Chapter 10

Chapter 10

Cordelia paced the length of her bedchambers, her mind racing with ideas. Weeks had passed since she first arrived at Whitestone Hall, and despite her best efforts, Julian remained as distant and aloof as ever. Their brief interactions, limited mostly to dinners, were polite but devoid of warmth.

She longed to bridge the gap between them and understand the man she had married, but his cold demeanour made it seem impossible.

Determined not to give up, Cordelia decided she needed to figure out other ways to make her life here a little more bearable. She could not stop thinking about Penny's assurance that she would be the one who brought life back to this home.

This was what she wanted to focus on, for the time being anyway.

"We need to open up the rooms," she muttered. "Get rid of the sheets and the dust. Make every single room useful."

The duke might not want guests, but that did not matter. Cordelia wanted a house that felt like a home. She wanted the building to feel alive and to have warmth within it.

Julian had told her that she could live how she wanted in this house, and that was what she was utterly determined to do.

With a resolute nod, she left her room and headed down the grand staircase, her heart pounding with determination. She found Dan in the hallway, studying a document he had in his hand.

"Mr Andrews," she called, her voice steady. "May I have a word with you?"

Dan turned and gave her a respectful bow. "Of course, My Lady. How can I assist you?"

Cordelia glanced around, ensuring they had some privacy. "I need your help with a project. It is something that I believe will benefit the entire household."

Dan raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "I am at your service, My Lady. What exactly do you have in mind?"

Cordelia smiled, relieved by his willingness to assist. "I want to open up the drawing room in the east wing. It has been closed off for too long, and I think it could be a wonderful space for everyone to enjoy. With your help and Penny's, I am sure we can make it a welcoming place again."

Dan nodded thoughtfully. "That is a splendid idea, My Lady. That drawing room has always been a beautiful space. It would be a pleasure to see it brought back to life by you."

"Thank you, Dan. Your support means a lot to me." She hesitated for a moment, then decided to press further. "While we work on this project, there is something else I would like to ask you about."

She had spoken to Penny about this and had a wonderful insight from her, but if there was anything new that the butler could tell her, she would be happy to hear it. Knowledge was power in this situation, and she needed to gain it all.

"Of course, My Lady," Dan replied, his expression attentive.

Cordelia took a deep breath. "It is about the duke. I have noticed how withdrawn he is and how he keeps himself isolated. I want to understand him better and find a way to reach him. Can you tell me what he was like before … before the accident?"

Dan's eyes softened with nostalgia and sorrow. "The duke was a different man before the fire, My Lady. He was lively, full of energy and charm. He had a quick wit and a passion for life that was infectious. But after the accident, everything changed. The scar he bears is not just physical — it has wounded his spirit deeply."

Cordelia felt a pang in her heart at Dan's words. She had seen glimpses of the man Julian once was, in the way he played the piano with such emotion, in the rare moments when his guard slipped. "It breaks my heart to hear that," she said softly. "I want to help him, Dan. I want to bring some of that light back into his life. But I do not know how."

Dan gave her a reassuring smile. "Your kindness and determination are already a step in the right direction, My Lady. The duke may be distant, but he is not beyond reach. He needs to see that there is still joy and beauty in life; perhaps, through your efforts, he will begin to believe that again."

Cordelia nodded, feeling a renewed sense of purpose. "Thank you, Dan. I will do my best. Now, let us get to work on the drawing room. I think that will be a good start."

***

With Dan and Penny's help, Cordelia set to work on the drawing room. It was a grand space, filled with elegant furniture covered in dust sheets and heavy drapes not drawn back in years.

Together, they aired out the room, polished the furniture, and brought in fresh flowers from the garden. The transformation was slow but steady, and the room grew brighter and more inviting each day.

As they worked, Cordelia continued to ask both Dan and Penny about Julian, learning more about his past and the events that had shaped him.

She discovered that Julian's family had once loved hosting gatherings, filling Whitestone's halls with laughter and music. It was hard to reconcile this image with the solitary, brooding figure she knew now, but it gave her hope. If Julian had once been capable of such joy, perhaps he could find it again.

One afternoon, as they were arranging fresh flowers on the mantelpiece, Cordelia turned to Dan. "Do you think the duke would join us if we invited him to see the drawing room once it is finished?"

Dan considered this for a moment. "It is possible, My Lady. The duke has always had a fondness for this room. It might stir some old memories and remind him of happier times. That would be lovely."

Cordelia nodded, feeling a spark of excitement. "Then we shall do just that. We will make it a surprise that I truly hope he embraces and enjoys. It may even help to bring him back to us.

Dan smiled, a glimmer of hope in his eyes. "I think you might be right about that."

It did not take long until Cordelia stood in the drawing room, her heart racing with anticipation. The room had been completely transformed.

Sunlight streamed through the freshly washed windows, illuminating the space with a warm, golden glow. The once dust-covered furniture was now polished to a high shine, and the air was filled with the fresh scent of flowers from the garden.

It was a space reborn, filled with light and life.

She glanced around, making sure everything was perfect. The tea was set, and a selection of cakes and sandwiches neatly arranged on the table. She had put her heart into this project, hoping it would be a step towards bridging the gap between her and Julian.

Dan entered the room, a reassuring presence. "The duke is on his way, My Lady."

Cordelia nodded, her stomach fluttering with nerves. "Thank you, Dan."

