Brooke took her eyes off Dominic to see that Harriet’s friends had moved on. Brooke followed her outside before she accused, “I thought you didn’t know Dominic Wolfe a’tall.”
“I don’t recall meeting him years ago, but a stripling is nothing like a man. If I had known him, I wouldn’t have been so distraught—”
Brooke interrupted coldly, “Don’t pretend to feelings you don’t have, Mother. And what are you doing here?”
Harriet winced before she sighed. “Your father had business in town. I expect we’ll only be here for a few days. Thomas suggested I come here tonight to find out how thetonwas reacting to the news of the forced marriage. He wanted me to assure people that we are happy to comply with the Regent’s request to give you to Dominic in marriage. Why aren’t you married yet?”
“Dominic was badly wounded in that last duel and got a delay because of it.”
Harriet glanced toward the ballroom. “He heals quickly, doesn’t he? Your handiwork?”
Brooke raised a curious brow. “You know I’m familiar with healing herbs?”
“Of course I do. You may not have confided much to me over the years, but your maid did.”
“Then why did you never ask us to ease your husband’s pain?”
Harriet snorted. “Because your father doesn’t deserve anything from you—or do you love him just because he’s your father?”
“Are you joking? He was just a man who was occasionally present in the house I lived in—one I avoided. What reason was I ever given to love him?”
“Exactly.”
“But you did despite his callous indifference.”
Brooke felt comfortable making that condemnation. The one she couldn’t utter was to include Harriet in her previous remark no matter if it was true, that she’d never been given a reason to love Harriet, either.
But Harriet surprised her. “What makes you think I ever loved him? I admit I had hoped to when I was still young, but it never happened. I adapted instead, learned to tiptoe around his rages, and made him think I was just as callous as he is. It’s unfortunate that there are people like Thomas in the world, incapable of love, incapable of being loved. I hope Lord Wolfe isn’t like that.”
No, Dominic was nothing like that. At least he loved his family, had been willing to risk his life to avenge the sister he’d loved, had recklessly raced to London he was so worried about the mother he loved. If he could ever feel even half that for her, she could probably be happy.
But all she said to Harriet was “He’s a good man who cares about friends and family.”
Harriet smiled. “When is the wedding to be, then?”
“Sunday.”
“May I come?”
Brooke shook her head. “That’s not a good idea. He and his mother both despise us Whitworths. You can thank your son for that.”
Harriet frowned. “So you are hated?”
“How could I not be when my brother got his sister pregnant. Robert laughed, you know, when she told him. Laughed! It’s tragic that she killed herself because of it.”
“That’s... horrible.”
Harriet did look aggrieved, causing Brooke to ask, “You really didn’t know?”
“No, I didn’t. I don’t think your father knew either. There was another young lady last year we did find out about when her father came to demand Robert marry her. But Thomas didn’t want that alliance and managed to buy their silence instead, before it became a scandal. I believe she was convinced to go abroad to have the child. I had hoped they would give it to us, but Thomas didn’t want it. It’s appalling that it will be given to strangers instead and I will never get to know my grandchild.”
Brooke was speechless. It was like listening to someone she’d never before met. Regret for a bastard her precious Robert had obviously refused to take responsibility for? How many more bastards were there that her brother had carelessly created before Thomas had put his foot down? Actually, Thomas had only forbidden Robert from seducing any more innocent debutantes. He’d placed no restrictions on the rest of the women in England.
But then Harriet added angrily, “If your father has to deal with another of Robert’s scandals, there will be consequences.”
Brooke blinked, wasn’t even sure what Harriet meant until she realized she was referring to what Brooke had just said about Dominic’s sister. “What consequences?”
“Thomas promised to disown him.”
