Chapter 32

Next to his was his tutor's room, and then a classroom. I had my own room and attended classes with him.”

“Poor little boy! It must have been lonely here…”

Ian remained on the threshold. He shrugged.

“I was used to it, it's quite normal in a big house like this.”

“Well, it won't be anymore…”

Tradition had its merits, but this isolated room made her uncomfortable; it was as if the children were being punished for a crime... the crime of being children, that is.

“I want to have the baby with me. What's this?”

 Eden pulled back the dusty tarpaulin.

“Oh, a cradle. How old was it?”

It was strange; under her hand, the dark oak felt alive. With an impulse, Eden gently rocked it. She looked under the wooden corolla with a smile, imagining her baby safe under there and returning the smiles.

“This is the cradle of the heir to the title.I think. You can see it in many of the portraits in our grand gallery. See the coat of arms on