"I see. And when you lost your memory and lived with her, you fell madly in love with her without knowing you were her tutor."

It was not a question, I was making an obvious statement. William startled and widened his eyes fixing them on me, without saying a word, his gaze asked me everything.

"Aunt, I didn't..."

"Please William, don't think me stupid!, I've lived long enough to be able to know when someone is in love. I knew it when you first recovered your memory and returned to us, every time you talked about 'the person who took care of you' your eyes lit up and sparkled like I had never seen before. But a very similar light radiated from Anthony's eyes when he spoke about Candice, and also from Alistair's and Archibald's during a period of time. And it's not just that, you are so like your father and when you father met Priscilla, his eyes sparkled just like yours.

When I saw you like that I worried, thinking and wondering who was that person who had taken care of you and was capable of making your eyes sparkle so?. And that was precisely the reason why I couldn't sleep last night, because finally, during that engagement party I knew that it had been Candice, and I couldn't believe it, I couldn't pair the image of someone I had always despised with that of someone to whom all my nephews, without exception, had fallen in love with. Either she was a witch, or all my nephews were fools, or everything I had always believed about her was unfounded, and she really was like Anthony, Stear and Archie always described her.

So here we are William... Anthony and Alistair are not with us anymore, Archibald has a girlfriend that seems to adore him, Neal fled to Florida brokenhearted, or at least that's what he says, and you are the only one left behind... The sole heir and patriarch of this family, in love with his adoptive daughter... What are you going to do?"

William listened to me almost without blinking and when I finally finished talking, he sighted and firmly answered:

"Nothing."

"Nothing?"

"That's right, I plan to do nothing."

"Why?, because you are thinking of finding a better and worthier woman to be your wife?, a lady of rank, ancestry, fortune and good family?"

"Not precisely... you know quite well, aunt, that all those things are not important for me. The thing that would make me the happiest person in the world is to find a woman with whom I can share my love of nature and freedom, someone who doesn't judge people by their appearance and above all, someone who could love me because of who I am as a man and not because of my 'rank, ancestry, fortune and good family'. And if I found someone like that, I wouldn't wait for anyone to approve of our relationship, or agree if she was or not worthy to be my wife. I would marry her without question, not caring about who opposed, or what I had to lose."

"Hum... Yes, that is exactly what I thought could be your answer. So, you are saying then that you haven't found any of these qualities in Candice?... Since you seem to have decided to do absolutely nothing about her."

"Quite the contrary, aunt. If you really want to know the truth and you are ready to hear it, as it seems you are, I have found all of that and more in Candice... but there is one fundamental thing lacking."

For a moment I breathed with relief and asked:

"And what is it that's lacking?"

William lowered his gaze once more and answered:

"She doesn't love me."

"Impossible!"

"No, not impossible aunt... Candy is in love with someone else."

"Are you talking about that boy Granchester?... I heard something about it, but Neal mentioned they were not together anymore, and I have read in the journals that he now lives with an actress named Susanna Marlowe. Besides, if I remember correctly, Neal once said that he was convinced that if Candice was in love with someone, it was with the man that lived with her... that is to mean: you."

"I don't think so, aunt. Candy cried a long time for Terry after their breakup, I was there, I consoled her, I know all she suffered and I also know she hasn't completely recovered. There is really nothing I can do if she loves someone else, especially now that she knows I'm her tutor, I wouldn't want her to feel forced to reciprocate my feelings just out of gratitude or obligation and not out of love... I wouldn't be able to bear it."

"You are going to tell me that all these years you two lived together, nothing happened between you?... I was convinced that..."

"Aunt, you yourself made sure I was educated to become a gentleman, and Candy, whatever you might think of her, is a lady. You are mistaken to think badly of us. All the gossip you've heard is totally unfounded, and it pains me greatly that it's because of me that Candy's reputation has been damaged, as well as her profession and his nursing career."

"I understand... look William, I'll be honest with you. I never allowed myself to be fond of Candice, I never gave myself time to get to know her and I always blamed her for all our family's disgraces; but now, knowing that it's because of her that we have you back alive, all I want is to thank her from the bottom of my heart for everything she has done for you, even exposing herself to gossip and disdain in order to help you.

When I see you, I'm reminded so much of your father; when you talk about her there is a sparkle in your eyes, just as there was in his eyes when he talked about your mother. And as much as I would love to impose my wishes and find you a wife according to my list of requirements, I know that only you know your needs and wants. We have imposed you so much since your father died, I would like that at least on the subject of your life partner, only you have a saying...

No!, don't think that because of this we are just going to receive her with open arms if she accepts you, Candice may be a good girl but she needs a lot of work in order to become the lady that society expects to be your wife, at least in public; and of course there is also the issue of the adoption. But you are no longer a kid William, and the Ardlay's need an heir. I think Candice feels something for you, but if you think that it's not love, let me then talk to her and try to figure out her feelings, alright?"

"Aunt, I don't think it's a good idea that precisely you..."

"And why not? Leave it to me, or is it that you don't consider me a good negotiator? The only thing I need is for you to trust me enough."

"I cannot say if you are once more planning something behind my back, but your words seem sincere... Alright aunt, I'll trust you."

"Thank you, you can trust me. But when I speak with Candice I want you to listen from the adjoining room, so that you can know the truth from her lips."

"No, that is definitely not a good idea..."

"On the contrary, I think it an excellent idea!... But, you will have to suppress your desire to bring down the door in order to rescue her if you think I am being too hard on her. Because if that is what I need to do in order to know the whole truth, that is what I will do!"

William reluctantly accepted my proposal and afterwards went out to sign some papers at the Bank of Chicago. I issued Candice a formal invitation to visit me the next week. I needed to take some time to forge my plan and to recollect everything I might need in order to carry it to perfection... I could not fail.

Apparently they day I summoned her, Candice went to look for William at his office before coming to talk to me at the mansion, but since they told her that Mr. Ardlay had taken the day off, once she arrived at the mansion she went looking for him before coming to see me at the time stipulated.

I still didn't know Candice had asked William for his approval to return to Pony's Home, and I also did not know that he had agreed to it, even going against his feelings for her and the wish to keep her by his side.

To be continued...

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