WolfeStrike (De Wolfe Pack Generations #2) - Kathryn Le Veque Page 0,115
and I are for what we have done. We have no excuse other than to say… well, I suppose you know that my sister and I are orphans. Our parents died of the same fever many years ago and we came to live with our only sibling, Jane, and her husband. When Jane died, Tor was all we had left. He is all we have. Sometimes, when you try to hold tightly to something, it can make one a little… mad.”
Isalyn was listening with a good deal of doubt, but Lenore seemed sincere enough. She looked at Isabella, who looked back at her with the same doubtful expression.
“There are many people who have lost loved ones and they do not go mad,” Isabella said. “What you did wasn’t just madness, Lenore. It was wickedness.”
Lenore looked at Isabella in distress. “I know,” she said. “We know that now. Bella, you do not know what it was like when we were young. My mother and father did not have any servants to take care of them when they were ill, so it was left to Barbara and me. Can you imagine what it was like to watch your parents die as you tried to help them, not knowing what to do? We were just children. We were alone with dying parents and no way to help them. That did something to us. It made us panic with the thought of losing someone. I think… I think that is why we try to hold on to Tor so tightly, any way we can.”
She sounded quite pathetic and her tale, in truth, was a sad one. Neither Isabella nor Isalyn were immune to it. Being women of feeling and compassion, it was natural that they should feel some pity.
“But you are not losing Tor,” Isalyn said, less hostile than before. “If you would just stop to think that when Tor marries, you would be gaining another family member who wants to love you, then your fears would be for naught. But you treat every woman who wants to get close to Tor like an enemy.”
Lenore’s eyes welled. “That is not true.”
“It is.”
“Mayhap… mayhap they are our enemy,” she sniffled. “Look at what is happening – Tor is marrying you and sending us away because of you.”
“He is sending you away because of the way you are behaving,” Isalyn said sternly. “You have left him no choice and I will not be living my life in fear, wondering what you are going to try to do to me next. Your behavior has dictated his actions.”
Lenore sniffled again, wiping her nose with the back of her hand. “I-I know you are right,” she said. “I suppose I have always known. Barbara and I had a long discussion about it and we are both very sorry for what we have done and we would like to make amends to you.”
Isalyn wasn’t so sure she wanted any part of this but, on the other hand, she didn’t want to be cruel. It was possible that Lenore meant what she said, that the threat of being sent away had scared them into good behavior.
Still, she was understandably doubtful.
“I am not sure that is possible or even advisable,” she said. “But for the sake of argument, what amends do you mean?”
Lenore pointed towards the inner bailey. “Would you come with me?” she said. “I have something to show you.”
“What is it?”
“Please, my lady. It is a surprise. It is our gift to you, but I could not bring it inside.”
“Where is your sister?”
“She is holding the gift.”
A warning bell went off in Isalyn’s mind. She looked at Isabella, who was equally unsure, but being women of kindness, and forgiveness, that propensity weighed heavily on their decision. They would be hard women, indeed, not to allow a chance for forgiveness. It was against her better judgment, but Isalyn could feel herself relenting.
“Where is she?” she asked.
Lenore started to move away, towards the apartment door that led out into the inner bailey. “I will show you,” she said. “Please? Will you come with me?”
“Where is your sister?”
“Outside of the postern gate,” Lenore said. “What we have for you was really too big to be brought inside. I promise I will not touch you or lay hands upon you in any way if that is what you are concerned with. We simply want to give you something as a token of our sincerity. Will you not come?”