They had slowly repaired their friendship, which had been severed when Windchester was secretly seeing Amelia. It did not escape Henry’s notice that he was doing the exact same thing to Karrington by seeing Julia behind his back. Henry tried to confess the truth on several different occasions during the past fourteen days, but the words never came.
He didn’t know what to say to his friend, especially with Julia being intent on never forgiving him for their past. But he would convince Julia of his sincerity and make his intentions clear. Then he would go to Karrington and ask for her hand. He would beg his forgiveness for disrespecting his home and the woman he cares for like a sister.
“No, what were you saying?” Henry surveyed Windchester, trying to recall what exactly they were speaking about.
“What is wrong with you these days? Is it the shipping company? I told you both that I will be happy to invest.” Karrington stared at his friend as if he could read his mind.
“No, it’s nothing. I’m just wondering how Elijah’s meeting with customs went. I really need this business to be successful. I’m not sure if my funds will ever be returned. Not to mention there doesn’t seem to be any information on this Mr. Stanford, whom I’m definitely starting to believe never existed.” Henry ran his hand through his hair in frustration.
“We will find him or the truth, and when we do, you will have your funds returned to you.” Karrington sat back with a small smile on his face. “In the meantime, you are more than welcome to stay with us. With Mr. Edwards moving and Julia marrying St. Clara, there will be plenty of space.”
Henry’s heart seized and he found it rather difficult to breathe. Julia wouldn’t marry St. Clara, not if he had anything to say about it. She didn’t love him, didn’t come alive under his fingertips, or call his name when she was in the throes of passion. No, Lady Julia St. John was his—only his.
Henry swallowed, trying to focus on the conversation. “I told Elijah I would move with him. Besides, I’m sure you would want your home to yourself, as much as it can be with three children.”
Henry planned to move in with Elijah briefly, but only until the end of the Season, where he and Julia, who would then be his wife, would go to Stone Manor.
“Yes, soon to be four,” Karrington announced rather proudly as the carriage stopped a few paces away from Newgate’s front gate.
The small confines of the stately carriage seemed to grow smaller from the silence. Windchester let out a loud curse and patted the duke on the back rather roughly. “Another one so soon!”
“Yes. This one is a bit of a shock and was just recently confirmed, actually…” Karrington trailed off. Henry froze for a moment, remembering his own recent activities and how carried away he had become.
“Are you sure that you would like to continue to take care of Emily with your family growing so much?” Windchester inquired.
Henry was shocked by the sincerity in Windchester’s voice.
Karrington blinked several times, as if he did not understand the question. “Of course, we want to keep Emily. She is a part of our family. We know she’s not our daughter, but we have raised her since she was a baby. She is like a daughter to both Livie and me. We wouldn’t dream of sending her away because we’re expecting another child.” He looked over at his friend, his face grave. “Unless you want to raise your own daughter, and in that case, Livie and I would not be able to stop you.”
Henry watched a shadow descend over Windchester’s face. “No. To be honest, I wouldn’t know what to do with a daughter. I can barely take care of myself these days. However, I am aware of the sacrifice that you both have made for her. It must have been hard being a newlywed couple.”
“Emily is family, not only because of my connection to you or Heartford, but because Lady Evers’ unselfish act saved my wife’s life.” Karrington swallowed and blinked several times. “It wasn’t easy. We knew little about children, but Lucy agreed to stay on with us as the nursemaid. We had the mothers of course, and Julia. But most importantly, our love for each other holds our family together, and that love expands to all of our children, which includes Emily.”
Henry was envious of the peace and love in Karrington’s life. He was a man that had it all. Having a rather bleak childhood, Karrington had built a wall around himself. Henry never thought that his friend would allow love in, but he did, and he was all the better because of it.
“I know you both love her. It’s just sometimes I feel that I’m taking advantage of our familial connection.” Windchester bowed his head in shame.
“Never. We want to take care of her.” Karrington intertwined his fingers and peered over at Windchester. “Livie and I have discussed what would happen once you remarried—”
“That will never happen. No one wants to marry a man surrounded in scandal, whose former mistress was murdered by his ex-wife, and a daughter that he doesn’t even care for.” Henry felt a pang of distress for his friend. He had never thought of Windchester’s situation in such a way, but of course, it would be difficult for the man to ever marry.
“When the time does come, your wife may want to take Emily in. Livie and I are prepared for that to happen. We love Emily, but we won’t keep her away from having her own family with you.” Karrington’s words were kind and sincere, and not for the first time, Henry was filled with gratitude for his friend and his wife.
They had taken care of his sister’s only child when no one else would. He had been too consumed with his own grief, while Windchester was drowning in liquor. Henry knew by seeing the family together that to remove her would be an unkindness.
The carriage stopped in front of Newgate, and soon the doors opened. Henry stepped out of the carriage, desperately needing some air. He hated that there had to be a conversation about where his niece would spend her childhood. His sister would still be alive today if it wasn’t for Nathan Easton, the former Baron Bromswell.
“Remember, we just need to find out if he has any information on where the former countess is.” Karrington’s gaze was serious.
“And to tell him to enjoy hell,” Windchester added coldly, his face a mask of contempt.
“Yes, and that,” Karrington added.
Henry laughed, needing the humor. He was going to come face to face with one of his sister’s murderers. The thought plagued him, along with everything else he had on his mind.
The former Countess of Windchester still had not been discovered. St. Clara had inquired with his godfather, Melville, and was informed that he had not heard from the former countess. It was all rather bothersome that the Honorable Josephine had constructed the entire kidnapping and fire. Although she was the mastermind, Josephine has been released because of her father’s former relationship to the crown. Lady Oakhaven only had to write a missive to King George IV and the former countess was released into her mother’s care, while Bromswell was sentenced to death.
The trio made their way to the entrance of the prison. Karrington took hold of the black knocker and slammed it down three times. A small sliding window opened, revealing a pair of distrustful beady eyes.
