by Lisa Campell
“I have all night long to rest. I want to have this conversation out of the way as quickly as possible.”
The viscount nodded. “I understand.”
Silence reigned as Edward watched him for a moment. Caroline had told him she had mentioned nothing of marriage in the letter, but for some reason, he believed Lord Wymore already knew why they had come.
Deciding to cut to the chase, he said, “You know why we are here, do you not?”
The viscount’s eye widened with question. He cleared his throat as he dropped his gaze.
“I believe I do.”
Edward smirked. “The gossip mill is indeed effective.”
Lord Wymore sighed. “I have received letters of congratulations from well-meaning members of the Ton. I admit, I was somewhat confused, but I chose to be patient and await your visit. I knew everything would be explained then.”
Edward sensed the viscount had more to say.
“But…” he prompted.
“Whittaker was here two days ago. He was very furious. He said a lot of gabble but I managed to make sense out of a few words.”
Edward gritted his teeth. “Did he make threats?”
“He did, but I do not think he believes he still has any power. I understand you intend to pay off my debts.”
Edward nodded. “As long as you owe him nothing, he holds no power over you or Caroline.”
The viscount couldn’t look him in the eye.
“I know you think I am a bad father.”
Edward shook his head. “It is not my place to judge you. What I think does not matter. The only person whose thoughts should matter to you is Caroline. I reckon she has a lot to say.”
The older man agreed. “Yes. I could see it in her eyes.” He heaved a deep sigh. “I believed I was doing the right thing. When I realized how much I owed him, I knew I was doomed. Then all of a sudden, he asked about my daughter. I have always been proud of Caroline, you see, mischievous as she is. I would speak of her with pride as we played a game of cards, telling everyone of how beautiful and fierce she is. It was how he came to know of her.”
He paused, staring into the distance. Edward knew his memories were haunting him.
“He said he would write it all off, if only I would give him Caroline. I refused at first, of course. I had promised my daughter she could marry whomever she chose, and deep down, I knew she cared only for you.”
Edward’s throat suddenly felt tight. He swallowed hard.
“I promised I would find a way to pay him back without having to barter her. So, I began to look for ways. Alas, I had already lost too much. The longer I took, the bigger the interest grew. Eventually, I gave him the townhouse, believing it would offset some of the debts, but he valued it at so little.”
Lord Wymore shook his head. “He wouldn’t let me be. Eventually, I gave in. The way I saw it, I was doing what was best for us all. Whittaker is wealthy enough to make certain she would never lack for anything. He also vowed to care for her. You had yet to return from service, or so I thought. Even though you had returned, I did not know if you returned Caroline’s affections. If you did, there was still the matter of the debt. So, I gave him my word, told him Caroline would be his.”
“You made a deal with the devil. Surely, you must have heard tales of him. He never would have let you go. For as long as you lived, he would have remained a dark cloud over your head.”
Edward had begun to search for Whittaker’s victims, piecing all their stories together. Every one of them had had the same plot. Some were even victims of Whittaker’s late father. It appeared it was a family business.
Edward could not simply let the man go free after all he had done. He was certain that if he dug deep enough, he would find enough dirt to put the earl away for good. At least that way, the rake would still pay for his sins.
He continued. “He never intended to care for Caroline. His word is as good as nothing. He is no gentleman. That is not the kind of man any father would want for their daughter.”
Lord Wymore looked like he was close to tears, and Edward’s heart went out to the man.
“Did he hurt my Caroline? Did he?” he asked, voice broken.
“He tried to,” Edward answered truthfully. “Thankfully, I happened to find them just in time. I intervened, stopping him. I fear to think of what would have happened had I not. What he would have continued to do to her if he had succeeded in taking her as his wife. I would have killed him, but she stopped me. That was when she told me all of it. I knew right away what I must do.”
Lord Wymore held his gaze then. “You love her, do you not?”
Edward’s throat tightened. Even his chest felt constricted.
“I care for her,” he forced out.
“Hmm… You always have. Even when you were only children. In truth, I would choose you as a son-in-law over anyone else.”
Edward was pleased to hear this. “Am I to assume you have just given your blessing?”
Lord Wymore smiled then. “I suppose you can.”
“Thank you,” Edward said.
Lord Wymore shook his head. “It is I who must continue to thank you—for as long as I live.”
“Please, I would rather you do not. I am happy to be doing this.”
