Chapter 236 You Won't Win This Time

• I stayed in my room from then out as much as I was able. Staying near Elva helped me keep in mind my promise to her. I would not abandon her again. And so long as I was in my room, I was safe from running into Nicholas and Bridget and seeing whatever was going on between the two of them unfold.
• Elva seemed happy to have me near, and we played a lot, including the game I had promised where we sat in the window and counted the different kinds of birds we could see down in the gardens.
• While Elva was awake and active, we had a great time. Even when her tutors arrived and she learned, I sat quietly and listened, proud of how smart my little girl was.