Once Upon a Temptingly Ruinous Kiss - Bree Wolf Page 0,28
made Leonora flinch, and she dropped her quill. Bending down to pick it up, she called for the person on the other side of the door to enter.
With Louisa no longer under their roof, Leonora was not surprised to see Grandma Edie hobbling into her chamber, closing the door behind her. “How are you tonight, my dear?”
Rising from her seat, Leonora offered it to her grandmother, then set the notebook and quill back down on her vanity. “I’m quite well, Grandma. How are you?”
An amused chuckle drifted from her grandmother’s lips as she settled into Leonora’s chair. Then her gaze drifted out the window and came to linger upon the dark hedge and the house beyond.
Leonora felt a shiver run down her back, wondering if her grandmother had seen her leave or possibly return. No one had said anything, but with Grandma Edie, that did not necessarily have to mean anything.
“Has he made many changes?” her grandmother asked, returning her gaze to Leonora. “Lord Pemberton? Does the house now look greatly different from the way it did when dear Sarah lived there?”
Leonora sighed, then sank down onto the edge of her bed. “I should’ve known,” she mumbled, unable not to smile at her grandmother. “How do you know? Did you see me leave?”
A mischievous grin came to her grandmother’s face. “I did not; however, I did notice your absence.”
“Then how do you know I went to see him?” Leonora asked, belatedly realizing that she was confirming something her grandmother had in fact not known.
Grandma Edie heaved a deep sigh, her pale eyes slowly wandering over Leonora’s face. “I believe he’s good for you. You seem more…at peace whenever he’s nearby.”
Leonora felt tears prick the backs of her eyes. “I wish I knew why. It doesn’t make any sense. Why him?” He was a stranger—as Leonora had told herself countless times—and yet, she had left the safety of her home to seek him out. Alone. Unchaperoned. Yes, if it became known what she had done, her reputation would be in tatters. She would be ruined. Nevertheless, had the man himself not posed the greatest danger? If he had wanted to, he could have harmed her in any possible way. Still, she had felt safe with him or at least as safe as she could these days. Her reaction to him puzzled her for it followed neither logic or reason nor any sense of predictability. She did not know what to make of him or rather herself.
“Does it matter?” her grandmother inquired with a raised brow. The look on her face clearly stated that she believed it did not. “He has proven himself to you, has he not?”
Leonora nodded, remembering all those moments at Windmere Park when she had felt overwhelmed by the situation confronting her. And each and every time, Lord Pemberton had swooped in out of nowhere, doing exactly what she needed him to do, saying precisely what she needed him to say. Yes, he had proven himself to her.
Never had he given her any reason to fear him, to think him less than honest. The truth, though, was that neither had others. In fact, only one man had ever disappointed her, shocked her, hurt her. Of course, she was wrong to always assume the worst of men in general; however, without knowing her attacker’s identity, there was nothing else she could do in order to protect herself. She needed to be distrustful and cautious. Yet, she did not want to be. She never had been.
Leaning forward, Grandma Edie looked at her imploringly. “Always have you been one to overthink every step,” she said affectionately. “Perhaps now the time has come for you to learn how to trust your heart. Sometimes, the answer we seek cannot be found through reason. If someone makes your skin crawl, even if you don’t know why, even if there is no good reason, listen to your instincts and get away from that person. But also, if someone makes you feel safe,” leaning back in her seat, she sighed, a warm smile coming to her face, “don’t push that person away simply because it doesn’t make any sense.” Her grandmother slowly pushed to her feet, and leaning on her cane, she walked over to her, placing a wrinkled hand upon Leonora’s. “Don’t be afraid to trust that feeling deep inside you. I promise, it is rarely wrong.” She gave Leonora’s hand a gentle pat and then turned and left.