“It had to be done,” Ridge said. “The last thing I wanted to do was send a flock of explorers to pillage the city when India, Robby and Grandfather are there.”
Just saying her name sent a fiery surge of pain through his chest. He shook his head in an attempt to regain control of his emotions.
“How is Mother?” he asked.
The earl’s expression grew somber. “She is doing better. She still has days where she is distraught, but I have faith better days are on the way.”
Ridge sighed. At least he and his father had a chance to tell Robby goodbye. His mother had been cheated of her opportunity, and it had deeply upset her. She still grieved for her youngest son. And Lucinda? Well, she was a woman greatly changed by the events of the last year.
Despite his best reservations, he had looked in on her from time to time and found a very different woman. She was quieter, more reflective, wounded almost. He wondered how much losing Robby had affected her.
“I must be going now, son,” the earl spoke up, intruding on Ridge’s thoughts. “I promised your mother I’d be home for tea.”
Ridge nodded. “Thank you for coming.”
He watched his father walk away and marveled at how their relationship had changed. He turned and began to walk out of the building before he was caught by another well wisher.
He entered the foyer, the door in sight when a voice stopped him cold in his tracks.
“Lord Ridgewood, quite an interesting speech. You’ll forgive me if I take exception to the content.”
His breathing sped up and his heart pounded thunderously in his chest. It couldn’t be. He slowly turned around, afraid to hope, afraid to dream, afraid he would be sorely disappointed in what he discovered.
But there she stood. Wearing a scruffy shirt and a worn pair of breeches. She looked dusty and travel worn. She looked exactly as he had left her in Pagoria.India.
“Dear God, is it really you?” Would she disappear? Had he finally gone mad in his grief? Had he summoned her image? Was he talking to a figment of his imagination?
She smiled, but he could see her fear. Was she afraid of him? Uncertainty was written as clearly as if someone had stamped it on her face in ink. She licked her lips nervously and rubbed her free hand down the leg of her trousers.
“I-I came as quickly as I could,” she stammered out. “I made a mistake, Ridge.”
Her words hummed sweetly in his ears, words he had dreamed of her saying. Truly, he was losing his mind. She simply could not be standing here in front of him.
India watched as Ridge blinked in confusion and continued to stare at her. God, was she too late? Would he not forgive her?
“I should not have let you leave without me,” she continued on. “I left the city right after you did, but when I reached the gate, you had already left. By the time I reached San Sebastian, you were four days ahead of me.”
His brow crinkled in confusion. “Four days? It’s been six months!”
She clenched her teeth in frustration. “I couldn’t hire a ship immediately. I had to wait, and then we were delayed at sea by a series of storms. I feared I would never reach England at that rate.”
She shook her head, not wanting to discuss her travels. It wasn’t what she had come to do. So she took a deep breath and laid her heart at his feet. “Ridge, I love you. More than anything I want a life with you. If you’ll have me.” She trailed off, looking intently at him, willing him to take her in his arms and shout that yes he would have her.
But he said nothing. In fact, he didn’t move. He continued to stare at her as if she weren’t there at all.
“Ridge,” a feminine voice rang out.
India whipped around, dread in her heart at the familiar voice. Lucinda Hadley hurried forward, her hands wringing delicately in front of her. She was perfection from the top of her head to the tips of her toes, and India had never felt grungier than she did at this moment.
Her heart sank when she turned back to Ridge and found him smiling at Lucinda.
“Oh Ridge, tell me I didn’t miss your speech,” Lucinda said in a slightly breathless voice.
India’s heart sank. Her shoulders slumped. He didn’t want her.
“Excuse me,” she mumbled. “I didn’t mean to bother you.” She turned and all but ran from the building.
“Ridge, was that India Ashton?” Lucinda exclaimed.
