“Oh, that.” Gwenys nodded. “It was averyunhappy marriage. The best that can be said of it is that my uncle, Graham Lawson, who was the Earl of Lowery at the time, died two years after their wedding day and left her a young widow. She was only twenty years old when he died, a few months younger than I am now. The experience left her devastated. Not only because he died, but where and how he died.”
Bram frowned. “Will ye tell me what happened?”
“Yes, it was no secret at the time. In fact, the entiretonknew of it. My stepmother made a point of telling me all the sordid details, thinking it would lower my opinion of Miranda, but it only made me love her more for bearing the humiliation with dignity.”
Bram’s heart tightened. He was livid at the thought that Miranda had been cruelly hurt, and her so young and unprepared to endure the vicious mockery aimed at her.
Gwenys shook her head and continued. “She shows the world a hard outer shell, but she is quite soft inside. Their marriage left her more wounded than she will ever admit.”
Bram’s heart was still in a tight vise. “Did he beat her?” If the man weren’t already dead, Bram would resurrect the oaf and then beat the man to death himself.
“No—at least, I do not think so. Miranda is soft, as I’ve said. But she stands up for herself. I don’t think he ever dared hurt her physically. But he did quite some damage to her confidence and gentle spirit.”
“How?”
“By brutally betraying her trust. She claims the lesson learned made her wiser and warier to the deceitful ways of the world. But I think it stole her ability to ever accept love again. This is what her husband destroyed within her, the hope of ever trusting in the possibility of true love.”
“Och, I’m sorry. That must have been so hard for her. Barely married and already facing these burdens. But what happened? How did he betray her?”
“Well, what Miranda told me is that she thought theirs was a love match and went into the marriage with this belief. However, it wasn’t long before her husband set up a mistress and began spending all his time with her. In fact, he even brought the horrid woman to varioustonaffairs with him—you know, dinner parties and balls—while leaving Miranda to sit at home. The gossips ate up the scandal. Everyone had a laugh at her expense.”
“Och. How could he do such an awful thing to her?”
Gwenys sighed. “I wish I had an answer to that. Her husband added to the insult by dying in the brazen woman’s bed. Oh, I should not be telling you this. Please do not repeat it to Aunt Miranda. She’ll be so humiliated.”
“I will no’ let on, lass. I only asked ye because I wish to understand her better. I would never do or say anything to embarrass her.”
“I’ll never forgive you if you do. She’s a wonderful person. Smart. Loving. She did not deserve to be treated as disrespectfully as she was by her husband. My stepmother says that he only married her to claim his inheritance. He wanted a gullible dupe, and this is what Miranda was to him. Up until their wedding day, he was fawning and attentive. He kept up the pretense for about a month longer out of necessity. But the moment his inheritance was transferred to him, his true nature revealed itself.”
Bram frowned, not certain he would ever be able to overcome the damage that this fiend had caused Miranda.
“He took up with his mistress and discarded Miranda,” Gwenys continued. “It was all anyone talked about for months afterward. Can you imagine how awful it was for her? She was just eighteen when they married, filled with hope of a bright, loving future. Then, only a month later, was betrayed. She had to abide two years of humiliation and then assume the role of grieving widow, all the while enduring the ridicule of theton.”
“Poor thing,” Bram muttered, wishing he had known her back then. He would have offered his support. It pained him to think she had stood alone to battle the Society vultures.
“It happened about fifteen years ago, but that wound is still raw and festers within her. She felt completely duped. The only good thing to come out of their union is that her father had negotiated excellent terms on her behalf and she wound up a wealthy widow.”
“I see.”
“But she does not care about the money. She isn’t greedy at all.”
Their drinks came, and Bram let the conversation lapse for the moment while he sipped his ale and Gwenys drank her tea.
It was not long before Gwenys was ready to resume their conversation. “Oh, I suppose I should not have told you that, either.”
“What, that she is a lady of means? It is obvious in the fashion of yer clothes and the elegant style of yer living. But I dinna care about that. I have my own wealth and would never need to touch hers.”
“Your Grace, are you that seriously interested in my aunt?” she asked, pursing her lips as though not pleased by the notion.
Gwenys was honest with him, so he meant to be honest with her in return. He was surprised that she did not seem pleased byhis intention, but she was a straightforward lass and he would find out the reason as they continued their conversation.
“Aye, I am. But we got off to a terrible start and I fear there may be no coming back from this fiasco of her abduction. She may never grow to trust me. Especially after what she has already endured from her wretch of a husband.”
“Your kinsman, Douglas Lanark, speaks very highly of you.”
Bram nodded. “The feeling is mutual. He is a very good man. My heart rests easy knowing he will inherit the title once I am gone.”
“I hope you shall have many good years left,” Gwenys said with a grin. “Douglas fervently hopes so, too. He thinks Scotland needs you fighting on her behalf in the House of Lords. He said that only sixteen of your noblemen are permitted to serve, and you’re always chosen to lead their delegation to Parliament. That is quite impressive.”
