Valley of Dragons (The Secrets of Ormdale, #5)

by Christina Baehr

vegetarian!” We both turned to see Meredith looking rather uneasily at Pilot in the passage.

“Good dog,” she murmured.

“So,” she said dryly as we got ready to get into bed, “this is your happy single life, then.” “Well, I wouldn’t give this as a specimen of a normal evening,” I admitted. “And I’m ashamed to admit the single part didn’t last quite as long as I intended."

“Edith, would you please stop digressing and tell me what this means for us? Really, you are worse than some of my lecturers!”

“I’m not sure it isn’t ridiculous, in its way, but perhaps some of the nicest and best things in life are a bit ridiculous. Falling in love, and cream buns, and—I don’t know!—babies, and singing, and the monarchy itself, for goodness’ sake!

“It’s no good, you know,” Gwendolyn said, patting her on the back. “I tried to dislike Edith once, but she’ll have you in the end.”

“It’s no fault of yours. Our family lost the thread, somewhere along the way. I think each generation must choose to take it up—freely, of their own will, or things go rotten. Love doesn’t grow in cages, and secrets are the worst kind of cage.”

Gwendolyn’s fingers dug into my arm. “Are you quite certain you want to marry that?” “Never more so,” I breathed, gripping the door frame. “He’s not ‘too Heathcliff’ for you after all, then?” “No. Not a bit.” Gwendolyn’s voice lowered. “Don’t you dare ask me to be godmother to your children, do you hear? I don’t want to be responsible for whatever heredity will do with them.”

“Ah! I apologise,” said Father. “I was buried in books this morning, but I will be more sociable for the rest of the day,

I promise you. It

“Your grandfather?” repeated Tallantire, eyebrows shooting up. “Yes,” I confirmed. “He’s—well, he’s not your average grandfather.” “You haven’t met mine,” Meredith muttered.

“No, no! What are you all doing? There’s no time for that!” came Violet’s frustrated voice.

How could I explain to him that when I demanded least from people, they gave most?

“You decide, Edith. Forgiveness doesn’t mean pretending everything is all right. You taught me that.”

People were busy with Christmas secrets, and we had to stomp around loudly or risk being shrieked at every time you opened a door.

Watching the water swirl at my feet, I admitted that I hadn’t been able to wrestle a blessing out of this part of our family legacy. But then again, it hadn’t been my story to write.

He went back to smoking. The old Edith would have tried to convince him, but for this Edith, it was enough simply to sit and wait with him.

We all find his lack of dissembling rather endearing. All of us except Gwendolyn.

“No, Edith. Love is costly, and the truth is costly. But I’ve tried living without them.” She looked at me. “They are worth the cost—every bit.”