Page 150 of Winds of Ruin
“You...” My breath caught. “You painted the orchard? From memory?”
Angeline chuckled. “I did. It’s dreadful being stuck here. I needed something to keep my mind off missing the festivities.”
I slumped into the wooden chair at her bedside, trying to quell the growing heat behind my eyes.
I wouldnotbe a drunkanda crier.
“It’s gorgeous. You captured it all so beautifully,” I said.
She set down her brush and palette on the end table and finally turned her attention to me. “Are you and that boy of mine ever going to do me the honor of visitingtogether? It’s tiresome to pretend he wouldn’t rather be at your side than not.”
Her crystal blue irises seared me, daring me to deny it.
I didn’t.
She’d figured me out too quickly.
A silk thread had come loose on my sleeve, and I fixated on it, avoiding the pressing weight of her knowing maternal stare.My mother had been this way too—she’d known when my moods shifted. She’d been a force to be reckoned with whenever I didn’t tell her what bothered me.
“Let’s say that you’re right,” I started, and when I glanced up, a sly smile crossed Angeline’s face. “Would you be disappointed for him?”
I hiccuped.Damn it. I’d kept my words stitched together, but my body betrayed me.
Her amusement faded instantly, her brow furrowing into a hard, unreadable expression.
“I thought you were wise,” she answered. “What kind of mother would bedisappointedabout their son finding someone who never ceases to make them smile? The boy glows when he says your name.”
I wished it were that simple. Though, I warmed at her not sharing Sybilla’s disbelief.
“I don’t think I earned his smiles tonight. I made a fool of myself and left on the arm of another,” I admitted.
She tsked. “Well, clearly that went well for you if you ended up here talking to an old woman in the middle of the night.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. It hadn’t gone well at all.
Guilt tugged at my chest. I shouldn’t have come here seeking advice about her son.
“I’m sorry I never visited,” I said, working hard to contain the pressure behind my eyes.
“It’s alright. Though, I missed your company. Why didn’t you?” she asked with no air of judgement.
There went not crying. Was it a Faulker trait to unravel someone’s emotions so quickly?
“You remind me so much of my Mama and the last time I saw her, I didn’t know it would be the last. Visiting when you were sick, it…”
My voice caught, and Angeline grabbed my arm.
I could feel my mother’s embrace as Lamoreaux was raided. Then, she’d thrust me into the Egress to go find Fen. For once, I’d followed directions; the estate had descended into chaos, and she and Papa had stayed to fight.
“Keep moving until we meet again.”I’d never stopped.
She’d told me she loved me.
I’d forgotten to say it back.
My only chance.
“Elsedora, dear, it’s alright—come here.” She waved me toward her, tugging on the quilt around me.
