Page 23 of The Lady’s Sweet Revenge

Chapter Eight

By God, the woman vexed him. At times like these when her thoughts aligned so closely to his own he wondered if she was a siren caught up on the land. But rather than lure him to the depths, she tempted him to do very ungentlemanly things. Like kiss her.

But kissing would surely lead to marriage and while he held most of the criteria on her list, he had already asked only to be refused. Or tried to ask. She’d cut him to the quick before he’d even had the words out. He wouldn’t ask a second time only to be rejected yet again.

What she’d said about wanting a man who would be a loving father to her children had touched him in a tender place he’d thought had healed over years ago after his own father’s death.

His father was all the things a typical father should be. He’d taught Reese to ride, hunt, and fence. He’d explained how the earldom should be run and the way to earn the respect of his people. He’d seen Reese educated so he could maintain the books properly, and even provided advice on what to look for when it was time for him to choose a wife.

However, Reese couldn’t say whether or not the man loved him. One might say all of that was proof of love. But the auld earl had never hugged him or spoke of being proud of him. Had he been mean or cruel it might have been easier for Reese to have protected himself. The distance between them felt so close as though Reese might reach his father if only he tried just a bit harder.

And try he had to no avail. Perhaps it was his first rejection and why he wasn’t willing to put himself in that position ever again.

Reese considered what being a father would mean to him as he finished the walk with Harlow and went to his rooms to change for dinner that evening.

He’d seen the way Finn had taken to the role of being a father with William. There would be no doubt in the boy’s heart that his father loved him. Reese wanted to be the same kind of man with his children. So they might never wonder if they were good enough.

“You’ve been quiet since our walk. Did I say something to upset you, my lord?” Harlow asked as the meal was taken away and they were alone once more.

“No,” he said, before telling her the truth. “It is what you said about how a father should be able to love his children. I’m not sure my father loved me.”

“Was he cruel?” The way her face scrunched up amused him as if she would take up for Reese against his dead father. Of course, he shouldn’t have been surprised. She was a woman set on vengeance. Apparently, it need not be her own.

“Nay. He was present and kind. But there was a wall between us I was unable to penetrate.”

“But you tried.”

“I dinna realize how very hard I’d tried until I considered it today.”

“I’m sorry I upset you.”

He shook his head. “I think I feel better actually. I’ve thought on it most of the day and I wonder if he was afraid of loving me. You see I had an older brother who died before I was born. I wonder if he’d loved Richard and after he lost him his heart was too broken to love me. Maybe he feared the pain he’d endure if something happened to me as well.”

Harlow stood and hobbled the few steps to put her hand on his shoulder.

“I’m sorry, Reese.” Hearing his name on her lips stirred something in him, but he cleared his throat and after giving her hand a squeeze in silent gratitude, he pointed to her chair.

“Ye should not be on that ankle. Do you want it to heal or no?”

She fell back into her seat and allowed him to lighten the mood once again.

Later that evening as he lay in bed, he cast off the thoughts of his father and recalled the list of criteria Harlow had wanted in a husband.

She’d joked that he was safe from being a viable candidate, but he realized now that he wanted many of the same things in a wife as she did in a husband. It would seem they were more matched than was comfortable.

He could not allow himself to want Harlow Haverston, for if he proposed and she rejected him again, he might never get over it.

*

Two mornings later, Harlow got out of bed to try her ankle and it held firm. She gasped with joy this time instead of pain.

“Look at this,” she said to the dog who had lifted her large head only to settle it back on the covers. “Well, I am quite happy.”

Harlow rang for Mrs. Garrison who came in and smiled to see her walking around.

“Oh, how wonderful! It’s healed.” Mrs. Garrison gave the proper effort of excitement.

“Yes. It feels wonderful to be able to move where I want.”