“You’ve been incredibly strong, Leonard,” she said sincerely. “To endure such losses and still carry on... I am amazed you were able to. I know how hard Kenneth took his brother’s loss and how long he carried the burden with him.”
He would have loved to explain the difference between Kenneth and himself to her, but he didn’t know how without revealing everything to her. He gulped hard, feeling his Adam’s apple bop. Should he tell her everything?
Should he tell her he’d discovered his perfect father was an illusion? How he’d made his mother miserable all of her life? Mistreated her? Stole from his workers? Should he tell her that his tragic death from a heart attack had neither been tragic nor a heart attack?
Leonard bit his bottom lip, remembering the day he’d discovered his father hadn’t died in his sleep when his heart stopped but rather that he had been murdered - murdered in his own home...
He shuddered with the horror of reliving the moment the truth had been revealed to him and knew he could not tell her such horrid things. She was traumatized, as it was from her past experiences. He couldn’t tell her that she lived in the home where a cold-blooded murder had taken place ...
“... a blessing to have the admiration of your tenants,” Sally said, and Leonard nodded as if he hadn’t just spent the last few minutes lost in his thoughts.
“I do not think that I am admired as such,” he said quietly, uncomfortable with the option.
“But you are, You do so much good in the world, Leonard. The tenants, the parish vicar, your fellow lords... they all admire you.”
It was wrong to let her believe he was such a good and righteous person, wasn’t it? She deserved better... She deserved to know who he was really married to. Leonard felt a megrim knocking as he pondered what he should do. Before he could decide, there was a knock on the front door. She leaped up and stood by the fireplace as if suddenly aware of how close they had been sitting.
An odd sensation of hurt rushed through him, but he did not let it show. He’d told her they were companions and friends, after all... Still, he instantly missed her closeness.
“Enter,” he called, and the butler appeared.
“Pardon the interruption, Your Grace,” the butler announced, his voice as crisp and formal as his attire. “Mr. Keller and his family have arrived.”
Leonard straightened his posture, his mind reluctantly shifting away from the intimate conversation. The Kellers? What in the world had happened now? As far as he was aware the family had recovered.
“Thank you, Barnes. Please show them into the drawing room.”
“Shall we see what they might need?” he asked, proffering his arm.
She moved gracefully across the room, the light catching in her lovely hair, and when she took his arm, he sighed relief. It felt good to be at her side again - though he knew he had to stop yearning for this closeness for both of their sakes.
* * *
The Kellers awaited them in the drawing room, and Leonard smiled when he spotted the little girl, Bessie, marveling at the painting of his mother above the fireplace.
“An angel,” she said.
“You could say so,” he said, and at once, the entire family turned to him. In addition to Mr. Keller - who bowed deeply - Mrs. Keller was there, performing a deep curtsy that might have fitted in at court. Their son likewise bowed but peered up at Leonard from underneath a mop of hair.
“Mrs. Keller, it is so lovely to see you again, and looking so well,” Sally said and stepped to the woman, taking her hand.
Mrs. Keller returned the greeting, her eyes lighting up with appreciation as she clasped Sally’s hand.
The children, sensing the warmth in Sally’s demeanor, dashed towards her, their laughter filling the room. “Your Grace, I could not wait to see you,” Bessie said, and Sally kneeled to be eye-to-eye with the girl. Leonard smiled, proud of how well-loved Sally already was.
“Oh, how you’ve grown since I last saw you!” she exclaimed, her eyes twinkling with genuine delight.
“It was just last week,” Bessie giggled, but Sally shook her head.
“I am certain you have grown; the next time you see me, you might be taller than me,” she pinched the girl’s nose.
She’d make a wonderful mother. What a shame I’ve robbed her of that…
“I must beg your pardon for the late intrusion,” Mr. Keller said, drawing his attention.
“Mr. Keller, it’s a pleasure to have you here. Please, don’t apologize for the intrusion,” he said, gesturing towards the seating area.
Mr. Keller hesitated for a moment before speaking, his expression earnest.
