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That was true. For the first time since the attack, I began to see what Comfort had meant. She continued, “Hubert is very handsome. Tall, muscular, nice hair and teeth, all those sorts of things. But he had almost no friends because he is a tedious and self-absorbed bore.”

“Well, don’t say what you really think,” I teased her.

“But really! Even though Hubert is very handsome, people can’t stand him after talking to him for a few minutes. But Bernard—"

“Bernard the Bard,” I grinned.

“Yes. Everyone loved him, and once you got to know him, you really never thought about what he looks like. He is just…Bernard. It doesn’t matter what someone looks like; it matters who they are.”

That night, I went to bed determined to turn over a new leaf. No longer would I hide away from the world, but would embrace it. I wanted to live my life in a way that would make Father proud.

CHAPTER 31

I wanted to spend the week getting to know my new stepsister. Using my newfound resolution to be myself and not live in fear of what others would say about my scars, I suggested outings. To visit the menagerie, to go swimming at the stream, or for walks in the woods. I even ventured into town to visit the bookshop and was able to select several new volumes in different languages; my Latin was getting rusty from the months of disuse.

It felt like waking up after a deep sleep as I began going out again. I had always loved talking to people, visiting new places, and having fun with my sister. Comfort, delighted with my sudden surge in energy and eagerness to be out and about, accompanied me everywhere, and introduced me to friends and acquaintances. I was still very self-conscious of my scars, but other than a few surprised looks, no one said anything.

The day before Mother and Algernon were due to return, I managed to convince Cynthia to accompany me on a walk to town. Comfort was off with some friends.

We walked along the path, unsure how to break the tension between us. I was glad that Comfort was not with us, given how she had ruined my last attempt at friendship with my new stepsister.

Sometimes it is easier to talk about something other than yourself. “Tell me about your dad,” I coaxed. “I still don’t know much about him.”

Cynthia shrugged. “He is just dad. He likes reading history books. And traveling. And cooking. He is very good at chess.”

“You know a lot of history too,” I said encouragingly. “You were incredible during the history quiz when we had game night.”

“Dad used to read the history books to me when I was little,” Cynthia said. She looked at me. “Your dad told you stories too, didn’t he?” then she hurriedly said, “But you don’t have to talk about him if you don’t want to.”

“That’s okay. I like remembering him,” I told her. “He was a wonderful storyteller and always told us fairy tales and legends from all over the world from his travels. He used to tell us stories every evening.”

“You must hate Dad for taking his place.”

“No, I don’t,” I said truthfully. “He hasn’t taken Father’s place. And I am glad for Mother. She was so sad before. It is nice to see her happy again.”

“I don’t remember my mom,” Cynthia admitted.

“She died when you were a baby, didn’t she?”

Cynthia nodded. “Dad says I look just like her,” she smiled a tiny bit, then stopped walking. I imitated her.

Cynthia scuffed the toe of her tiny shoe against the dirt trail. “I am sorry for how I have been acting,” she apologized. “I know you are happy for your mom, to be with someone again. Dad and I have been together, just us, for so long. It is weird to have to share him with other people now.”

This was more honesty than I had hoped to get out of Cynthia. “It is okay. Lots of changes are difficult.”

We started walking again. It felt like the icy distance between us had melted a little. The tension between us shrunk a little. There was even an inkling of a friendship beginning.

“Didn’t you used to live at the castle?” Cynthia asked. “Comfort told me.”

“Yes, we did. Father was Chancellor of the Exchequer.”

“What is that?”

“He was in charge of taxes.”

“What was it like?”

“What, being in charge of taxes, or living at the castle?”