Neither of them spoke until they came to the small clearing.
A friend.
Just as he expected, the folly came into view. It was half covered in vines as though it had been forgotten by the groundskeepers. The bench remained, however, and Reed brushed it off for her to sit.
“I was going to try to persuade you,” he said. “By luring you with the sparkling companionship of my sisters.” Meeting her eyes, he grinned for the first time that morning.
“That would almost do the trick. I remember Miss Ruther—I mean, Lady Caroline. She was very kind to me last summer. You have other sisters?”
“They were too young to attend such a house party, but I’m sure you would have gotten on well together,” he said, a fond smile lightening his expression. “Melanie, who is nine and ten, isn’t nearly as managing as Caroline, and she’s the quietest out of the three, but she is the most loyal person I’ve ever known. And Josephine can almost always make you laugh.” Reed fell silent as he pondered the youngest of his sisters. “Not presently, of course. She was our father’s favorite.”
“Your mother is lovely as well.” Goldie sat quietly. “How is she?”
“Devastated, as one might expect.” Reed exhaled, recalling his mother over the past few years. She’d watched her husband and eldest son slowly deteriorate—not only physically, but mentally—morally. The tragic deaths ought to have come as a relief. “I think she’s mourned them for some time now.” The backs of his eyes burned, and he blinked the sensation away.
“As have you?”
“Yes.” Damnit. Much more of this and he’d be bawling like a baby.
In the privacy of the crumbling folly, the two of them simply sat and listened to the birds fluttering around outside. Evidence suggested a few nests had been built in the ceiling. It reminded him of their talk the day before.
Had that only been yesterday morning?
“I gave it a good deal of thought, but I don’t suppose you care much about my reasons.” Goldie’s voice, echoing off the stones around them, sounded like a melody.
Reed lifted his head. Her reasons shouldn’t really matter, and yet…
They did. She did.
She mattered.
“I’d like to hear them.”
“Well.” She stared down at her hands. “My father is not one to give up a grudge easily. He can be a bear of a man.” Reed hated the trembling sound in her voice. She shook her head. “But he’s my father. We’re supposed to honor our fathers, right?”
Reed grimaced at that notion. He’d once honored his father. In the end, it was his father who’d dishonored his family.
“Just because he’s your father doesn’t mean he deserves to be honored.” Reed spoke of his own sire as much as hers.
Goldie was twisting her gloves in her lap again, something he’d noticed before.
“He would disown me. I’m quite certain. I’m… afraid. I love my sister with all my heart. She’s the only person who’s ever really understood me. My family is all I’ve ever known.” She stiffened and forced a smile. “So, I’ll make my come-out this season and hope some kindly man—one my father approves of—asks for my hand.”
“You’ll have plenty of suitors,” Reed said. Hell, it was possible she’d take the ton by storm. With that glorious hair, her mesmerizing eyes, and gorgeous figure…
But there was more to her than her looks.
For some reason, he felt sick at the idea of her with another man. He didn’t like the idea of some pompous lord wooing her, courting her.
Touching her.
“When the time comes, don’t be hasty in deciding,” he went on. “Be as picky as you want to be. Trust me. Flowers will be delivered by the dozens.”
This sensation was spurred by more than his personal disappointment. It was spurred by jealousy.
He didn’t like it one bit.
She wrinkled her brow. “I think you are wrong about that, but thank you. You’re being awfully nice over all this. My father isn’t at all calm when he doesn’t get his way.” She blinked and then bit her lip. “I wish things were different.”
