Also, if she gets arrested, I’m not an accessory to her crimes… Charles
CHAPTER 26
It was the very next morning that Eden received not one dozen of her very favorite peach-colored roses, nor even two dozen. But as the delivery men kept arriving with bundle after bundle, each carrying a handwritten card for Eden, the household wondered if it would ever end.
At a grand total of six dozen the deliveries finally ceased.
Cece’s eyes were round with curiosity, “Eden, you simply must tell me all that has been going on here while I was away with the twins in the country. Obviously, much has progressed here in town with the Bluebells.”
Sophie seemed to choke a bit on her breakfast, causing looks of concern from the rest of the family.
“Are you alright, dearest?” Elias asked, patting her back gently and offering her some water.
Sophie colored slightly and nodded. But her eyes shot straight to Eden’s with a note of sheer horror. Sophie was all but begging her not to share her part in the ‘education’ of the Bluebells club members.
Charles, noting the strange silent conversation and deciding to take pity on his clearly distressed sister-in-law, turned to Elias to ask about something in parliament, distracting him so the ladies could talk.
Sophie glanced quickly at the men before whispering at the girls, “Meet me in the sewing room in ten minutes.”
Cece raised her eyes, knowing that not one of them could sew a straight stitch and that this was code for a very private discussion.
Eden and Cece nodded accordingly and wolfed down breakfast in record time.
Sure enough, with a minute and a half to spare, each of the ladies had finished their meals and excused themselves from the table.
As the last one left Elias raised a brow, “What was all of that nonsense about?”
Charles laughed, “I haven’t the foggiest, but I’ve learned that it is easier for me, for the most part, to remain in ignorance. Trust me, if things get tangled enough, Cece and Sophie will come to us for help. But usually they work themselves out of trouble on their own. This way I do not have to be involved in millions of complicating steps that Cece insists upon having. Also, if she gets arrested - I am not an accessory to her crimes.”
Elias laughed heartily, “I do miss you all when you are in the country. Tell me how your family is getting on.”
*****
The girls made themselves comfortable on the soft couches and overstuffed chairs in the sewing room. This room was not for entertaining, and as such, it did not hold the overly ornate furniture that was in the front public rooms. It had large windows that allowed for lots of light, perfect for sewing and lovely for allowing the warm sunshine to pour into the room. They basked in it like three fat cats.
“I am so glad that we are here for the Mangrove Musical,” Cece said, propping her feet up on the coffee table. “To think that I could have missed all of this lovely drama. I cannot believe that you both did not write and tell me that Lord Phillip Randall is in love with our Eden. I am quite put out with both of you.”
Sophie looked at Eden in shock, “In love? Whatever is she talking about?”
Eden flushed madly, “How did you know that, Cece? He only told me yesterday!”
Sophie looked even more stunned, “He actually used the words? Randall said that he loved you? He told me that he did not even believe in the emotion. Eden, I am beyond surprised. This changes everything.”
Eden looked up in hope, “It does?”
Cece grinned, “Of course, it does. What do all of those lovely notes that he sent with the flowers say?”
“I haven’t read them yet,” Eden bent her head, embarrassed.
“Go get them,” Cece ordered.
Eden looked up with a little smile, looking a bit more confident, “Alright, just a moment.”
She ran straight to her room and grabbed all twelve from the silver platter on her dressing table and raced straight back, nearly knocking over a maid in the process. Stopping for merely seconds to apologize, she raced back in.
“I was nervous,” she stumbled over her words. “What if he was just letting me down easy? What if he didn’t want me anymore?”
They looked at her with open mouths.
“There are about million roses in the parlor - I don’t think he is giving up,” Cece drawled.
Sophie giggled, “I think it is more around 72, but Cece is right. What happened between you and Randall?”
Eden went back and told them everything. Every detail, including what went on between her and her mother and how he had left with her embarrassingly nude.
“He didn’t want me,” she whispered.
Cece’s eyes were moist, “He didn’t leave because he didn’t want you. He left because he didn’t want to hurt you. He left because he cared about you. Damn the man, it almost makes me like him more, and I have never really been much of a fan of his. He’s always been such a cad.”
“I hate to say it, but I think I may have misjudged him.” Sophie frowned. “I never thought that he would ever walk away from such blatant provocation. The fact that he did does not only surprise me, it astounds me. Cece is right, Eden. I think he does love you. Let’s read those letters. If you want to do it alone - we will respect that too.”
Cece frowned at Sophie, clearly wanting to know the gossip, and Eden laughed.
“You both know every embarrassing moment I have had - I would not keep these from you. Let’s begin.”
Eden,
First thing I fell in love with… Your eyes - they are so expressive. I know when you are sad, angry, or hurting. You would never make a good poker player, Eden. Your eyes tell me when you amused, thoughtful, or aroused. I could spend days, weeks, months, and hopefully the rest of my life gazing into them.
Your Phillip…
“Damn, the boy doesn’t pull any punches, does he?” Cece whispered.
“Read the next one,” Sophie demanded and Eden nodded.
Eden,
Second thing I fell in love with… Your curves - there are things that your body does to mine that should not be written on paper because it would automatically go up in flames. Just know that everything about how you look, how you move, how you breathe… it keeps me up at night, it haunts my dreams, and it is my new reason for being.
Your Phillip…
“Holy hell,” Sophie fanned her face and Cece laughed.
“Next one,” Cece waved.
Eden,
Third thing I fell in love with… Your loyalty - when I was a complete idiot to Sophie, you took me to task. You got right in my face and told me to fix things. You are half my size and did not back down once. You said something about castrating me, and I am almost certain you have no idea what that means… I fell a little bit more with every moment.
Your Phillip…
“Do you know what castrating means?” Cece asked Eden.
Eden flushed, “Not even a clue, but mother yelled it at father once before he left us.”
Cece burst out laughing, and Sophie let out a small smile, “We will discuss it at the next Bluebell’s meeting, so let’s keep going.”
Eden,
Fourth thing I fell in love with… Your voice - every time I would hear you speak, it would do strange things to me. Not just physically, although you are more than aware of that phenomenon. Your voice feels like home, and when I was away at home, I knew that it would never feel that way again unless you were there with me.
Your Phillip…
“Bloody hell,” Cece wiped her eye teasingly, “I might be falling in love with the man.”
Eden laughed, secretly wiping a real tear of her own, “I know… let’s keep reading.”
Eden,
Fifth thing I fell in love with… Your heart - you are one of the kindest women of my acquaintance. You took my sisters under your wing and treated them like family. No, better than family - like dear friends. They miss you and worry that I have permanently damaged their friendships with you. I am so grateful that you took two younger girls in and treated them as equals. They have not had that. I have not been the brother I should have been. You have treated them much better than I have. For that I will always be grateful.
Your Phillip…
“Oh Eden, go get the poor man already,” Sophie had real tears in her eyes.
“I can’t just go to him. Besides, there is one more. Read it for me, Cece - I cannot see though these stupid tears.”
Eden,
Sixth thing I fell in love with… I could go on with every piece of you until this list went on and on for eternity. But the real purpose of this is to show you, Eden, that I, your Phillip, loves you, Eden Norfolk, to distraction. There is not, nor will there ever be anyone else. I am yours to do with what you wish. I will always be yours.
Your Phillip…
Cece looked up, her eyes swimming with tears, “Well, the man really does love you. What are you going to do?”