Clearly, she was eager to be away from him.
“Good day, Lady Purity,” Matthew said quietly. It was better to let her go.
Obviously, he was out of her books at that moment. And while he was growing weary of being in the wrong and didn’t intend to grovel, he would make sure she understood everything.
Purity couldn’t denybeing surprised to meet Foxford’s by-blow. She seemed to be a dear little girl, not to mention fortunate. He had claimed her rather than allowing her to languish in an orphanage, if there was no mother involved.
Was there a mother involved?Perhaps Foxford was paying some woman’s keep somewhere while raising their child.
Better he should have been more careful in the first place!
She ought to have been more careful, too. She’d allowed herself to be kissed in her own drawing room — more than kissed, but she couldn’t put a name to what else had occurred.The moment Foxford had entered her home, her heart had started to beat faster and her body to tingle delightfully. His skillful touch had caused an overwhelming storm of sensations, which had ended with the most extraordinary release.
Purity could not dredge up an ounce of regret. Even knowing he’d kept from her the information of having a child, which was disturbing and begged the obvious question —what else might he be hiding?
Shaking her head, she looked around, realizing she was walking aimlessly along one side of Berkeley Square and that her maid was once again following. How kind of Alice to give Foxford and her privacy when they had started interacting with his daughter.
His daughter!
Purity could scarcely believe she was now thinking of him as a father.
Why wasn’t she angry?True, she had experienced a moment of utter shock, but she was determined to live up to her promise not to pass judgment the way she had over the sofa.
Knowing Foxford had gone to the trouble to plead his case to her sister had further opened her heart to him. She smiled to herself. Despite how wrong she’d been about Lady Varley, he had thought no less of her for having misjudged him, and she’d concluded they would have a good marriage. Like her parents had.
Did his having a daughter change anything?
The little girl had been delightful, as most girls her age were. Purity could and would find no fault with her, nor place upon her any blame the way some people did. No guttersnipe wished to be poor, nor did any orphan wish to be such. They had no more choice in the matter than she did in loving Foxford.
But how could he not know her exact age?
That had been disappointing, making her doubt his responsibility. If he was so offhand about a child, how would he care for a wife? Her thoughts were spinning futilely.
“I think a new hat is in order, Alice,” she said, deciding on the spot that she would feel better if she bought something pretty and unexpected. That’s what Clarity would do. Naturally, her sister would have already made friends with Diana and probably insisted she join them for ices at Gunter’s, whereas Purity had needed distance from the unexpected development. At least for the time being.
There was a shop on Oxford Street she favored, but Old Bond Street was closer, so she headed in that direction. An hour later with a hatbox in hand, she walked the rest of the way home, ready for a restorative cup of tea. It had been an extraordinarily long day with tasks and goals all over London.
And then Purity had what she hoped was a brilliant idea. Sitting at her writing desk, she began to write her betrothed a letter.
Three days later afterreceiving Foxford’s answer, Purity, accompanied by Alice, showed up at his Belgrave Square residence. She carried a special surprise for Diana.
The butler gave them immediate entrance into the drawing room and said both tea and Lord Foxford would arrive at once. Her maid was invited to meet the house staff and thus was whisked away after gaining Purity’s nod of approval.
In any other house, with any other man, she knew this would be highly improper. But she was used to being highly improper with him.
As promised, Foxford entered less than a minute later, dressed impeccably, dash-fire handsome, and his face all but healed. Strangely, he looked wary.
“Lady Purity, welcome to my home.” He started to move toward her, then stopped. She knew he was trying to behave and keep an appropriate distance.
When he put his hands behind his back and clasped them together, she was touched.
“Won’t you have a seat?” he offered. “And put down your basket?”
“I shall do both. Thank you for letting me come today.” Her heart was beginning to pound, hoping everything would go smoothly.
Setting the basket on the low table, she took a seat on one of the chairs. There was no sofa yet, and the room was a little short on seating.
She smiled, knowing he had removed the offensive item on her account.
