Chapter 28 #3
I went to explain about someone making an accusation against me, but he turned his attention to Theo. ‘Theo has explained everything to me.’
Oh, had he now? I wondered what my father knew about me that I didn’t.
‘I believe you’ll be happy for me to do this?’ he asked Theo.
‘Of course, Lord Thistlebury.’
Theo’s eyes lit up with a glimmer of pleasure and, I saw, hope. Maybe he wasn’t as bad as I had thought? Maybe.
‘We’ll go as soon as you are ready to leave here.’
My father gave a nod, then addressed me again.
‘I understand it’ll take a while for us to get to know each other again, and for you to understand why I behaved as I did.
’ I didn’t respond. If I’d opened my mouth at that moment I’d have confessed I doubted that I would ever come to terms with what he had done.
‘I’m aware how you feel about me and I understand why. I’m sure I would react in the same way as you have done should the tables be turned. However, I want you to know I intend putting things right between us.’
I raised an eyebrow. How would he manage to do that?
He smiled. ‘Yes, I know it won’t be easy, but I wanted you to know that I will be trying.’
I didn’t have a chance to answer because he got to his feet and gave a slight bow to my grandmother and Aunt Sorrel before clasping his hands together in front of me.
‘Dearest Rue, I can’t leave without telling you how proud your mother would have been to know the lady you’ve become.’
Theo cleared his throat.
‘Thank you,’ I said, unsure how he could know that I was at all ladylike. Then I smiled to myself. How little he knew me.
Theo thanked us but before following my father from the room he looked at me and held my gaze. ‘We will do our best for you, Rue. You have my assurances on that.’
I watched him follow my father out and heard him thank Pierre as they left through the front door.
He really was an enigma. I realised my resentment towards him was beginning to soften.
It was a little disconcerting, but oddly comforting too.
I went to sit down, exhausted from everything that had happened, when I heard footsteps in the hallway and Pierre’s voice.
‘But, Your Lordship—’
I looked at my grandmother and aunt in confusion, just as the withdrawing room door opened and my father walked back in. His gaze found mine and he hurried over to me, taking my hands in his.
‘Father, what is it?’ I asked alarmed.
‘I’m sorry, I couldn’t leave without explaining myself to you.’
He seemed shaken. ‘Please, let’s sit down.’
We sat on a sofa and faced each other. ‘My dearest Rue,’ he began, his face pale and eyes filled with an intensity that made me focus all my attention on him. ‘I cannot bear for you to believe for a moment longer that I left you without good cause.’
My eyebrows rose. Was I finally to understand what had happened all those years ago? ‘I’m listening.’
‘First, I must admit my shame that I did not know your mother as well as I had imagined. Male pride, maybe. It pained me greatly that she felt she couldn’t trust me.
Mostly though – and I’ve already explained this to Theo,’ he said as Theo arrived at the doorway, ‘it was my fear that his father, who was known to persecute entire families when one was found guilty of sorcery, would turn his attention to you. Your grandmother was grieving dreadfully, and your Aunt Sorrel had her own family, which left you and me. I believed that if I left, he would no longer trouble anyone at the manor. You were so young and I knew your grandmother would stand in your mother’s stead and, together with your aunt, would ensure your safety.
As I explained, I had thought you were receiving an allowance to run this place.
’ He cast his eyes down and clenched his teeth.
‘Another belief of mine that was incorrect.’
I gave his hands a gentle squeeze. ‘Please don’t be so harsh on yourself, Father. You were always kind and loving to me and Mama – that much I do remember.’
His face lightened. ‘You do?’
I smiled at him. ‘Yes. All those times you took me out into the woods, showing me the different trees, counting the different animals we came across on our walks.’
He sighed happily. ‘Squirrels and birds mostly, if I recall correctly.’
I laughed. ‘Yes. And the occasional fieldmouse. Lots of rabbits too.’
We gazed at each other in silence for a few seconds.
‘You really think you can forgive me for the dreadful choices I made back then, Rue?’
I swallowed the lump in my throat, not wishing to cry. ‘Of course I do, Papa.’
He bit his lip, then cleared his throat. ‘We have much to reminisce about, I think.’
‘We do.’
Theo stepped forward and rested a hand on my father’s shoulder. ‘I’m afraid we should go.’
‘We will talk at a more opportune time,’ my father said, getting to his feet.
I stood too. ‘I’d like that.’
He pulled me into a hug and kissed the top of my head. ‘My sweet Rue. You are everything to me, and I will put this right.’
I watched them leave, feeling lighter in my heart than I had done since my mother was alive.