Now the pain fled Nora’s face and she nodded swiftly. “Oh, how I love him, Jane. With all my heart. The idea that I’d ever take advantage of him was horrifying. I vowed never to speak to her again.”
Relief filled Jane at that statement. “Good. I can handle her. Ripley is being kind enough to help me. Let me do that and protect you in some real way. A better way than I did before.”
Nora looked her up and down. “It seems like Mr. Ripley protects you.”
“Yes.” Jane bent her head. “He does.”
“Is that his formal title?”
Jane lifted her gaze. “Protector?” Nora nodded. “No. I left the trade a few months ago, thanks to the generosity of a friend who I helped through her own dramas. And Ripley is…Ripley is something else.”
“You love him.” Nora said. Not asked. Stated.
Jane ignored it. “What about this Hugo fellow? Your husband. Is he good to you?”
“Oh yes,” Nora said with a wide smile that lit her up like a dozen candles. “He is wonderful, Jane. So wonderful.”
“Good. You deserve wonderful.” Jane sighed. “I won’t ask for forgiveness for those years you were alone. But know that I do love you with all my heart. And all I want is for you to be happy.”
Nora nodded. “Thank you.”
Jane realized that was the best she would likely get for now. “Why don’t we make sure the gentlemen aren’t…having difficulty?”
“Yes.”
They looked at each other for an awkward moment and then Nora motioned toward the door. “I’ll lead the way.”
Jane followed her, realizing with a start that her baby sister was now lady of this house. Married to the Honorable Eldon Granger, linked to an important family. She was out of Jane’s sphere for good now.
And though she had hopes that it would lead to her happiness, there was still a sting of yet another person lost to her. Both because of what she’d done, and because of who she was.
CHAPTER 19
The first few moments after Hugo led Ripley into the billiard room were awkward at best. The young man was nervous, shifting around, nearly dropping the bottle before he poured them each a whisky and brought the glasses back.
He motioned toward the table. “Do you play?”
Ripley snorted. “No. That’s a rich man’s game.”
Hugo bent his head. “My apologies. Why don’t we sit by the fire? I’d wager we both have questions for each other after all these years.”
Ripley wondered what questions this young man would have for him, but he followed him nonetheless and took a comfortable seat beside him. For a moment, they stared into the dancing flames together. Then Hugo turned toward him.
“How old are you?”
Ripley had just taken a drink and he almost choked at the unexpected question. He coughed and managed to regain control of himself. “Er, twenty-nine this past March.”
Hugo let out a long sigh. “Fucking Father.”
“Why do you ask?”
“Oh, it’s just the same age as my eldest brother, Archibald.” Hugo shook his head. “That means he was with your mother and our mother at the same time. Just as we always suspected.”
Ripley pinched his lips, once again hating the earl for the harm he’d rained down on his mother. “When did you find out about me? About her?”
“Archie was about fifteen,” Hugo said. “Lewis was twelve, I was eight. We overheard him talking to the Dreadful Duke. My apologies, that’s what we all secretly call our grandfather. They were arguing about something…the subject turned to you. Father wanted to provide some schooling for you, some support, and my grandfather was railing at him about it.”
Ripley shifted. So the earl had made some half-arsed attempt to provide. Again, he wasn’t certain if that made the situation better or worse. “You three must have hated me.”
