“Good. Do you realize my life may have been very different if they had not left the country? I could have grown up with both my parents and my grandparents. I could have had the education I deserved… I could have had… everything.” She refused to cry over this. It was senseless.
“He wants to apologize to you, Lucinda. He has missed out too, you know. Your grandfather loved your mother and thought he was doing the right thing. He now knows he was misguided and because of his actions he has missed out on having a relationship with you.”
“He can apologize all he wants; it will not bring back my parents or undo what has been done to me.”
He had pulled the phaeton over to the side of the path and stopped. Studying her, he said in a careful tone, “I know that, but don’t you think you have both suffered enough? Would it not be a good idea to put the past behind you and forgive the one relative you have left?”
So, was her grandmother gone too? Leaving only the old man who had destroyed his family? Fine, he did not kill her mother or father, but he sent them to their deaths by forcing them from the safety of England. Could she forgive him for that? Tony had said he had regretted his decision. “I will have to think on it. I can make no promises.”
“I appreciate you hearing me out. I hope you are not angry with me for seeking him out.”
“Thank you for telling me first. I need time. When do you need a decision? Are you to write to him?”
Tony looked down at his boots before searching her face again. “He is here.”
“Here? In London? Oh, Tony.” She hit his arm with her hand. “Why did you do that?”
“Ouch.” He rubbed his arm. “He wants to see you. I guess when you get to his age every day counts.”
The anger in her face disappeared. “Is he ill?”
“He is old, and guilt can rot the body and mind, or so I have been told.”
“I suppose it would not hurt to meet him, but that is all I am agreeing to.”
“That is all he is asking.”
She let out a big sigh, and he put his arm around her and gave her a hug. She rested her head on his shoulder. “You always seem to vex me. Why is that?”
“I do not do it on purpose. I suppose my way of showing I care is not the best way, but I am trying.”
“I see it, even if I do not agree with your methods.”He cares for me. Do not get ahead of yourself, Lucinda. There are many levels of care. Do not blow this up into something it is not.
They returned after a trip around the park to the house to see off the few remaining callers. Dunstan was still among them, talking to Marianne, who was showing him some of the art in the parlor.
“Lord Dunstan, how happy I am to see you still here.” Lucinda greeted him, and he took her hand and kissed it.
“So glad I did not miss you completely, Miss Sterling. I did wonder if you were going to the opera house this week.”
Lucinda turned toward Tony and his mother. The dowager smiled brightly. “I was going to discuss the very thing tonight. What night are you going, Lord Dunstan?”
“On Friday night. I have hired a box, but I suppose the duke has one of his own?”
“He does indeed. He loves opera and art as you know. We would be happy to have you join us.”
“That, my dear duchess, would be more than I could have hoped for. I have yet to meet the duke properly.”
“He is a busy man, but I am sure he would make an exception.”
Dunstan inclined his head and then made a bow. “I must leave you now, but I look forward to our time at the opera, dear ladies. I shall meet you at the theater at say six-thirty?”
Marianne and Lucinda clapped their hands in delight. Once Dunstan was gone, Lucinda turned to Tony. “When is the best time and day to meet with Lord Shorten?”
“That depends on your schedule. If you could let me know, I will contact your grandfather.”
“Oh.” His mother looked at Lucinda as if her face could show her thoughts on the subject. “And are we happy about this?”
She could not say for sure. Part of her wanted this, but the other part did not want to be disappointed. And yet another part wanted nothing to do with the man who had disowned his own daughter because she fell in love with a man he did not approve of. “I have not made up my mind on the subject, but I am willing to meet him in order to see if he is truly remorseful.”
