Dahlia watched as he left, carefully closing the door behind him. And as soon as it was closed, she felt herself deflated. What had just happened? Not just the sex - surprising as that was - but all of it. Already her words rang with regret in her mind. Why had she said it like that? It wasn't that she hadn't meant it, but... And it wasn't lost on her that when he bade her good night, it was to 'Lady Gray.'
Pulling her night shirt back up around her, Dahlia collapsed down onto the bed. Why, she wondered, did it feel like her life was always unravelling? Normally she didn't stop for this sort of self-pity, but in that moment, all Dahlia could wonder was why she couldn't seem to catch a break. But she was here, and whatever had just happened with Edward, he wasn't the reason why. Her children were out there. Missing. Finding them; that was what was most important now. But, as she tried to settle into a fitful half-sleep, images of Edward mixed with those of her children's faces as she waited for dawn.
The next morning found Dahlia more composed than the night before, but almost more anxious. She felt like the night before had been, surely, just a dream. But she knew it wasn't. She was up and dressed by dawn. The first thing she needed to do, she knew, was see Edward. And when a manservant brought her into the breakfast room where the lord was taking his first meal, Dahlia was very relieved to find him alone.
The man servant left, and the sound of the door closing behind him felt very, very loud.
For a few moments, Dahlia stood in awkward silence, as if temporarily mute. When she finally found her voice, it was firm, but apologetic, and a little sad. "Edward," she started, not resorting yet to calling him 'Lord Draven', "please let me apologize for my words last night. I spoke terribly out of turn. You know, I hope, that your friendship means a great deal to me."