"I have not prevented it."
"No," Eleanor agreed. "But you have not encouraged it either, and though you may not have noticed it, Lily does think you are the most wonderful person in the world."
Julian’s expression did not change, but he was completely taken aback. The words settled between them, and Julian did not respond at once.
Instead, he looked at her, properly this time, as though reassessing something he had thought already defined. As infuriating as she was, when she was passionate about something Julian noticed that she pursed her lips, and her eyes were larger and round as she waited for an answer.
"You have known her for a matter of days," he said.
"And yet she told me that," Eleanor replied. "That in itself should tell you that she is serious. I thought you should know, that is all. I would like to have been, if it were me."
Julian lowered his eyes.
"I am pleased you have come to me, for what it is worth. Do not think that I am ungrateful."
She held his gaze for a moment longer, as though ensuring the meaning had settled, then turned toward the door. Her hand paused briefly against it.
"She is very fond of you," she added, without turning.
Julian did not reply. The door closed softly behind her, and the room was quiet again.
But it was not as it had been before.
Julian did not remain in the study. The silence Eleanor left behind did not settle as it usually would. It lingered instead, her words refusing to fade.
Lily needed more. He moved before the thought had fully resolved.
The corridors were quiet as he stepped out. He did not question where he was going. The direction was instinctive.
He found Lily near the smaller garden, not far from the terrace. She was no longer with the others. A maid stood at a distance, watching without interfering, while Lily crouched near a patch of flowers, her attention fixed on something at ground level.
Julian slowed as he approached. She did not notice him immediately.
"What are you doing?"
Lily looked up at once.
For a brief moment, something like surprise crossed her face, as though she had not expected him to appear there at all.
"I found something," she said.
Julian stepped closer, though not too close so as not to crowd her.
"What is it?"
Lily shifted slightly to the side, making space without being asked.
"A beetle."
He looked down. It was nothing remarkable; a small, dark bug that was moving slowly along the edge of a leaf. Lily, however, watched it with complete focus.
"It is not very interesting," Julian said.
"It is," she replied. "You simply have to look properly."
He did not contradict her again. A brief silence followed, though it was not entirely uncomfortable.
"You have been outside for some time," he said.