landon, and a baby on the way. Everything she had ever wanted was coming to pass. Yes, she had a lot to be thankful for. A lot, indeed.
***
Two hours later, Opal passed through the entryway of her townhouse. It had been nice to visit her brother and Iris, and her mood had improved significantly. But as soon as she returned home, the nagging sense that something was wrong made her gut tighten in dread.
“Is there something you need, my lady?” the footman asked her.
Not realizing she had paused in the middle of the entryway, she forced aside the unpleasant feeling and turned to him. “Is Lord Farewell here?”
“Yes. He returned about fifteen minutes ago. He’s in the den,” the footman replied.
Thanking him, she headed down the hallway, her gaze going along the shadows along the floorboards, wondering if something like a rat might scurry by. But nothing happened.
When she reached the door of the den, she saw it was partly open so she peeked into the room. Landon had a book open on his desk, and though he should have been reading it, he was looking out the window. She knocked on the door so she wouldn’t startle him before she stepped into the room.
He got up from the chair and hurried over to her. “I mithed you.” He gave her a kiss.
“I missed you, too,” she said. “I went to visit Iris and Warren. Their children were awake, so I got to hold my niece for a while. How did things go with your brother?”
“Good. We had a lot to talk about after your brother explained how he maketh money. Guy would like to learn how to do that.”
“Both Warren and Iris love to invest money for a handsome profit. I’m sure if you follow either one’s advice, you will manage very well.”
“Probably.” He glanced over at the book on the desk. “Guy gave me that to read, but I’m bored already and I’m only on page ten.” He turned his gaze back to her. “I don’t know if I can make it to page 415 in a week.”
“Guy asked you to read the whole thing in one week?”
“I can read a lot in a week if I don’t get bored with the book. Warren had recommended it during the dinner party, and Guy bought two to read. That one ith my copy.”
With a sympathetic smile, she caressed his cheek. “I’m sorry, Landon, but I have no more interest in that kind of reading than you do. As much as I adore Warren and Iris, my mind wanders when the conversation turns to investing.”
Chuckling, he took her hand and kissed it. “I don’t care much for the topic.”
“I don’t think the subject is for everyone. Maybe you can have Warren invest the money for you and give him a percentage of the profit for his trouble.”
“Will he be unhappy with me if I do that?”
“I think he would rather you didn’t pretend you were interested in something you weren’t than to act like you enjoyed it. Warren likes it when people are honest with him.”
“All right. I’ll tell him next time I see him.”
He went back to the desk and shut the book, and she couldn’t help but smile. It was nice that he cared so much for her that he’d been trying to please her brother. “Warren will be fine. He has Iris, his father-in-law, and friends to discuss investments with as much as he wants.”
“I hope that will be enough.”
She walked over to the desk. “It will. Warren’s only concern is that you’re good to me.”
Her gaze went to the shelves lined with books, and right away, she could tell something was wrong. She could have sworn the books had been arranged according to the author’s last name before she left the townhouse.
“What?” Landon glanced at the shelves.
“Did you sort the books by author earlier today and then switch them back according to title when you returned home?” she asked, hoping—praying—he’d say yes.
But, unfortunately, he shook his head. “No. I haven’t changed anything after you helped me in here.” He studied her. “Do you feel all right?”
I didn’t imagine it. I didn’t imagine it.
“Opal, you look pale,” he said as he hurried over to her. “Do you need to lie down?”
It was on the tip of her tongue to tell him the books had had a different arrangement earlier that day, but then would she sound like she was losing her mind? As she studied the books, she realized the only one out of place had been the one she’d put in there. Everything else was just as it belonged.
She rubbed her eyes. Was she tired, or was there more to what was going on? She used to pretend she saw things that weren’t really there in order to avoid her mother’s wrath. But she never once, in all the time she’d put on the pretense, ever really saw things out of place. She hadn’t ever imagined she’d heard or seen something that wasn’t really there. So why now? Why after all this time was this starting to happen to her?
“Why don’t we go to bed?” Landon suggested. “You can take a nap.” He put his arm around her shoulders. “I’ll be with you.”
After a moment, she nodded. “All right.”
Maybe she needed to rest. Maybe she would feel better when she woke up. She doubted it, but at least Landon would be with her. Releasing an unsteady breath, she let Landon take her upstairs.