“I’m sorry you caught me like this,” he said in a broken voice as he rubbed his throbbing leg. “Cooler weather makes my leg ache something fierce.”
Her gaze moved away from his scars, and she met his stare. “Anastasia mentioned you were in the library. Forgive me for disturbing you.”
He shook his head. “Nonsense. I just wasn’t... prepared.” He smiled. “But seeing you brightens my day.” He moved his focus over her pony-tailed hair and her blouse and skirt. She wasn’t dressed as fancy as she’d been yesterday, but it didn’t matter to him. She would always be the prettiest lady in the world.
She held up a book that he hadn’t noticed her holding.
“I was hoping,” she said, “that you could help me with this. I found this in my mother’s old trunk.”
He arched an eyebrow. “Is it Lucinda’s missing journal?”
“Sadly, no. But I’m stumped.” She handed him the book. “I don’t know what kind of book it is. My grandmother gave it to my mother, but I’ve never seen it before.”
As he took the book from her, he purposely caressed her fingers. The moment didn’t last long, but his heart bounced with energy. Something must have affected her because she inhaled quickly.
Although he didn’t want to take his eyes off her, he glanced at the book. The symbols on the cover seemed familiar, but he couldn’t recall where he’d seen them before. He opened the book to the first page and scanned the words. Some of them made sense; most of them didn’t.
“Do you understand that jibberish?” she asked.
He shook his head. “Not really. Sometimes it reads like a recipe, but this is definitely not for meals.”
“I thought so, too.”
She touched his hand. “Terrick? Would you mind looking through the book for me? I need to get back to your sister now. I’d truly appreciate your help.”
His heart lightened from her smile. Perhaps she wasn’t afraid of his scars as she’d said. “Yes, of course.”
“Oh, and don’t let your father see it.”
He narrowed his gaze on her. “Why not?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. I don’t feel right about others seeing this book, but I knew I could trust you.”
He struggled against his emotions again, wanting to take her in his arms, but he resisted. Could she finally be remembering something about their past? “Then I won’t show anyone. Not even Anastasia’s cat.”
Bella laughed, and it sounded like angels singing.
“Thank you.” She took a few steps away, but then stopped and looked over her shoulder. “Will I see you at lunchtime?”
“I’ll be there if you wish it.”
She nodded. “I wish it.”
Terrick watched her walk out of the library, and he held back the urge to shout for joy. He wanted to believe things were finally going to smooth out for both of them. They’d been apart for too long. He didn’t want another month to go by without her love.
SEVEN
BELLA WAS MORE AT PEACE today, but she couldn’t figure out why. She still didn’t have a memory of her sixteenth year but being here at the Wentworth Estate calmed her. She compared the feeling of coming home. Yet, this wasn’t her home at all. However, the family treated her so kindly as if she were already part of them.
The lessons with Anastasia went well, but the girl became distracted quite often, and soon, the girl was talking about having a party to introduce her to the town. Bella thought it was a grand idea, but she worried that Terrick wouldn’t agree. After all, she was certain Garrett had spread rumors about the beast at the estate. Yesterday’s incident probably only made things worse with the arrogant man. But Anastasia was determined to have a ball, and she left their lessons to find her father in hopes of convincing him that the party was a good idea.
Bella took this opportunity to look for Terrick. He’d had several hours now to look through her mother’s book, and she wanted some answers.
When he wasn’t in the library, she continued moving through the house, peeking in each room on the lower level. As she neared one of the last rooms, she heard someone playing the pianoforte. Immediately, she remembered the music. She’d loved this, but she didn’t know why. Throughout the years, she caught herself many times, humming the tune.
The door was closed, so she softly knocked. Nobody answered, but the person kept playing. She cautiously opened the door and peeked inside. Terrick sat at the musical instrument, playing. His back was to her, so he didn’t see her walk inside.
As she approached him, she hummed the tune, smiling wide. This tune made her feel happy and gave her the hope of a deeper happiness that would be in her future. It pleased her more than she realized to know that Terrick could play this tune.
She stopped behind him, and immediately, he stopped. His body stiffened.
“Don’t stop,” she said softly.
Gasping, he turned and looked at her. He wasn’t wearing his scarf, but it was all right. The two large scars and three smaller ones on his face didn’t bother her. It was obvious that he had been a very handsome man. He still was, in fact.
“Do you know the piece I was playing?”
She nodded. “Yes, but I don’t know the name. I just know it’s in my mind from time to time. Humming it makes me happy.”
“Do you remember when you first heard it?”
“No.” She paused, staring into his amazing gray eyes. “By chance, do you know?”
He grinned, which made the scar on his lip nearly disappear. “Yes. I was the one who played it for you. The day I played it, you had told me that you’d never heard anything so beautiful in your life.”
“I haven’t, and I don’t think I ever will.” She moved beside him on the bench, and he slid over to
