“What of me?” she asked, eyes wide.
“What feelings do you have for Luke?”
“I... care for him a great deal. That is why I do not wish to harm his future by marrying him.”
Luke squeezed her hand with a smile.
His father nodded again. “What of children?”
Luke interjected again. “We both want them. Neither of us feels all that confident in our parenting ability, but together I believe we’d muddle through quite well.”
“Ah, yes. I suppose that brings us back to our earlier conversation, doesn’t it? I, too, was not confident in my parenting skills. Your mother, though, was a natural. I’ve never seen a person more nurturing, more able to find the balance between setting limits and offering love.” He shook his head, pinching the bridge of his nose for a moment. “I’m afraid after her death, I was so heartbroken and afraid of failure, I thought it best for you to have other role models to learn from. That is why I sent you to boarding school.”
Angered at how easily The Earl explained the past away, Luke scoffed, “That doesn’t explain your lack of affection at school holidays, or the constant criticism when we did interact.”
North sat back and steepled his fingers, once again evaluating. This time, though, he seemed to reassess the effects of his behavior on a boy of twelve. He sighed and nodded. “You are right. That first year or two, it was all I could do to getthrough the holidays without your mother. After that, you had your own walls up. So I kept my questions to school and sports. I suppose in hindsight, you were acting out. We all did, as youths. But I knew you were capable of much more, so I tried to push you.”
The Earl stood and sat next to Luke. The proximity startled him. Never in recent memory had his sire attempted any affectionate gestures.
Twisting to face him, North said, “I love you more than words can say. It has always been difficult to express my feelings in words. It annoyed your mother to no end. But I hoped sending you to the best schools, prodding you to make the most of your experiences there, and supporting you financially would show you that through actions. I wish—for many reasons, but perhaps for this one most of all—your mother was still alive. She balanced my gruffness with warmth. I am sorry I did not make my affection, my love, clearer to you these past years. But please, never doubt it. You are my son. Drunk or sober. Success or wastrel. You can always come to me for help.”
Luke was silent, unable to form a coherent response. Belle was sniffling, but his emotions were scattered. Part of him wanted to sneer. The other part wanted to throw himself in his father’s arms. The rest remained a lost boy in a man’s body.
Finally he gave a short nod. “Thank you for those words. I need some time to consider this new information.”
His father’s face fell, but he nodded his acceptance.
Luke tried tofind a reason to excuse both Belle and himself from his father’s presence so they might have a private conversation. He could not think of one.
The earl turned to Belle. “I see why you thought it might be necessary to intervene.”
She answered, “I was wrong, however.”
Luke snapped his gaze to her.
She continued. “Luke is more than capable of speaking for himself. Whilst I adapted to your stoic nature, it hurt a twelve-year-old boy. He came here of his own volition despite that. So I am very glad you both can see the past differently. I hope that your connection will grow from here.”
Luke’s throat closed. She continued to support him, and she’d come all this way. He was sure she cared for him, he just needed to convince her that marriage was their best option.
“And what of your sentiments for my son?”
Perfect, his father’s question would help his quest. Unless—but no, the earl’s face and tone did not show jealousy. Luke turned to Belle, hopeful.
“As I said, I care enough for your son that I refuse to sully his reputation and his family’s, present and future, by marrying him.”
“That does not answer the question.” Luke and his father spoke at the same time, exchanging an amused glance. Luke couldn’t recall the last time he’d shared humor with his father, much less been on the same side of a debate.
Belle arched a brow. “’Tis all I have.”
“What of children?” the earl asked again. “Luke said you both want them?”
She shrugged. “Not that it matters, since I have no plans to wed your son, but yes. I want children—not heirs, children whom I can love.”
His father smiled. “You’ll be a wonderful mother. If you can handle my ‘strong and silent’ attitude and Luke, you can handle anything.”
“Now see here...” Luke said, only half in jest.
Belle and his father chuckled, and Luke realized he’d begun to see past the profile of “The Earl.”
