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He sobered, his blue eyes delving into hers. “Once again, you prove how wise you are. My experience has been the very same, so I will clarify, as much for your peace of mind as my own, that whatever you have heard, I would never intentionally injure a lady.”

Instant peace rushed over Lark at the humility, truth, and sorrow within the man’s expression. There was no mistaking the hurt hidden behind his eyes, as well, for she had witnessed the very same in her own reflection when she’d borne the brunt of gossip herself.

Nothing was quite so painful as when supposed loved ones spread—and believed—false knowledge for their own entertainment.

“I should like to elaborate, if you care to listen,” Mr. Branok continued, his voice soft and deep.

Lark nodded in silence, her heart reaching out to him once again. This time, she did not attempt to hold it back.

“The gossip began nearly four years ago,” he said. “A young lady fell in love with me, but I regrettably did not love her in return. I made my intentions clear from the beginning. While I enjoyed her company and conversation to a degree, I had no intention of marrying and held no interest in her as a future wife.

“Unfortunately, she would not accept my words and, as such, spread the false news that she and I were to wed, hoping that would encourage me to do so. I had previously committed to an excursion to South Africa, so when I left—as was always the plan—word spread rapidly that I had abandoned my intended after leading her to believe that I would remain with her.”

He paused, his eyes clouding over. “My friends wrote to me of the news, and it truly pained me that nearly all of Society could believe that I would ever treat anyone so poorly. Fortunately, a few of my friends believed me without hesitation. Their loyalty was what kept me going, though I have avoided much of Society since, like one would avoid the plague. Both can be deadly, though one is physical, while the other is social—if not mental.”

He drew a deep breath, his shoulders straightening. “At any rate, I was happy for the woman, despite her treatment of me. I will admit, I knew a great deal of relief when I discovered she’d married. I dreaded returning to England for I feared her father would have challenged me to a duel or forced me to marry her to save her reputation, but a marriage between us would have never worked…”

He trailed off, and Lark hesitated. Hearing the truth had not only settled her concerns but had also caused her heart to ache. Nothing was worse than an innocent person being mistreated.

She did not wish to keep dredging up his painful past, but her curiosity about the other woman could not be reconciled. There was something unsettling about the idea of another woman having Mr. Branok’s attention.

“Why is that?” she asked. “I mean, why could a marriage not have worked between you two? Simply because of your decision to never marry?”

“That, and there are a few other reasons,” he replied. “My benefactor has made it clear that he would cease sending me out on trips if I wed, for my attention would be split.”

So that had been true. His benefactor could clearly do what he wished with his own money, but Lark couldn’t help but feel slightly disappointed for Mr. Branok’s sake. If he ever wanted to marry, that is.

“Excursions are quite expensive,” Henry continued, “as I’m sure you are aware. He does not wish for his money to be wasted on someone half-interested in discovering birds.”

Lark paused, an unsettling feeling creeping up behind her. She knew the cost of an excursion had to be steep—traveling always was. But then, despite Mr. Branok believing otherwise, she did not know the actual cost. If a viscount was concerned about not wasting his money, how was she to afford frequent excursions of her own?

“His concerns are not unfounded,” Mr. Branok continued, pulling Lark toward the conversation again. “My attention would be scattered. But more than anything, I choose not to marry because I have many places I still wish to see, and…I could never leave a wife at home while I was away. Not only would the action be unreasonable, but it would also be cruel, being parted for months at a time. Wondering if I’m alive or dead. Caring for all the matters at home, children, the estate, tenants—all while I’m living out my dreams. That hardly sounds fair.”

Lark’s heart softened. This man was truly incomparable. Mr. Dunn and Mr. Gibbon had both made it clear they couldn’t wait to be away from their wives. Mr. Chumley always complained about his own. Mr. Yates had often gone to London without allowing Lark to accompany him, always stating he needed time away from her incessant need to be cared for, though she never asked for a thing.

If more men were like Mr. Branok, Lark might have considered changing her mind on matrimony altogether.

But that ship had already set sail, never to return.

“So,” Mr. Branok said, still peering up at her from two steps down, “now that you know the truth, what think you? Has your opinion of me been terribly altered?”

“I didn’t have a high opinion of you to begin with,” she replied.

He laughed. “Just so.”

She smiled, delighted that he’d caught her teasing. “In truth, my opinion of you remains the same, if not a little higher. I believe you are an honorable gentleman. You’ve been nothing but kind to me and my aunt and uncle, when others have not shown the same courtesy. With such actions, how can you be anything but noble?”

Lines of surprise stretched across his tanned brow. “High praise from Miss Fernside.”

If only he knew just how highly—and for how long—she had praised him and his work. But she would take that knowledge to her grave.

“My good opinion does not come readily any longer,” she said.

“Especially toward gentlemen.”

“Yes,” she replied honestly.

“I still have yet to discover why.”