Elise winced. “That is an ugly word,” she whispered.
“Deceiving women is an ugly action. However, you might be able to reclaim Wiltham. Isn’t this Richard related to your father?”
Elise nodded.
“Well, he had no right to Wiltham then. If the marriage is invalid because of bigamy, then he married your mother under false pretenses.”
It became easier for her to breathe. “I don’t know which one he married first. My mother or this Sally.”
“That can be discovered.”
“Except, it won’t change anything. Some male on my mother’s side will claim the estate. And it still won’t make my father care for me or my sisters.” Once more she felt as if her heart was being torn asunder. “You should have seen him. He pretended in front of his wife as if we were strangers. He tried to introduce me by another name.”
“He’d been caught in his lies. He’s probably incapable of honesty.”
She frowned. “How could that be?”
“How could he be so selfish?” Kit clarified. “Because that is what he is. And I understand having a father who only thinks of himself. My father married a gentle, loving woman and every day he was alive, she had to pretend that his disregard didn’t wound her deeply.Youare not one to pretend, Elise. You are vibrant, bold, and unafraid to fight. Of course this hurts. You would never treat someone the way your sire has you and your sisters. You have too much integrity. I’m glad you were raised by your Gram. I’d hate to think of how little character you would have if your father had been around more.”
Some of the tightness in her chest eased. He was right. Her Gram had encouraged her spirit, her love of books and ideas.
Then again, her half brothers had not appeared as if they had lacked guidance. “Charles, the one who is around my age, has purchased his colors.”
“So?” Kit boldly challenged her.
She glanced up under wet lashes at him. “So... I don’t know how much it costs to buy one’s way into the ranks of officers, however, my father did not provide a dowry for any of us.”
Her face felt hot. She pressed the backs of her hands against her cheeks. “His neglect stings.”
“But you paid your way to London, didn’t you? You managed?”
She nodded. “We’ve had a Season. Can you imagine? Three lasses from County Wicklow. We were going to marry dukes.”
It all sounded a touch implausible—and yet, they’d made their way.
Kit’s brows came together. “Dukes,” he said with a sniff of disdain. She sniffed back at him, mimicking the sound—and he laughed.
The pain, the hurt began to drift away. She looked up at him. “I’m sorry, Kit.”
“For what?”
“For not listening to you when you said we shouldn’t go to Moorcock. For being more than a bit of a burden to you and quite exasperating—”
He kissed her fully on the lips, exactly as he had last night. Only this kiss was better... because she knew how to kiss him back now.
The kiss broke. His arms were around her, her breasts against this chest. He looked down and said, “Elise, never apologize for being who you are. Ever.”
And on those words, he kissed her again.
Chapter Nineteen
The cowardly man did not go to the lady.
Irish proverb
Damn all selfish fathers.
Kit’s father had twisted his mother’s heart for years. Andthis—having a second family? It was either kiss Elise or shake Old John until the bones fell out of his body.
