He sat back, scratching his head, trying to summarize that terrible time in his life. She didn’t need to know all of the details, but she did need to know her situation wasn’t so different than one he’d been in once, too.
“Years ago, there was a woman I wanted to marry,” he said. “I knew her father did not approve of me, so I coerced her into my bed, and she became pregnant with my child.”
Ophelia studied him for a moment as their common situations began to become apparent, and the light of realization struck her. “You did it to force her father to approve of your marriage,” she said softly.
He nodded. “I did,” he said. “I loved her and she loved me, and I thought my perfect life was planned. But her father still did not approve, so Mary and I made plans to run away together. Her father found out about it and sent her away before that could happen. So, you see, my lady, that somewhere in this world, a man married the woman I loved and is raising my child. I do not know if he was tricked into it like your grandfather tried to trick me, but regardless, another man is raising my child. Mayhap by raising yours, I am accepting him as I hope Mary’s husband has accepted my child. You asked how I can forgive what you’ve done? That is how.”
Ophelia was astonished. “I find the fact that you have had a similar experience to mine to be wholly remarkable,” she said. “You understand what it is like to lose someone you intended to marry.”
“I do, indeed,” he said. “If that is not a sign that you and I are destined to marry, I do not know what is.”
He had a point. Ophelia sat there, gazing at him, realizing this might not be a horrible ending for her after all. He was willing to overlook the pregnancy, and she could have never imagined that in a thousand years.
“Are you certain?” she whispered.
He nodded. “I am,” he said. “Are you?”
“I am.”
“A better alternative than the cloister?”
She smiled faintly. “I think so,” she said. “I hope so.”
Creston smiled in return. “I hope so, too,” he said. “But you will not tell your grandfather about this conversation. Do you understand? That is something I will do when the time is right.”
She nodded solemnly. “As you wish,” she said. “The less said to him, the better. And to my mother—she never protected me through this entire thing. She simply let Grandfather do as he wished.”
Creston hadn’t even met her mother, but already, he was displeased with the woman. “I understand that it is difficult to take a stand against one’s father,” he said. “But where a child is concerned, I should hope for better from a parent. In any case, I will take you back to the tavern and you will stay there until I come for you in the morning. Understood?”
Ophelia nodded. “Aye, my lord.”
His eyes took on a hint of warmth. “I am to be your husband,” he said. “You may call me Creston.”
“Thank you, my lo—I mean, thank you, Creston.”
He grinned. “Do you go by Ophelia?” he said. “Or do you have another name you would prefer me to use?”
“I am called Ophelia by most,” she said. “Though my mother and grandfather sometimes call me Lia.”
“Lia,” he repeated softly. “I like that. May I call you that?”
“Of course.”
That pleased him. He stood up and extended a hand to her, which she took more quickly than she had the last time he’d offered it. She understood what he wanted the second time around. As Creston gazed at her, he began to feel the beginnings of a connection. The advice of Ming Tang was fading quickly because he just couldn’t imagine that she would tell him such a catastrophic secret as part of some elaborate lie to manipulate him somehow. It wasn’t likehewas the earl, being trapped into marriage. He was a simple knight with no property, no title, simply an abundance of talent and a prestigious position, so he had nothing of value that the Earl of Sidbury or even his granddaughter should want. Moreover, he’d seen a lot of liars in his time, but she wasn’t one of them. He simply didn’t think so.
And he was willing to stake everything on it.
“It is time for you to return, Lia,” he said softly, watching her flush as he spoke so informally to her. “We shall go back the way you came and I will take you back to the tavern.”
She balked. “You must not,” she said. “If anyone were to see you and tell my grandfather, I would have a good deal of explaining to do.”
“But—”
“Nay,” she insisted softly, interrupting him. “We are not yet married, and until we are, there is still a chance he could stop us or delay us if he becomes unhappy with me. Or you. He still has that power.”
That was true, but Creston wasn’t bending. “I cannot let you go alone.”
“I was alone when I came here.”
