Glory chewed on her lip, hating that Papa felt guilty after all these years. “You didn’t know that you’d fathered me. And you did something about it as soon as you did.”
“Adopting you at age nine is not the same as giving you my name when you entered this world. I will never forgive myself for how my reckless behavior affected you and your mama.”
The remorse in his eyes constricted Glory’s throat.
“But I swore to myself that I would make up for it. That I would do everything in my power to guarantee your happiness.” Papa’s expression hardened with resolve. “That is why I must insist that you stop seeing Chen.”
But I love Wei. And he loves me. How can I make you understand?
All along, she’d been confident that Papa would come to respect Wei and see their commonalities. Now she was forced to confront the chilling possibility that he might not. That he might not support her decision to marry Wei.
“You are one of my life’s greatest blessings,” Papa said, his tone gentling. “And I hope I can be the same to you. Trust me to have your best interests at heart.”
Her bottom lip quivered. “I do trust you, Papa.”
But she didn’t know how to convince him that her happiness lay with Wei. She didn’t want to choose between following her heart and her father’s wishes. Either way, someone she loved would get hurt.
I need to think. To regroup and plan.
“If there is nothing else.” She rose. “I should freshen up before Mr. Winslow’s visit.”
“Of course, poppet.”
She exited, aware of her father’s troubled gaze following her.
Thirty-Two
“I am sorry I brought you into this,” Wei said gruffly. “I should be doing this on my own.”
“No, I want to be here.” Sitting beside him in the dark carriage, Glory squeezed his hand. “And you need me. Scott said specifically that Mrs. Swann wants to see us together. That she would not share anything about Leonard Kray unless we met her terms.”
In the two days since Glory’s ball, a lot had happened.
After their interlude in the conservatory, Wei had been full of foolish hope. Glory had committed to a timeframe, agreeing that he could seek her father’s permission in four weeks. He would win over the Duke of Ranelagh and Somerville, do everything in his power to prove that he was worthy of Glory.
That night, Wei had spent over and over again, imagining Glory was with him. Dreaming of being inside her, a part of her. Even coming half a dozen times didn’t sate his desire; he’d awakened with a cockstand, her taste and scent teasing his senses. Lying in bed, his body and heart hungry, he had wondered if he could steal a kiss from her during their lesson that day.
Then reality had reared its ugly head.
Yao had been the bearer of bad news, bringing Wei a note sealed with the Duke of Ranelagh and Somerville’s stamp. The message had been brief and to the point, thanking Wei for his services and stating that they were no longer required. To add insult to injury, the duke had enclosed a generous bank note.
Another note had arrived soon thereafter, this one from Glory. She had asked Wei to wait for her. To give her time to persuade her father. Before Wei could pen his reply, yet another message had appeared.
This one had been from Wulfric Scott. The gang leader’s contact, a woman by the name of Susanna Swann, had agreed to see Wei on two conditions. He was to bring his female companion and convene at Mrs. Swann’s shop at midnight tomorrow. If Wei failed to meet these requirements, Mrs. Swann would not speak to him.
Foreboding had filled Wei. He did not know who this Mrs. Swann was or what she would want. Desperate to discuss the situation with Glory, he’d gone to her home, planning to scale her balcony if need be. But he didn’t have to…because she’d been returning from a drive in a sporty barouche with that bastard Winslow.
Luckily, she’d spotted Wei’s carriage. After Winslow left, she’d met Wei in the back lane, and they’d managed a quick and furtive conversation. Glory had insisted on accompanying him to Mrs. Swann’s, saying that she would tell her parents she was staying with the Hawksmoors and Wei should pick her up there.
When Wei had arrived this evening, Glory and Lady Fiona Hawksmoor had been waiting for him.
“Be careful tonight,” Lady Hawksmoor had said. “Hawk and I met Mrs. Swann during a case. While I do not think she is malevolent at heart, her manner can be cagey and unsettling. I do not doubt that she will test you...and you must decide how far you will go to get your answers.”
Thinking of what lay ahead now, Wei clenched his jaw. Had he been selfish to involve Glory in his quest? What kind of nefarious demands would Mrs. Swann make?
“Everything will be fine,” Glory said.
She was developing a disconcerting ability to read his thoughts.
