Chapter 4. A Stroll in the Garden

Lorenzo wanted to smack his tongue. 

‘A stroll in the garden?’

Why did he suggest a stroll together, like a pair of loving siblings? For as long as he could remember, the two of them wanted nothing more than to be far away from each other. 

But more surprisingly, Floriana had agreed to it. 

She had hesitated at first. Lorenzo, too, had noticed a flaw in his suggestion. He couldn’t take her on a walk through town, where someone might approach them, or - more riskily - someone might recognise them and strike up conversation. Floriana being taken hostage was a matter of utmost secrecy, and so was her current condition.

It wasn’t until he refined his offer, specifically picking the estate garden to take a turn about in, that Floriana nodded meekly. 

Lorenzo found himself standing at the bottom of the staircase, dressed lightly in casual clothing. The time was almost 11am, well past his breakfast time. But Floriana had always been a late sleeper, so he had no choice but to wait. Eleven in the morning was certainly a compromise for her. 

Just as he was wondering whether she changed her mind, Lorenzo saw a couple of figures descending the central staircase. A maid from his sister's room, accompanying Floriana down the steps. 

She was no longer in a nightgown. She wore a simple dress without a crinoline, the cream-coloured linen embroidered with gold and pink, hemmed with lace. The long sleeves ballooned at her wrists and were secured with a neat ribbon bow. Her feet made hardly any sound as she walked down, wearing simple, flat shoes. 

Even the way she dressed seemed entirely different. Lorenzo felt a pang in his chest. 

Floriana came up beside him and looked straight at him. She seemed expectant. Of course, since he promised to bring back Elodie if she went on a walk with him. 

Somehow. Lorenzo couldn’t help but feel that part hadn’t changed. The two of them were always compromising and bargaining. Recalling favours or refusing requests when there was nothing else to gain. Occasionally, making threats. 

There was still that part of her. 

“Shall we go?” 

Lorenzo held out his hand. Floriana stared at it. He figured she would hesitate. Even when they attended events together in the past, their father had to force them to walk arm-in-arm and get along, even if they were only pretending. 

Maybe he could get a reaction out of her if he pulled a trick like this. 

But completely contrary to his expectations, Floriana took his arm. She wrapped her own arm around his, looping it over. As if it were the most natural thing ever. 

Lorenzo stood stunned for a moment. Perhaps Floriana had hit her head and lost her memories that day too. No, the physician never mentioned that. 

“…?”

Floriana looked at him expectantly. Her large brown eyes blinked. 

No, maybe she was desperate to get her maid back. Lorenzo accepted her arm and adjusted it. 

But, before that, he noticed something else. 

“Wait. What’s this?”

He unhooked her arm and held her wrist. Then he glanced up at her questioningly. There was something there. 

Floriana’s eyes avoided his gaze. But she moved without objection, unfurling the ribbon around her wrist. She revealed her bare arm…

Rather, it would have been bare if not for the bandages around her wrist. 

Lorenzo’s eyes widened in shock, his brows furrowing. 

Why did she have those bandages? Why had he never seen them before…?

“Why do you…”

He muttered before he could realise it. Floriana seemed abashed as she turned around halfway. Showing her brother half her back, she linked her wrists together behind herself. 

The scene overlapped with an image he couldn’t forget. 

The way she was tied up when he saw her in the alley that night. 

Tap, tap. Floriana gently knocked her wrists together and gave Lorenzo a wry smile. Then she turned back around. 

Come to think of it, he had only ever seen her wearing long sleeves since she returned. Had he never noticed it before, or had she been hiding them this whole time?

Did it hurt that much that she was still wearing bandages?

Just how long was she in that state for mere restraints to cause that much pain. 

A bitter taste was on his tongue. 

Floriana had since avoided his gaze and began to tie her cuffs with the ribbon again. Her thin fingers looped and pulled the lace strip as she tried to make a bow. 

Lorenzo reached out. 

He took her wrist in his hands, and started to pull the lace. Gently, her cuffs closed on her wrists. Floriana looked up at him, but Lorenzo was focused on making a bow. He pulled on the final two loops to secure it. 

“There. …Let’s go now.”

He held out his arm again. 

Floriana glanced at her cuff, then her brother’s waiting hand. She took it in silence. 

The cuff of her sleeve felt loose. 

***

Lorenzo was still bewildered at the fact he was on a stroll with his sister in the garden. He never imagined the two of them would do something like that one day. 

The pair walked down a worn path in the grassy yard. The garden was not as large or elaborate as a Duke’s or even a Marquess’ home. But for a county's estate, it was a notable size. Enough meters that two or three turns about the place could easily take up almost an hour or more. 

In that time, Lorenzo took the opportunity to converse about various things. His work, the estate affairs, trending news in high society. He had hoped that Floriana would find something of interest to respond to. 

“……”

He looked down at her with weary eyes. 

Floriana was leaning towards a bush of pink hydrangeas, gazing at the delicate flowers in full bloom. 

She seemed to be enjoying herself, at least. The weather was good, the sun high in the blue sky, and the garden was clean. 

Ever since his father had passed away, Lorenzo had been swamped with work, working diligently to take over the estate properly. He hadn’t had the time yet to attend to the garden like his father did. 

That was why after making the suggestion yesterday, he quickly called for the gardener to clean things up a little. Leaves were brushed away, hedges were trimmed, fresh flowers were planted. 

It was all for Floriana to enjoy the experience and, hopefully, say something. 

But she only admired the garden in silence. 

Lorenzo couldn’t help but feel a little disheartened. 

Especially because, right now, Floriana looked so very much like their mother. 

Floriana stared at the flowers for a moment. Then she looked up at Lorenzo and tilted her head. 

“…”

‘What's wrong?’ 

He wanted to ask her if there was something. But held back. If she wanted to say something, then he wanted her to say it. 

Floriana looked back and forth between the flowers and Lorenzo. She looked at her brother with expectant eyes, but he only stared back at her. 

Her lips parted and promptly closed again. Impatiently. 

Lorenzo sighed lightly and squatted. He tilted his head towards her and spoke. 

“What is it you want to say?”

She shouldn’t get used to him guessing what she wanted to tell him. 

Her lips pursed closed, and she looked away from him, with a somewhat deflated expression. Lorenzo inwardly sighed. 

He straightened and held out his hand. 

“Let’s go.”

“…?”

Floriana took his hand with a questioning look. It wasn't before long that her confusions were cleared.  

In a corner of the garden that they hadn’t walked to, under the shade of a pink blossoming tree, was a pristine gazebo. The white stone was blindingly bright, cozily covered in flower vines. In the centre was a table, draped in an elegant tablecloth and surrounded by two chairs. An array of food items filled the surface. Bread, fruits, cups of syrup and cream, sausages, eggs, and boiled vegetables…

Floriana blinked at the sight. She turned to Lorenzo. He had a slight, almost bitter, smirk on his face. 

“You haven’t eaten, right?”