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Edward sipped his soup. He attempted to use his taste buds to pick out each individual ingredient that had gone into it, if only for something to do other than stare at Lily. It had been three days since their argument, or rather, since he'd called her out on her lie. He had hardly spoken to her since, yet she seemed to be even more present in his mind than before.
"This is excellent soup," Lily said.
Caroline and Dr. Shannon smiled at her, and Edward tried to ignore the flutter in his stomach at being so near her. His feelings for her had been nothing but a passing fancy. He knew that now.
They continued in silence, Dr. Shannon exchanging looks with his wife. Hannah and Dewey had been allowed to eat earlier this evening, as Caroline harbored hopes of getting them to bed early. He did not know how she was able to handle twins and a newborn all on her own and admired her all the more for it. He was certain he'd have needed two or even three nannies at least.
Children had never been something that interested Edward. He'd thought it would be nice to have an heir, but otherwise, he'd given the matter very little thought. Until Lily. Since they'd begun their private conversations, he'd begun to picture tiny images—mixtures of Lily and himself—running amok across the parlor in his house.
He would never have admitted the thought to anyone; he could scarcely admit it to himself. He hated Lily all the more for first conjuring the image and now forcing it away.
"So," Caroline finally said after several minutes of silence, "how is the factory?"
It was unclear whether she was addressing him or Lily, but since he owned the factory with his father, he felt it incumbent upon himself to answer.
"Fine," he said and went back to his soup.
Caroline looked at Dr. Shannon with raised eyebrows. He shrugged and turned to Edward.
"How is your father's gastric ulcer?" the doctor asked.
"Poor," Edward said. "I was able to hold him to his dietary restrictions for a while, but it seems he's no longer interested in following them. He's proclaimed that if God is going to take him, he would rather go out eating what he wants."
"Tut tut," said Dr. Shannon. "God will not be taking him because of a gastric ulcer. He's going to live a long life, only he'll do so in pain."
"Perhaps I'll try and tell him that next I see him," Edward replied.
After soup, the cook brought out a roast.
Lily said, "It smells heavenly."
When they'd each been served, they fell to silence again.
Caroline asked, "Do you two see much of each other at the factory?"
Edward and Lily's heads shot up. They looked at each other. "No," they said in unison and began cutting their meat.
Lily took a bite and began to cough. Edward looked sharply at her, half rising from his seat. "Are you all right?" he asked, alarmed.
She nodded and took a sip of tea. "Yes, I'm fine, thank you. I only took too big a bite."
He lowered himself back into his seat, irritated but not sure why. "That seems to be your favorite reply—'I'm fine.' Perhaps you should have it engraved on your tombstone with your other lies."
He had not meant to be so harsh, especially in front of Dr. Shannon and Caroline. They were looking at him with their mouths open.
"Forgive me," he said immediately, more to the doctor and his wife than to Lily. "Perhaps I should go." He pushed his seat back.
"No," said Lily, her face red. "I should be the one to go." She pushed her seat back and rose as well.
"There's no reason for you to leave," Edward said through his teeth. "I've already declared my intention. You should stay and finish the meal."
"I haven't any appetite."
"Neither have I."
"You're ill, you need the nourishment."
"I'm recovering. I need the rest."
Caroline and Dr. Shannon's eyes bounced from one to the other as if a ball were bouncing between them.
Lily turned to Caroline. "Thank you for the supper, but I'm afraid I must go." She turned and fled the room.
Not to be outdone, Edward said, "It was delicious, but I must go as well." He turned and hurried after her, leaving Caroline and Dr. Shannon staring blankly after them. He had no doubt they would think them both mad later. Perhaps they'd be right.
Edward did not understand why he was chasing after Lily, only that he could not let her go. She was already several paces ahead of him when he caught up to her.
"I demand that you stop this," he said. "You have no right to your anger. End it now."
Her eyes narrowed, and a tiny "V" formed between her eyebrows. He found it adorable. "Demand? What right do you have to demand anything from me?"
He bristled at her lack of compliance. When he gave an order, people generally followed it.
"I must insist that you act rationally."
Lily's eyes lightened, and a smile began to break on her face. "You insist that I act rationally? Do you think that you can turn a woman's emotions on and off at will? You've hurt me, and I've a right to my pain as well as my anger."
He ran a hand through his hair and tried to stay focused. His head did not hurt so much as it had, and his cough had gotten better, but his throat was still scratchy, and he knew if he continued on in this fashion it would only hurt worse. Still, he could not help himself.
"How have I hurt you?" he shouted. "It is you who has lied to me. Why did you not tell me you were married when first we met?"
Lily cast her eyes away. Her voice settled. "I-I have already apologized for that," she muttered.
"But you have not explained yourself."
"You would not let me."
He folded his arms across his chest. "Della said you were worried about your job."
Lily looked up. "I've told her nothing of us other than my lie to you."
He nodded. "I know, and I thank you for that, but I wish to hear from your own mouth why you withheld the truth from me."
She sighed. "When we first met, I didn't realize that I, that we... might grow close." He heard her gulp and could not help the patter of his heart as it raced in his chest. "When I realized what was happening, it was too late. I didn't know what to say."
Her voice had become so quiet that he had to step closer to hear her. He could smell her perfume. It was sweet and gentle on his nose. It lightened his head and his mood all at once. He could not be so near her and not want her.
"I accept your apology," he said.
She looked up at him, and for a moment their eyes locked. Then her expression changed.
"That's very big of you," she said, stepping back and raising her voice once again. "If only you might apologize to me, I could offer you the same acceptance in return."
He laughed. "Surely, you're joking. What have I to apologize for?" He paused then, remembering the way he'd yelled at her in his office so recently. "Of course, you're right. I'm sorry for the harsh words I used with you so recently at the factory. I should never have spoken to you that way."
His apology only seemed to infuriate her that much more.
"That is not the apology I mean."
He looked at her, trying to rack his brain for what she could be getting at.
"Do you not think it hypocritical to be angry with me for hiding my marriage when you did the very same thing in hiding your engagement?"
Edward blinked at her. "Engagement? What engagement?"
Lily's cheeks turned red. "Aren't you engaged?"
"No."
Lily stared at him with her mouth open, then she flung her arms around his neck, pulling him into a tight embrace. It was so unexpected, Edward stumbled back a step or two, then his arms fell around her waist, and he closed his eyes. He'd longed to hold her like this but had not thought it possible.
Suddenly, Lily pulled away. "I'm sorry," she said, breathless. "Forgive me. I shouldn't have touched you."
She ran off before he could tell her that there was nothing to forgive.
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