Her mother wrapped her hands around her waist and squeezed until her knuckles turned white, then said, “I missed you, too.” Finally, she met Tessa’s gaze. “Please choose correctly this time.” She left, but not before Tessa saw the water in her eyes.
An old wish punched like the bud of an early spring flower through the earth of Tessa’s heart. She’d never been good enough to earn her mother’s love. But… people could change. Remmy didn’t love her any longer. But perhaps her mother could.
Chapter Nine
Halfway down the drive, whistling and grinning like a man assured of salvation, Remmy ran into a nightmare.
His parents.
Holding hands as they drifted lazily toward the house, they were as they’d always been—entirely in love and perfectly oblivious. He might just sneak around them without them noticing, hoofbeats, dirt flying, and all.
No such luck.
They looked up before he was in talking distance, and their mouths dropped open at the same time. They remained open until he passed by them.
He would have tipped his hat had he been wearing one. “Good morning, Mother, Father.”
His mother closed her mouth first. “Remmy…”
“Why are you wearing naught but your smalls, Remington?” his father demanded.
Remmy kept going. He owed his success to them. But he didn’t have to like it.
“Can’t be comfortable,” his mother mumbled.
“Stop, son,” his father said. “I know you’re dedicated to scene making and dishonoring the family these days, but come down from there and talk to us!”
Remmy dropped off Jeopardy, ignoring the uncomfortablefree swinging of the parts hid but not well-contained by his smalls. “Well?”
“You must stop what you’re doing,” his father demanded. “We have looked the other way while you’ve run wild, but you’re not to bring that sort of behavior home. You’re scandalizing your poor mother.”
His mother did not look scandalized. Frustrated, yes, ready to read him a lecture, absolutely. “You’re jeopardizing the family reputation, Remmy.”
“You two were the ones who told me I was useless. I’ve found a lucrative use for myself. You should be happy.”
“Useless?” his mother gasped.
“What sort of nonsense is that?” his father demanded.
He should get back on his horse and ride all the way to London in nothing but his smalls, but he’dhadit. Tessa had been back not more than a week in his life, and he was right back where he’d been six years ago—aching and desperate, and his parents must suffer, too.
“I came to you and told you what I wanted. I wanted to save her, to marry her.” He was yelling, didn’t care. Maybe, if he’d been allowed to marry Tessa back then, she’d have been in love with him by now. “And you told me no and reminded me oh-so lovingly that I had nothing,nothingat all, to offer a wife.”
“Remmy,” his mother said, an attempt to soften him.
“It was true.” His father wouldn’t back down.
Good. “Itwastrue. It woke me up. And I’ve worked myself to the bone and gristle trying to change my circumstances since then.”
“We know,” his mother said.
“We’re proud of you.” His father nodded, a stout sort of thing full of conviction about that pride. “Which is why we will not condone your actions.”
“My actions are all part of my success. Gossip makes money.”
“Bah.” His father stamped a foot. “You do not need gossip to succeed. Which is why we’re so disappointed with your behavior of late. Tessa’s mother possesses high moral standards, and she will not accept Tessa back into her home if she marries a man like you.”
Remmy felt as if he were still somehow on Jeopardy, moving farther and farther away from understanding of this conversation. “Do you mean you expect me to propose? To Tessa King? To the same girl you warned me away from six years ago?”
