"That is not what I said."
"I know."
"She could stay properly," Lily insisted, her small voice gaining a little urgency. "She could stay and not go away like–"
She stopped herself, though the rest of the sentence did not need to be spoken. Julian’s voice remained steady.
"She is not going anywhere."
Lily searched his face, as though trying to find something more in his answer, something that matched what she had meant rather than what he had said.
"You like her too," she said. "Maybe that is why I did from the start."
Julian hesitated, though only briefly.
"Yes."
It should have been enough, but it was not. Lily shifted, uncertainty replacing the earlier certainty she had carried so easily.
"You do not sound as though you do," she said.
Julian’s gaze lowered to her again.
"I said that I do."
"But you do not say it properly," she replied.
The simplicity of it made it difficult to answer.
Julian exhaled slowly, though there was nothing impatient in the motion.
"She is kind," he said. "She is thoughtful. She has been good to you, and that is important."
"Then she could stay," Lily repeated, though her voice was quieter now, less certain than before. "She could be like her. She would not leave."
Julian’s jaw tightened slightly, though his tone did not change.
"That is not something you need to think about."
"But I do think about it," Lily said.
"I know, and you should not. You are a child."
Lily’s grip on his sleeve loosened slightly.
"You do not want her to stay in the way that I do," she said.
Julian looked down at her, something unreadable passing through him before it settled again.
"That is not what I said."
"It is what you meant."
There was no accusation in it. Julian did not correct her. Instead, he placed a hand lightly against her shoulder, guiding her backtoward the house with a gentle pressure that did not allow the conversation to continue in the same direction.
"You should not concern yourself with such things," he said. "They are not yours to manage."
Lily did not resist, but she did not look reassured either. As they walked, she remained quieter than before. He had agreed with her in the only way he could, and still it had not been enough.