Page 83 of Lavender’s Lost Duke

“I thought the books would be for you, my lady.” Thomas smiled at Lady Lavender.

“They will be if your company proves to be boorish.”

Thomas laughed. “I can assure you we will have enough to consult about to keep us company for far longer than a day’s ride.”

“You’d best begin at your childhood then.” She nodded firmly.

They talked for hours about their childhoods, their families, and their educations. More than one of them shed tears when Thomas told her about the tragic carriage accident that ended up taking his father’s life. Up until that accident, Thomas’s life was nothing to be ashamed of—it had been as normal as life could be for a child of privilege.

The memory of his duplicitous uncle was mortifying. But Lady Lavender was understanding with Thomas’s reaction. Just speaking his feelings to her healed a part of him he didn’t realize needed to be healed. She took the most tender moments of his life—the times that had shaped his most terrible attributes—and gave them unflinching compassion.

She told him of her relationship with Mr. Lanscombe, and the tale made Thomas’s blood boil. How could that spineless vermin take advantage of a lady as sweet and gentle as Lavender? That topic led to her admitting that when she came to London with the purpose of needing to marry someone quickly in order to bring her father peace, she’d been trying not to find love. It was a perfect moment for Thomas to ask her to marry him, but he didn’t take it—he wouldn’t take advantage of her desperation.

“When we get to the House of Lords, the session will be just starting,” he said, looking at his pocket watch.

Lavender nodded. “Good, you can make a dramatic entrance, Miriam would be proud.”

Thomas chuckled at her confidence in the situation. “I hope my peers are in a friendly mood.” Though he highly doubted that his cousin, Lord Chilcott would fall into that group. “What do you propose I say to them?”

“I think you ought to tell them the truth of what has happened in your life these past months. Tell them you were tired of the political games and mockery, that you needed some quiet to clear your head. You can tell them the truth, Thomas. Even if they don’t like it, they can’t fault your honesty.”

Honesty. It was important to this vivacious woman across from him. Until last night, he’d been lying to her. “Lavender, I will do as you say. But more than anyone else, it is your opinion I seek to win. Is there any way you can forgive me for deceiving you?”

She reached across the carriage and took his hand in hers. “Thomas, you saw me when I was invisible, listened to me when it wasn’t required of you, and confided in me even though it cost you your pride. I will always be grateful to you for the good man you are, for restoring my faith in gentlemen. Of course I have forgiven you.”

Courage settled into Thomas’s bones at her words. He was about to face the consequences of his actions, and he prayed that he came out the other side of the battle with his head . . . literally. Treason was not a crime the courts took lightly. If he was blessed to succeed, he had far greater goals for Lavender Gardner than obtaining her forgiveness.

The carriage slowed to a stop. He knelt on the floor of the conveyance and cupped Lavender’s face in his hands. “If the worst should occur, I need you to know that I will only see your face at the end. It is the most lovely image I have ever beheld.”

Tears welled in Lavender’s eyes. “Don’t say things like that.” Her voice caught, and she covered her mouth with a gloved hand.

Thomas allowed his hands to drop from her cheeks and ran the pad of his thumb along the top of the scars that peeked out from the top of her long gloves. A surge of protectiveness overcame him. “I will fight to come back to you, love.” He kissed her perfect lips once for strength, and lighted from the carriage before he could put off the inevitable any longer.

Chapter 41

Lavender paced outside the House of Lords, sick with worry. What if the letter wasn’t sufficient to stem the tide of discontent from Thomas’s disappearance? Yes, she fully believed him to be innocent of his charges, but she knew him like no one else in that room did. She’d only heard rumors of the flippant, drunk man he had been before. Only she and Samuel knew the hardworking, gentle, humble man he’d become as a servant.

Miriam arrived and met Lavender with a tight hug. “How are you faring?”

“I hardly know,” Lavender whispered. “I feel so useless, utterly incapable of being helpful to his cause.”

Samuel rushed past her. “He’s in there now?”

Lavender nodded as she watched the doors swing shut behind him.

“You have done more for that man than anyone on the entire face of the earth.” Miriam took Lavender’s arm. “You brought him life and joy and purpose. I don’t know what will happen, but you certainly cannot blame yourself for not being useful. Besides, Samuel is in there with him, now. He isn’t standing alone.”

Lavender nodded and took a deep breath. She and Miriam walked arm in arm in companionable and anxious silence. There wasn’t much to be said until someone came out of the building.

Miriam cleared her throat. “From what I understand, Lord Chilcott is presenting his evidence tonight to the house as well. His forged letter is supposedly from Thomas to a French spy. Samuel has taken in the copy Thomas stole from the baron’s library yesterday.”

“So everything is likely to be decided before they come out,” Lavender finished.

“Not precisely everything. I’m afraid Lord Chilcott has set tongues wagging about you as well.”

“Oh,” Lavender blinked a few times at the change of topic. She’d known that he meant to ruin her. Perhaps her future was ruined already. “What happened at Hyde Park today?”

“The most ridiculous thing, of course.” Miriam tossed a stray curl behind her back. “He entertained an entire lawn full of people with claims that you’ve been using concentrated doses of Lavender to make him compliant to your wishes, that you are a dangerous woman who would stop at nothing to marry for advantage,” she fumed.