The afternoon sun stread through the open windows, and Rose enjoyed how it brightened the small space, making it look bigger than it actually was.
There was a painting of Lady Delphine and an older man just above the fireplace. Rose wondered if that was her husband. She had never seen him before, but she couldn’t help but see the startling resemblance he bore to his son, even in his old age.
"Why are you here?"
Rose hated that she had to ask this, as she was more than happy to see her father, but she couldn’t ignore the fact that this was not good. Her father was in the capital, in the core of danger, and worst of all, away from ho.
Her father didn’t take any offense to her question; rather, he imdiately went on a detailed tale of how Thomas had told him the crown prince wanted him to co stay in the capital, and he had agreed.
"Why would you do that? You can’t be here, Father."
"I want to be ’ere. You’re ’ere."
"It’s not safe for you to be here," Rose was saying. She couldn’t believe the crown prince had done sothing like this.
"All tha more reason I am s’pose to be ’ere. I can’t let ye be in ’arm’s way alone. Wha’ kind of fat’er would tha’ make ?"
"What about Mot’er? You can’t visit her grave from here. And now that you’re here, who knows when you’ll be able to go back?"
Vallyn squeezed his daughter’s hand. She was the one in the most danger, yet she was worried about him. He hadn’t made this decision lightly, and he had beaten himself up since she left, thinking he should have followed her. If he couldn’t stop her, he should have gone with her. His wife would have wanted that, too.
"Yer mot’er would want to be with ye. Ye are mi sole duty now, and yer mot’er will surely understand. I decided tis. Tha young lad didn’t ’ave to convince . I wanted to co, and I’m glad I can see ye again. Maybe tha crown prince isn’t so cruel. I feared ’e’d keep us apart forever. To never see mi Rosie again is too much to bear. I don’t like being so far from ye."
Her father stretched his free hand to her face, and Rose rested her head on his palm, holding it close as water filled her vision. To think her father would so easily say that about the crown prince just so he could see her again.
But Rose knew her father hadn’t forgotten nor had he let it go, and like her, he was willing to go along with this to make sure she was safe and he could be with her.
"Fat’er," Rose pouted, finding it hard to stop the tears.
"Besides," he added with a goofy grin, "if ye reconsider mi offer and ye decide to flee, ye don’t ’ave to worry about , and we can leave easily."
Rose chuckled. It was sad that she found it funny, but she knew her father ant every word, and regardless of her intense worry that he might be targeted, she was so happy he was here with her. Now she could see him whenever she wanted—which would most likely be every day. She didn’t care.
"How do you like it here?" Rose asked, changing the dreary topic as she wiped her face.
"It’s lovely," he said and looked around. "I ’ave never seen a ’ouse so big. Even tha baron’s doesn’t co close."
Rose almost said he should see the castle, but she didn’t want her father going anywhere near there. And even though she was angry with Caius for doing this, she couldn’t deny that she was glad her father was here instead.
"It’s pretty big. Have you t Lady Delphine?" she asked.
"A wonderful lady," he said while nodding his head. "Tha lady knows I’m a wood maker and told I can use as muc’ wood as I like from tha trees in tha back. I like it ’ere."
He looked his daughter right in the eyes as he said his last words. He didn’t want her to worry, and he knew she was very worried about him. Vallyn wanted to assure her that she had nothing to worry about.
He was also glad he didn’t have to worry too much about her. She didn’t look sickly; her skin was good, her hands also felt softer than he rembered, and she slled very nice. There was no doubt that she was being taken care of.
"I am glad," she said, and then her face turned serious. "You weren’t eating as you promised, right? You’ve lost weight, and you have more white in your hair. Were you working too hard instead of resting?"
Vallyn visibly winced. His daughter was exactly like his wife. He thought he had been able to avoid this by using the journey as an excuse, but of course, she wouldn’t just let it go.
Making excuses now would only make things worse. The best approach was to admit it and tell her he would do better.
"I am sorry, mi Rosie, but I will eat better and take plenty of rest."
Rose’s eyes softened imdiately. She knew her father gravely missed her mother; working hard was his way of coping with her death. She also knew it must have taken him a lot to leave her behind to be next to his daughter, but she was glad he did.
She was worried about him being alone, but here, she knew Lady Delphine and the girls would take care of her father. The company would be good for him—for both of them.
"Please, and if you need anything, let know. I want to tell you to stop working, but I can’t tell you to stop—I know ye love yer job. Just do it moderately."
"Aye, mi Rosie."
Rose chuckled at this. She knew her father was about to fill the whole of Lady Delphine’s manor with wooden sculptures. She wondered if there might be so way to sell what he made, but she didn’t want to draw any attention to him, so she scrapped that thought.
"Speaking of eating properly, ye ’ave not eaten."
"Aye, aye," she said and slowly stood to her feet. "I shall go eat my lunch."
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