“As am I.” Lord Wymore breathed a deep sigh then. “I do believe now I shall rest easy. I cannot recall the last time I felt such relief.”
“You will feel even more after I have paid off all the debts. On that note, I shall appreciate it if you told me what is owed, so that I can begin to attend to it.”
Lord Wymore began to search his drawers then. “Ah, yes. I have it all here.”
The two men talked deep into the night, making certain they left no stone unturned.
When they were sure that all had been covered, Edward bade him goodnight and retired to his chambers.
That night, he slept a dreamless sleep.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Caroline had seen Edward go into her father’s study the evening before. She too had been headed there. She had waited in the drawing room for him to leave, eventually falling asleep.
It wasn’t until past midnight that she awoke to the sounds of footfalls. As she found her way out of the drawing room, she found him returning from her father’s study.
When she checked what time it was, she was surprised to learn that they had spoken for so long.
Deciding that her discussion with her father would have to wait, she too went up to her chambers and continued her sleep.
She awoke the next morning, well rested from the weariness of the journey.
Breakfast was served and soon after, Edward announced that he would love to visit the home he had grown up in.
As soon as left, she found her way to her father’s study.
“I was wondering when you would come,” he said when she entered.
“I had to bid Edward off. He only just left.”
“I see.”
She crossed the distance between them, settling into a chair by his desk.
“You two must have had a lot to speak about last night,” she began. Her father’s brow arched and she explained, “I saw him enter and leave.”
“Oh? What were you doing up so late?”
She smiled. “I fell asleep in the drawing room. I awoke to the sound of his footfalls.”
“I see,” he said simply. There was a moment of silence before he spoke again. “I have done you a great wrong. Will you ever forgive me?” The regret in his voice touched her heart so deeply.
Reaching for his hands across the table, she said, “I have already forgiven you, Father.”
“Still, you must be ashamed of me.”
She shook her head. “Never.”
“I heard Whittaker tried to hurt you. You must know, if I ever for a moment thought him capable of such—”
Caroline didn’t let him finish. “I know, father. I do not fault you. I am only sad you did not tell me the entire truth. You
could have told me it was him you owed.”
“A man my age, being in such a young gentleman’s debt. How could I have said this to my own daughter?”
“Who would you have told it to, then? Are we not family? We are to carry each other’s burdens, no?”
“You’re right. I now know better. Please, forgive me.”
Caroline smiled at him again. “As I said, I already have.”
“Brandon has plans to bring him down for good. He says he has to pay for his evil deeds, especially what he tried to do to you.”
Caroline hadn’t been aware of this. “Truly? I do hope he is not planning anything foolish.”
Her father shook his head. “No. You just wait and see. If all works out well, that man will never bother us—or anyone else—again.”
Caroline had to admit, that was very comforting.
“I take it you have given Edward your blessings?”
It was her father’s turn to smile. “Without a second thought. You should have told me in the letter. Imagine having to find out from the gossip mill. I hear it was quite the announcement as well. Tell me everything.”
Caroline nodded as she chuckled. “Yes.”
When she was done sharing the story, her father’s eyes were twinkling.
“What a tale. Certainly one to tell your children. I am sad that it had to happen that way. Nonetheless, a part of me is glad that it did. Look where that unfortunate incident has brought us.”
He paused as he squeezed her hand. “Are you happy, dear child? I know you have always loved Brandon, but I wonder, is this what you wanted? Is it like you imagined?”
Caroline was surprised to learn that her father knew of her love for Edward. She supposed she had left herself an open book for anyone who cared to read. The only person who seemingly didn’t want to was Edward.
There was a moment of silence as she gave those questions deep thoughts.
Finally, she answered. “Yes, Father. I am happy that you will soon be a free man and we will regain our townhouse. I am glad I do not have to marry Whittaker. Thrilled that I shall be marrying the man I love. In a way, it is what I have always wanted. But no, I never would have imagined it this way. I do not think he loves me, Father.”
Her Father’s smile deepened.
“I believe I know enough to recognize the look of love in a man’s eye. He does love you. It is either that he doesn’t know it yet, or he’s simply hiding the truth from you. Something tells me it is the latter.”
Caroline left her father’s study half an hour later, but those words were still ringing in her ears.
When she learned that Edward had yet to return, she got on a horse and went after him. It wasn’t until she had reached his guardians’ manor that she asked herself what she was doing.
