Kaitlin led the way, allowing Jack to approach Sophia. He offered her his arm, which she readily accepted, and together they followed the others.
“I’ve missed you desperately,” he murmured as they climbed the steps. Behind them, the footmen could be heard unloading the luggage.
“And I you,” she whispered. “Thank God our wait is almost over.”
“Agreed.” He squeezed her arm. “We need only be a little more patient.”
They entered the abbey where the butler helped them all remove their outerwear. And then two maids were showing the Maypooles and Sophia up to their respective rooms. A glance over her shoulder confirmed Jack remained in the foyer, quietly watching her climb the stairs. Her heart hammered wildly against her breast as her gaze caught his. The ball tomorrow evening could not arrive soon enough.
A knock sounded at Jack’s bedchamber door the following evening. Standing before his cheval glass, his valet, Jones, was in the process of helping him on with his jacket.
“Come in,” Jack called.
His mother entered, dressed in a lovely green gown she’d ordered specifically for tonight’s occasion. “You look remarkably handsome.”
“And you look exceptionally lovely, Mama. That color suits you to perfection.”
Mama smiled. “I brought the item you asked for.” She placed a tiny box on top of his dresser. “Sophia is the best choice you could have made in a wife. I’ve always thought so.”
“A pity Papa doesn’t agree,” Jack muttered. He thanked Jones and dismissed him.
“Your father can have some firm opinions. He can be stubborn and difficult. But at the end of the day, he loves you, Jack, and this rift between the two of you is hurting him.”
Jack snorted. “I seriously doubt that.”
“Please. Talk to him.”
“After he cut me out of his will for daring to love someone he thought unfit to be his daughter-in-law?”
“You know it’s not because of that.” Mama pressed her lips together. “He’s waiting for you in his study and he’s ready to talk. If I were you, I’d swallow my pride and take this opportunity to mend your differences.” When Jack simply stared at her, she added, “It will give your new life with Sophia the proper start it deserves, without all this negativity hanging over your head.”
Phrased like that, Jack had to admit there might be a point to making amends with his father. Even if he had to be the one to start the process. Lord, how he loathed the idea of doing so. “Fine.”
Her eyes lit up. “Thank you and good luck.”
Jack blew out a breath and picked up the box she’d brought. He placed it securely in his jacket pocket and followed her into the hallway. According to the clock in the foyer, the guests would be arriving in half an hour. And since most of those he’d invited had accepted his invitation, he expected a large crowd.
When he and his mother reached the door to his father’s study, Jack dropped a kiss on her cheek. “I’ll see you soon.”
Then, with his heart in his throat, he entered the one room he’d not set foot in for a full year. He scanned the space and found his father standing with his back toward him near the window, drink in hand. Jack cleared his throat. “Mama said I might find you here.”
Papa turned, his features carefully schooled as always. “She threatened to leave me unless I agreed to speak with you.”
A startled laugh escaped Jack’s lips. “Did she really?”
Papa fixed his gaze on Jack’s. “I believe she called me an unreasonable curmudgeon.”
Jack raised an eyebrow. “I’m shocked.”
A hint of humor flickered in Papa’s gaze. His lips twitched. “Truth is, she’s not wrong. It’s just been so damn hard for me to figure out what to say. I was so incredibly angry with you when you told me you’d planned on running away – of marrying behind my back.”
“You didn’t really leave me much choice. If you’ll recall, you did threaten to cut me off and strike me from your will if I married Sophia. You told me a woman like her could never be more than my mistress.” Jack took a deep breath and tried to cast off the anger that once again gripped him. “With this in mind, I feared you’d try and stop a potential wedding if you heard of our plan.”
Papa bowed his head with a sigh. He looked defeated. “I was wrong to say what I did. Sophia’s a lovely girl. I’ve always thought so. But I had this family’s reputation to consider. I worried what strangers would think and the impact such a union might have on Kaitlin and Felicity.”
“You weren’t wrong to be concerned,” Jack said. “But you were wrong to punish me for something I never ended up doing.”
“I know.” Papa raised his gaze to Jack’s. “Please forgive me.”
