She froze in the doorway as she took in the changes surrounding her. The room had been a stuffy space, with its large carved desk dominating one wall, the seeming acres of bookcases interspersed with all manner of heavy tomes, the uninspired landscapes that covered any bare bit of wall space, the large floor-to-ceiling windows that should have looked out into the back garden but were so suffocated with heavy velvet drapes that they made one feel even more closed in.
Now, however, it was quite different. Most obvious, of course, were the windows. The dull velvet drapes had been removed, only gauzy white swaths of fabric remaining, pulled back with silk tassels so it seemed the outdoors was part of the interior. The landscapes were gone, the pale green wallpaper unencumbered, giving the room a fresh, clean look. The desk, previously sparse of material, was topped now with quills and pencils and piles of creamy paper. The bookcases were different, too. The majority of the books had been condensed down to one wall, and the rest of the shelves were now empty, except for one filled with what appeared to be brand-new leather-bound journals.
And in the center of the room stood several chests, opened wide, their contents fairly spilling from them. It was not until she took a hesitant step closer to see what was within those chests, however, that she could discern that what they held was achingly familiar to her.
“Oh,” she breathed, her gaze wandering greedily over the framed specimens and magnifying lenses and books upon books upon books. Precious things she thought to never see again. But surely she must be dreaming. Her parents had told her they had destroyed her things, after all. She took off her spectacles, used her skirts to rub at the lenses, placed them back on her face. But no, everything was there. This was no dream at all, but the most beautiful reality.
She gingerly reached in and picked up a framed butterfly, her gaze roving over the carefully pinned wings, lovingly preserved by her own hand. She shook her head in disbelief. “I…I don’t understand.”
Ash’s footsteps came closer until he was at her elbow. “I stopped your parents before they left yesterday and asked them about your things,” he said quietly. “It seems they did not have them destroyed after all. They’d had them all stored away in the attic. I asked that they return them to you.”
She gaped up at him. He had spoken alone to her parents, had gotten them to return her things to her? But even with the proof right in front of her, she could not fathom it. Why would he do something like this? Forher?
He smiled. “You mentioned the loss of your equipment. And you cannot very well become an acclaimed naturalist if you don’t have the necessary supplies. That, and a space to do your work in. I thought perhaps you could utilize the library for that. We can change the wallpaper if you don’t like the green, can have new drapes made up, buy new furniture…”His voice trailed off as she remained still, staring up at him in a mute shock. Again he smiled, though now there was a hint of nervousness to it. “I admit, I did not think until this very moment that I might have overstepped.”
Tears stung her eyes. Had anyone ever done anything of this magnitude for her before? Yes, she had the support of her dear friends, and they never failed to bolster her spirits and cheer her on.
But this…this was something different altogether.
Bronwyn carefully placed the specimen back within the chest before she took Ash’s hand in hers.
“It’s the most wonderful gift I could ever imagine,” she whispered, the words watery with unshed tears. “Thank you.”
He looked as if she had handed him the moon. Which was ironic, she thought as, with a soft kiss, he left her to peruse the contents of the room at her leisure. For she felt the exact same.
Chapter 14
The following day saw Bronwyn not in the library as she ached to be—she had hardly left that room since Ash had revealed it to her the day before, only to eat and to retire in the evening for another night in Ash’s arms. No, instead she was in her room, anxiously pacing the rug, waiting for the expected arrival of the girls.
It was not that she dreaded seeing them. In fact, she was looking forward to it. As much as she enjoyed spending time alone with Ash—something she had not thought possible three days ago—she was nevertheless eager to begin the process of settling in with the girls before Ash returned to London.
She frowned as she adjusted her spectacles and smoothed her skirts in preparation for the day ahead. In the past few days of domestic bliss, she had brutally ignored the fact that he would be leaving Synne at the end of the fortnight. It was an inevitability, something that had been discussed and agreed upon before they wed. These two weeks with him were merely an interlude until life as they would know it began.
Now, however, after their time at the Elven Pools and the meadow, and more importantly what he had done to reclaim her scientific supplies, showing her in not only words but deed as well that he supported her research, the thought of him leaving, something she had looked on with disinterest at best, loomed on the horizon like a gray storm cloud.
Which was ridiculous. Yes, they enjoyed their intimate times together, the latest having been just that morning before they had separated to prepare for the girls’ arrival. And yes, he had surprised her with just how thoughtful and caring he could be. For a moment her chest warmed, thinking of all he had done to make certain she could continue her work, giving her back all she thought she had lost.
But this was temporary, she told herself firmly. They had always meant for it to be a short-lived interlude. She would not allow his leaving to devastate her. In just over a week and a half, things would go on as they had planned, and they would separate. She would be as independent as a woman could be, remaining here on her beloved Synne with Ash’s wards and her dear Oddments, continuing her research and making a name for herself in the entomological world. It was the life she had always dreamed of having.
But was it the life she wanted now?
The question whispered through her mind, throwing her off-balance. Where the devil had that idea come from? Of course it was the life she wanted. Her wishes for her future had not changed. And anyway, even if they did—which they wouldnot, but hypothetically if they did—it would make no difference. Ash’s departure was not up for debate; he had to return to his business in London, and she had to remain on Synne.
Which did not seem nearly as satisfying a plan as it used to be.
Before she could begin to understand what was happening to her, Veronica was suddenly at the door.
“The Misses Hargroves are just arriving.”
Splendid, she thought with no little pleasure as she hurried from the room, more than happy to bury the strange thoughts she’d begun to have. This was exactly what she needed, the girls to ground her in reality. She and Ash had been in a virtual bubble these last days, separated from the outside world, and it was time to remember who she was, and who she would always be.
She reached the front door just as the carriage pulled up. Before it could rock to a halt, the door was thrown open, a figure vaulting to the ground. But it was not one of the girls. No, this was large with black and white coloring and decidedly canine.
“Mouse,” Katrina cried from the carriage.
Bronwyn hardly heard her, however, for the booming woof that bellowed from the dog as he galloped toward her was almost deafening. She could only watch, frozen, as the animal careened across the drive and up the steps. She braced for impact.
But the only thing she felt was the wind rushing by her as he passed, fleeing into the house as if he were running from the devil himself.