Why have I come here?
The answer was simple. She wanted to see him. She wanted to ask him if he loved her, and if he did, why he kept trying so hard to prove otherwise.
“Yes, his grace was here but he has just left,” the butler said as she asked for his whereabouts.
“Left?”
“Yes,” the man answered again. “I believe he rode east. Said something about taking a trip to the past.”
Caroline frowned as she turned around to look in the direction the butler had pointed.
A trip to the past. What could that mean?
Suddenly, it dawned on her. East! Of course!
He had gone to their favorite spot. They had often spent time there as children. It was an abandoned palace with falling debris and a creek they loved so much.
Despite the warnings and pleas of her father and his guardians, they would climb the walls and play around the creek all day.
She had fallen one too many times, and he had been there to tend her injuries each time. It had been the place where he had first kissed her. The very place he had told her he was leaving to join the war.
It was where he had promised he would return, and where she had realized that she loved him with all her heart. Where she had sworn she would wait for him.
It had to mean something, did it not? His going there? And the words he had said to the butler?
Thanking the elderly servant, she mounted her horse and went after him.
It was a short ride. Her horse was fast and she was known for her impeccable riding talent. In no time, she arrived.
She sighted him easily, sitting atop a hill of fallen debris overlooking the creek.
Quietly, she tied her horse to a tree and stood for a moment, watching him. He seemed to be so far away, lost in thought. She wondered what those thoughts were.
She stayed where she was a moment longer before eventually walking up to him.
He looked up as she approached. She smiled at him when their eyes met and he looked away.
“How did you find me?” he asked as she sat by his side.
“I went to your home. Mr. Igwald told me you had ridden east. He also mentioned what you said about the past. It was easy for me to piece it all together.”
She looked out to the creek, the ruin. It always was beautiful there. A sight that never failed to take her breath away.
She remembered when they first happened upon it as children. It was as though they’d found a cave of treasure.
“Did you miss it?” she asked him.
He nodded slowly. “Very much. The first days were the hardest. I always wanted to return home. I missed it all. I couldn’t bear being apart from everyone. I worried I wouldn’t last a season.”
“Yet you lasted four summers.”
“With time, I grew accustomed to the feeling. Beyond that, if I returned, it meant there was one less soldier. We needed as many men as we could get if we hoped to win the war.”
“You were brave, going away like you did. I never understood why you chose to. You could have stayed home like many other lords.”
“My father fought in the war in his time. I wanted to honor his memory.”
“Oh, I did not know.”
Edward nodded. “Close as we were, I didn’t speak about them much. It was too painful.”
“I understand. It is the same with my mother.”
There was a moment’s silence before Edward spoke again.
“Did you return here often? After I’d left?”
“Yes, but I could not continue for long. I missed you too much. It suddenly felt so lonely here.” She chuckled at the memory. “Funnily enough, when you stopped sending letters, I started to come again. I’d sit here and read all of your letters, and I would rely on my memories, all just to feel your presence again.”
She turned to him, grateful when he kept his eyes ahead. It afforded her a small moment to look at his face.
I wonder if you thought of me as much as I thought of you.
“I shouldn’t have. Stopped sending letters, I mean.”
She lifted her shoulder in a small shrug. “I got by. I simply continued to wait, hoping fervently for your return.”
“Thank you, for your hope and your prayers. I believe they helped. They helped very much.”
“I’m glad. Will your aunt and uncle be at the wedding?”
“They should be. I shall send word when we return to London.”
“Alright.”
Do you love me?
The words were on the tip of her tongue, but she couldn’t bring herself to say them. So, she held her peace, shaking her head at how much of a coward she was.
At the very least, she hadn’t ridden all the way for nothing. This moment with him, here again, it meant so much to her. More than he could ever imagine.
They remained seated in silence for a very long time.
Eventually, Edward reached for her.
She turned to him, heart thudding in her chest as she wondered what he intended to do.
Just then, he brandished a lovely sapphire ring.
“I went back to the house for this. It belonged to my mother, and my father’s mother before her. It has been in
my family for generations. Aunt Helen kept it, along with their wedding bands. She knew I would be in need of it someday.”
He slipped the ring on to her finger.
Caroline almost melted for joy when she saw that it was a perfect fit. He appeared to be pleased by this as well.
