As calmly as a son could, I asked, “Did my father strike you?”
“He took the house. He’s sending me to the country.”
“Mama, did he put his hands on you?”
“No. But taking my house hurts as much as Prahmn hurting me.”
Feeling like a boulder had lifted off my chest, I took a long gasp. Sitting back, I let every muscle uncoil. My father was a boor, but he hadn’t become a brute to her. Yet, he cut her where it hurt the most, her public name and partaking in London society.
“So Prahmn is back from his holiday. I guess he didn’t offer an explanation as to where he’s been or any sort of apology. The hypocrite is punishing you to punish me.”
“He says the coal woman is my fault. That I’ve indulged you.”
Indulged? Indignation coursed hotly through my veins. “You’ve allowed me to strive for music. You gave me a way to be free when the words couldn’t come. I couldn’t stand in church making sermons when I’d have to convict my father for how he lives.”
“Mark, he says he saw you with that woman.”
When? The park. The familiar shadows at a distance. That was Prahmn and his mistress. The adulterer disapproved of a wonderful friendship and a love he could only dream of, and had been lying about being out of Town.
“Mama, go to the country. Be away from Prahmn. I intend to get the goddess I love to marry me. Father will be very angry. Come back when you think he’s done with current rages and needs consoling before he finds another holiday for his latest mistress.”
“Wait. Mark. He’s cutting off any money for you. He means to make you heel. I can’t stand to think of what will become of you.”
“Tell Prahmn I am no puppy. I’m the man my mother raised me to be.”
“And who’s that?”
“A gentleman in need of a good woman who cares for his well-being and sanity. And I know exactly where to find her.”
She clutched my arm. “Come back with me. Tell him you are done with the Wilcox girl. Then he will rid his mistress from my house.”
Her offer to let me be with the woman I loved disappeared when her world was threatened. My love, had she seen this?
“Miss Georgina Wilcox was done with me because she didn’t believe I could be my own man. Prahmn is making sure I start being brave tonight. Good night, Mother, I have a ball to attend.”
“No. He’ll be there. He’ll humiliate you.”
“Groveling to my father and lying about my feelings or even trying to explain to his small mind who I love would be more humiliating. Write to me when you can.”
My mother clutched my lapel. Wrenching the necklace from her throat, she handed me the sparkly diamond thing. “Take this. Sell it. When all this is over—”
I kissed her cheek. “It’s time to stand on my own, Mama. I may foolishly wish that I’d kept this, but I need to make myself useful. I have to earn her.”
As I tried to climb out, she grabbed my arm again. This time she slid off one of her rings. It was the small silver band her father had given her. “Take this. Let it see love again, Mark. Be blessed in your marriage. Godspeed.”
I stepped back inside and held my mother. “You’re the original goddess. Get away from Prahmn.”
Holding her hand to my chest, I kissed her knuckles. After securing the ring, I took my satchel and left to retrieve my gig. There was a ball I needed to hurry to. Before midnight, I needed to have my true bride-to-be in my arms.
Chapter 38
GEORGINA—THEBALL
Mr. Thom drove us in the biggest Wilcox Coal carriage. He cleaned it, buffed it to a shine, and restored the rich leather seats to make everything immaculate.
Our wonderful satin and silk gowns wouldn’t have a speck of coal dust. He handed my sisters and me inside. “Ladies, I get to escort you all to the Duke of Torrance’s ball.”
I sighed and lifted my gilded shoes. “I feel like Vasilisa, the princess. Scarlett, did she have glass slippers?”
