But she didn’t want him, did she? He had been childish, petty, selfish. How could he expect to have a great love—one for the ages—if he didn’t pay better attention to what his lady truly needed? That was exactly how he had lost Ellena. He hadn’t understood until this very moment. And he had made the same mistake with Miss Lockhart.
At least, he told his mortified conscience, he had not betrayed Miss Lockhart as fully as he had done Ellena. Fool that he was, he had not seen his actions as treachery then. Oh, no, he had convinced himself of his noble intent. It would have been laughable if it weren’t so humiliatingly dishonest. Small wonder she had been aghast at his declaration of love. He could see it so clearly now. It filled him with a deep sense of disgrace.
He was almost too afraid to read further. Afraid of the shame he would feel as Miss Lockhart apologized for overreacting. If he had spent more time really listening, he wouldn’t have put her in that position in the first place. They could have remained friends. They might have become more.
Hemustread on. Learn the full lesson. Never make that mistake again.
His gaze returned to the letter. There were but a few lines remaining.
My humble request is for you to return this rare butterfly to your brother, that he might gift it to someone more worthy, or, at the very least, sell it to a collector and regain a measure of the funds he so willingly spent. And,if you will allow it, let him read these words that I may unburden myself of the sorrow I feel at having hurt him. I behaved badly. And I regret it deeply. Having lost his friendship was a high price to pay for a moment’s folly.
Yours in good faith,
Verity Lockhart
There it was. The olive branch. A reason to hope. An opportunity to recapture a fledgling friendship. William could think of nothing he wanted more in the world. He had missed out on making her his wife, but to have her as a friend would be the next best thing. Like his sister, Miss Lockhart would brook no nonsense from him. But, just like Charlotte, she would also accept him as he was. In exchange, he wanted to be her champion. He could lend his worldly knowledge to her debut season, guiding her through the pitfalls of Munro society. With the necessary chaperoning, of course. He would not have her reputation tarnished.
William felt a surge of purpose. But he would not forget the lesson learned. Action, yes, but listening also. A lot more listening. And maybe his next venture into romance would be the stuff of legends, the lifelong passion that he so craved.
“You are smiling.” Charlotte’s voice broke through his thoughts. “I am amazed. I did not think there was much humor in the letter.”
“No, not humor,” William answered. “Truth.”
“And the truth makes you smile?”
“It does. There is pain, and regret, but also a new goal.”
Charlotte cocked her head to one side. “May I ask the nature of this goal?”
“To be a better friend, if Miss Lockhart will allow it.”
Charlotte clapped her hands in delight. “Iknewyou would do the right thing!”
“Did you?” William’s brow furrowed, his eyebrows drawn together in confusion. “How could you know it with such certainty when I have but come to that conclusion myself this very minute?”
His sister’s eyes sparkled. “Because I knowyou, William. You like to play the scoundrel, but you are a good soul, dear brother. And if you are going to put your youthful energy to good use, I am all for it. In fact, I know exactly when and where you and Miss Lockhart may rekindle your friendship.”
“You do?” William’s eyebrows rose and his lips quirked into a pout.
“I do. The Macraes are having a ball in a few weeks. And I happen to know that Miss Lockhart and her sister will be in attendance. Her first ball of the season, I believe. You could use the occasion to accept her apology. And offer one of your own, perhaps?”
William felt oddly nervous at the prospect. He did not want this one chance to go awry. “Will you be there?” he asked, his forehead pleated with uncertainty.
“She doesn’t want to leave the children,” James piped up. “We’ve hardly been to a single gathering since our daughter was born. And I will not go without her. I did tell you I was being sorely neglected.”
“We-ell.” Charlotte hesitated. “I suppose if it’s for a good cause…”
“Hmph,” grumbled James. “It is clear my happiness has not been cause enough.”
Charlotte half-turned in his direction. “Oh, do stop complaining, James dear. It is not as though you were deprived of my company. Only the company of others. And I did say we should have friends to dinner, here, in our home. I simply am not ready to abandon my little cherub to the nurse completely,coming home in the early hours and too exhausted the next day to give our children any attention.”
James remained silent and sullen.
Charlotte slipped across the room and hunched down by his chair. “Mr. Trenton,” she said softly, “will you do me the honor of escorting me to the Macraes’ ball? I would be so happy if you did. I have not been out in ages and it would do me good to dance upon your arm.”
William watched as James fought to stay welded to his mood.
“What about the children? You will spend the night fretting about their wellbeing.”
