Thomas gazed at Frankie, drinking in her smile and the sparkle in her sky-blue eyes. “Slade told me that Dr. Spencer will be here soon.” He needed to speak with her and feared that once the doctor arrived, he might miss the opportunity. “Frankie, would you mind if we sat down?” He pointed to the settee in front of the fireplace.
“No, of course not.” She sat and patted the seat next to her. “Sit.”
It reminded him of when she invited him to sit next to her on the swing all those years ago. Taking a seat, he leaned in. “I am so glad to see you both looking so well. That was quite an ordeal.”
“I nearly lost my baby this morning,” Frankie said, her voice cracking. “It made me realize what’s truly important in my life. That you were there to help was a miracle,” she said. “Please, let’s not argue. I couldn’t countenance it after all that has happened this day.”
Shaking his head, he took her hand, hoping he was part of what she counted as important. “I don’t want to argue either, but I must ask you something.”
Mutely, she wiped a tear from the corner of her eye with her free hand.
Thomas accepted that as leave to ask. “Last evening at the ball, you said I left you five years ago without a word…but Frankie, that is not what happened.”
Her brows pulled together in confusion. “But you disappeared and never came for me as you’d promised. I searched the ballroom when you didn’t reappear. And days later…I still had heard nothing from you.”
“After I escorted you back to your aunt and uncle, I received an urgent message that required me to leave without delay. Slade…Lord Hertford’s father died in a carriage accident, and his brother was badly injured. They were unsure if he would live. I had no choice but to leave, but I wrote a note to you and paid one of the duke’s footmen to deliver it. In it, I said I hoped to be back in three weeks and planned to court you.”
“I never received a note, Thomas,” she whispered.
* * *
Ibelieve him.Frankie reflected on what Thomas had just told her. His revelation was incredible. Thomas must have thought she’d spurned his feelings for a better offer. It was a few moments before she could speak. “My God! All this time, I thought you’d abandoned me and left me to face a horrible scandal alone.”
“And I was out of the country, unaware of any scandal. In truth, I too had felt betrayed. When I returned, you had disappeared without a word—no letter.Nothing. I asked about you, but no one could tell me anything, except that you had married Lord Gallwey and had moved to Westmoreland. I was heartbroken and left England. I’ve only just recently returned.”
She listened quietly, in shock for the second time in a day. She believed him…but didn’t understand how it had happened. The only thing that made sense to her was if someone had prevented her from getting his note. And the only person with the gall to do that was Lady Deville. But how could she have maneuvered it? There were so many things that couldn’t be explained.
“Why did you marry him?” Thomas asked.
“My father. The scandal. Most people know the Duke of Clarence’s back garden was always well-lit. Despite that, they believed an anonymous note that suggested you’d compromised me. My father insisted I marry George, and because you’d left so suddenly without any word and I hadn’t heard from you after that horrid story was published, I—I had no choice but to finally relent.” Frankie grew quiet. Then, in a small voice, she added, “Afterward, I discovered the truth of it. My father was in terrible debt because of a business venture that went awry and my marriage to George meant a financial gain.” She couldn’t tell him it had been a loveless marriage—nothing like what she had dreamed of having with Thomas.
Thomas’ face reddened and his dark eyebrows drew together in a scowl. “Surely your aunt and uncle vouched for you.”
“When they were made aware of the horrible post in theTon Tattler, they rushed to my defense. Father discounted their argument immediately, calling them irresponsible and accusing them of shirking their duty toward me. They were young and newlywed themselves. Mother was so distraught, and for a time she and my aunt did not speak, but they have since reconciled, thank goodness. I never blamed my aunt and uncle. Besides, I would have weathered the storm, if not for my father’s insistence. But clearly, his ultimate reason had been self-serving.” She swiped at the tears that streamed down her face. “The dowager pulled me aside last evening. It was the first time she’d seen me in five years, for I had spent nearly all that time in Westmoreland. The dowager told me she’d also planned to speak with my parents but had had an accident and became bedridden for a time. Thomas, it was as if we had been star-crossed. As if fate had been working against us.”
“If your father was set on you marrying Gallwey to repair his finances, I doubt he would even have listened.”
A thin smile tugged at the corners of her lips as she considered what she now knew. “I don’t know if Father would have listened, but the dowager can be most convincing,” she reasoned. She glanced down at her child. “No matter how I felt about marrying Gallwey at the time, I do not regret my marriage because it gave me the gift of my daughter,” she added in a raspy whisper. Maggie had cuddled next to her feet, having fallen asleep on the carpet while hugging her doll. Frankie took a light blanket from the settee and covered her with it.
“Will you care to join me…you and Maggie… for luncheon tomorrow?” Thomas asked. “I would like to know more about your life these past five years. And about Maggie.”
“That would be lovely, Thomas. Thank you. Maggie and I would love to have luncheon with you. Will your family join us?”
“They will. Shall I come for you tomorrow at two in the afternoon? Of course, that is providing Dr. Spencer allows it.” He looked down at the sleeping child.
“I will do that, but I can make no promises.” She wasn’t sure how quickly Maggie would take to a new person in her life. And there was much Frankie needed to think about.
“I’ll be downstairs in case you need anything,” Thomas said, reaching for her hand and kissing her palm. A frisson coursed through her at the touch of his lips.
Yes, I do have a great deal to think about.
* * *
Thomas found Slade standing in front of the fireplace in his study, a brandy in his hand.
“How is she?” Slade asked.
“Frankie is managing reasonably well. Maggie fell asleep on the carpet holding her doll. I left when Dr. Spencer arrived.”
