Ottilie paused. “Because she doesn’t want either of us associating with Mr. Bastin. She wanted to warn me against his type, and she insists that I discourage your friendship with him.” Ottilie swallowed her guilt for omitting the whole truth.
“Good Lord!” Henry’s face blotched red with anger. “Will she never stop trying to control our lives?”
Ottilie reached out and touched his arm. “She loves you, that’s all. She believes she is protecting you.”
“Don’t apologize for her.” Henry leapt up and paced several furious steps forward. Then he spun around and paced back again. “Loving me is no excuse for hurting you. Why would she be so cruel as to burden you with this information when there is absolutely nothing you can do about it now?”
“I am pleased someone finally told me. I want to know the truth, no matter how painful. But I need to verify that what your mother told me is, in fact, the whole truth. She asserts my mama sought to protect me by claiming my father was dead, but I have to find out if my stepfather knows more. If anyone does, it will be him.”
Henry dropped onto the window seat again. “And do you believe your stepfather will help you?”
“Yes, for the same reason he told me about you two years ago.”
“Guilt,” Henry said.
“Exactly.”
“I’m coming with you.”
“That’s not necessary. I don’t want to cause further strife between you and your mama.”
Henry jumped to his feet once more. “Don’t argue. I won’t change my mind. My mother burdened you with this knowledge, and I won’t let you carry it alone. Your stepfather isn’t likely to offer you any comfort or support, and I think you will need it. Give me an hour to have my things readied. Then we shall leave for the train station.”
“What will you tell Lady Hudsyn?”
“I’ll say we’re going to Margate for a few days. Didn’t you say you have friends holidaying there?”
“Yes, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas are there for the summer. But your mama won’t feel satisfied with that explanation.”
“Too bad. It’s the only explanation she’ll receive from me.” He kissed Ottilie’s cheek and hurried out of the room before she could protest.
Ottilie sighed and turned back to the window. Her eyes burned as she fought to keep back tears. Henry would never know what truly caused her heart to ache. “Oh, Mama,” she whispered, gazing up at the clear blue sky. “How you must have suffered. I understand now the agony you must have endured.” She’d hardly recognized Jack when he’d turned against her—there was no question some form of madness had taken hold of him, especially when he began raving about contrived meetings and colluding with Sir Richard. None of it made sense. But even if he had gone mad, Ottilie realized—it would not change the fact that she loved him.
Chapter Seventeen
Thou unrelentingPast!
Strong are the barriers round thy darkdomain,
And fetters, sure andfast,
Hold all that enter thy unbreathingreign.
—William Cullen Bryant,“The Past”
Sir Richard’s silenceunnerved Jack.
With Miss Hamilton acting as his spy, his uncle would have gained full knowledge of Jack’s plan to cuckold and humiliate him, yet the man had done nothing to intervene or prevent his growing friendship with Lady Astyr. Sir Richard did not order his wife to stay at home as expected, and his morning rides with the lady continued, unimpeded. Perhaps, Miss Hamilton had failed to report the information to Sir Richard?
It was possible but unlikely. Her ladies’ college was far too precious to her. It was more likely that his uncle was devising some trap and biding his time to plot and plan. After all, he’d received a knighthood for his strategic excellence in the Crimean War, and he would approach this personal war no differently. Jack could not allow him that advantage. He needed to play on the man’s hubris and provoke him into taking rash action.
Such were his thoughts as he strolled with Lady Astyr in Kensington Gardens during promenade hours on Sunday evening. Sir Richard might have been a brilliant military strategist, but he clearly knew little about women. It had taken only three meetings to cajole Lady Astyr out of her timidity and to win her complete devotion and trust. So, when he’d asked her to meet him in the park in full view of society, she’d readily agreed.
“Your husband doesn’t mind you walking out with another gentleman?” he asked.
“I told him Lady Buntley invited me to ride in her carriage.” She peeked up at him from beneath a white bonnet and matching parasol, her elfin face overshadowed by a sharp nose.
“How naughty of you,” Jack said playfully.
