Ridge paused for a long moment, rife with indecision. India opened her eyes again. “I’ll be fine, Ridge. Do as he says.”
“Notify me the moment he is done,” Ridge told the woman.
He turned and walked out of the room and out the door of the cottage where his father and Robby stood with Phillip Ashton.
Ashton stood to the side of Robby and the earl, his hands shoved into the pockets of his trousers. He didn’t wear the same garb the villagers did, yet for some odd reason, he didn’t look out of place in this strange city.
Ridge had never seen Ashton in person, but he’d always imagined someone younger looking. More devil may care as the life of an adventurer would suggest. Instead he stared at a man who looked old and worn out. And he carried a mountain of guilt in his expression.
Ridge leaned against the wall of the cottage and stared at his surroundings. His brain worked hard to process everything that he had seen so far, but frankly, he was simply astounded.
He wanted answers.
He pushed away from the wall and started toward his father.
“It’s time we talked, don’t you think?”
The earl nodded his head then wrapped an arm around Robby. “Let’s take a walk, shall we? I’ll tell you everything you want to know.”
“Shout for me if I’m not back when he is finished with India,” Ridge said to Ashton.
Ashton surveyed him with suspicion. “Just who are you anyway? And why were you carrying my daughter? Were you the one responsible for her injury?”
“I’m the man who loves your daughter more than anything,” Ridge said calmly.
Ashton quirked his eyebrow, his thin lips set in a firm line. He stared at Ridge for a long moment. “Very well. I’ll summon you when Maximus is finished.”
Ridge followed Robby and his father away from the cottages toward the lake. The earl sat down on a stone bench situated on the banks and sighed heavily.
Robby sat down on the ground then flopped over onto his side. He rested his elbow on the ground and propped his head with his hand. Ridge remained standing and waited for his father to speak.
“Maximus, my father, your grandfather, was an adventurer.” The earl rubbed his head tiredly. “He was a restless soul.” He looked up at Ridge. “You are so much like him. It’s why I did so many of the things I did. I was afraid you would follow his path in life.”
The earl closed his eyes and hung his head. He looked so very old to Ridge. Haggard. Regret hanging from him like a death shroud.
“He was obsessed with Pagoria. Much like the Ashton chap from what I’ve read. He came across a relic and became convinced it was his means to find the city. To his credit, he was right.”
He looked back up at Ridge. “You worshipped him when you were a child, and he indulged your interest by allowing you to trail after him. He wanted you to accompany him on his quest for the city, but I was against it. Finally I agreed on the condition that I go as well.”
The earl let out another harsh sigh. “I was hoping to somehow convince him during the journey to give up his outlandish ideas and return home. I felt like...I felt as though I had no father. His work always came first.”
Ridge watched his father in shock. He could never remember a time when his father had been emotional about anything. Admitting a weakness, a longing, was not something he ever imagined hearing his father do.
“Instead we came here, and to make a long story short, he opted to remain in Pagoria. Wanted me to remain as well along with you, but I couldn’t. Couldn’t do that to your mother, to Robby who was a mere babe. I had duties to attend, duties my father was not interested in assuming in his role as the earl.
“So, I returned home with you, concocted a story about my father’s death so I could assume the title. Even so, it took seven years for him to be declared dead. And all the while I tried my hardest to make you forget.”
“Why?” Ridge asked. “Why would you do such a thing?” Despite his best effort, years of pent up resentment came boiling to the surface. “Why treat me like a second-rate person because of my interests? You made me feel so very insignificant, always heaping praise on Robby, and taking every opportunity to downgrade my accomplishments.”
A single tear slipped down his father’s cheek. “Because I didn’t want to lose you like I had my father. I was afraid if I encouraged your pursuit of Pagoria that the damned city would take you away from me as well. I couldn’t bear it.”
Ridge was stunned. It sounded suspiciously like his fatherlovedhim. He didn’t even know what to say.
The earl turned the full force of his tortured gaze on Ridge. “I love you, son. I know I have not shown you my heart. It is a regret I will live with for the rest of my life.” He looked down to Robby who had remained silent the entire time. “I love you too, son. You can’t imagine the agony I endured when I read your letter. I couldn’t let you...diewithout hearing how very proud I am of you. Both of you,” he said as he returned his gaze to Ridge.
“I love you too,” Ridge said in a low voice. He swallowed in an attempt to lessen the burn in his throat. The tightness in his eyes, the sting of tears that forced him to blink.
“Can you forgive me, son? Can we start over this day?”