Moments later, she heard footsteps approaching. Her heart hammered with anticipation. She could not stop the smile from spreading across her face as she waited for the next step of her plan.

And then it happened.

Julian entered the room, his expression one of confusion and curiosity. He paused in the doorway, his eyes widening as he took in the transformed space.

"Julian," Cordelia said softly, stepping forward. "Welcome to the drawing room on the east wing. I hope you like what I have done with it."

Julian looked around, clearly astonished. "I have not set foot in this room for years," he admitted. "It is … remarkable. It looks even better than I remember it when my mother used to keep this room."

Cordelia smiled, relief washing over her. "I wanted to make it a welcoming space again. A place where we can spend time together and perhaps … talk."

He nodded, clearly impressed. "You have done a wonderful job, Cordelia. This room feels alive again. Whitestone is lucky to have you."

Her heart lifted at his praise, but she was not satisfied with just that. "Thank you, Julian. But there is something else. I have prepared tea for us. I was hoping we could sit and have a proper conversation."

Julian's expression faltered, and he glanced towards the door. "I am afraid I

cannot stay for tea. I have important matters to attend to."

Cordelia felt a pang of disappointment, but she refused to let it show. She stepped closer, her eyes meeting his. "Julian, please. Just for a little while. I have put a lot of effort into this, and I believe it is important for us to spend time together. We are husband and wife, after all."

Julian seemed taken aback by her stubbornness. He hesitated, his gaze softening slightly. "Very well," he said finally, his voice low. "I will stay. At least for a little while."

Cordelia's smile widened, and she gestured towards the sofa. "Thank you. Please, have a seat. I will pour us some drinks."

They settled down, the tea service between them. Cordelia poured the tea, her hands steady despite the excitement thrumming through her veins. She handed him a cup, and he took it, their fingers brushing briefly.

For a moment, they sipped their tea in silence. Cordelia searched for the right words to make the most of this rare opportunity.

"Julian," she began, her voice gentle, "I know things have been difficult for you. I cannot imagine what you have been through. But I want you to know that I am here for you. I want to understand you, to be a companion to you, not just in name but in truth."

Julian looked at her, his eyes filled with emotions she could not quite decipher. "Cordelia, you do not need to concern yourself with my past. It is … complicated. I do not need to talk about it with you …"

"I want to," she insisted. "I want to be a part of your life, Julian. We are in this together, and I believe we can find happiness if we try."

He sighed, setting his cup down. "You are very determined. I do not think I have ever met someone as determined as you."

Her words that she had spoken during their first dance came flooding back to her as he called her ‘determined':

"I may be an idealist, but I am also determined. Each of us can influence the world around us, show compassion where there is none, and stand against injustice. Even if the change is slow, it is worth striving for."

She was proud of herself for putting that into action, and actually trying to make a change.

"Well, I have had enough," she confessed candidly. "Enough of being left alone, enough of the silence between us."

"You have had enough?" he asked, seemingly shocked by her sharpness. But the way that his lips curled into a half smile pushed her further.

It was time to express herself more.

"Yes, I have had enough. I demand that we see each other daily, for walks in the garden, for breakfast, to converse over anything and everything. I will not be ignored any longer."

Julian's brow furrowed in confusion. "Cordelia, I …"

But she cut him off, her determination to finally be heard boiling over. "No more excuses, Julian. No more hiding behind your work or your past. I married you because I believed we could build a life together, but you have shut me out at every turn. I want more from you. I no longer want to be a shadow in the walls."

A tense silence followed as Julian stared at her, his expression unreadable. Cordelia's nerves zig-zagged all the way through her. She had not planned on the conversation going this way, and she was worried she might have pushed Julian away because she had been far too bold.

Finally, he spoke, his voice barely above a whisper. "You do not understand, Cordelia. You cannot possibly understand."

"Then help me understand," she pleaded. "Tell me what has been troubling you and keeping you locked away in this cold, dark place. I want to help you, Julian, but I cannot do that if you will not let me in."

He hesitated, his gaze flickering away from hers. "It is because of my face, of course?" he said softly. "You gasped when you first saw me. You must think of me as a monster. I cannot stand the way everyone thinks of me as a monster."

Cordelia's heart twisted at his words. She had never meant to hurt him, never meant for her reaction to cause him pain.

"Julian, no," she said, her voice trembling with emotion. "I never thought of you that way. Yes, I was surprised when I first saw your scar, but it was only because I did not expect it. It does not change how I feel about you. I would not have agreed to marry you had I thought you a monster."

He shook his head, his eyes haunted. "But every time I look at you, I am reminded of that moment. I am reminded of what I have lost, of the man I used to be."

Cordelia's eyes watered as she realized the depth of his pain. She had never meant to be the source of his suffering, but she had become exactly that in her ignorance.

"Julian, I am so sorry," she whispered, her voice thick with tears. "I never wanted to hurt you. Please, let me help you. Let us face this together, as husband and wife."

But Julian stood up abruptly, his movements stiff and odd-looking. "I cannot do this," he said, his voice strained. "I need some air."

Before Cordelia could protest, he was gone, disappearing into the darkness of the hallway. She sank into a chair, her heart heavy with guilt and sorrow. She had pushed too hard, demanded too much, and now she had driven him away.

As tears streamed down her cheeks, Cordelia realized the painful truth: the source of her husband's pain and hiding was her.

And now, she would do whatever it took to make things right, to earn back his trust, no matter how long it took.