Page 113 of The Viscount in her Bedroom
“You don’t want to watch the race?” Victoria asked. “It’s so wonderful to see Simon back to himself again.”
“There are two very handsome, eligible brothers down at that lake,” Meriel said, turning to look at Louisa.
Louisa sighed, feeling the tightness creep back into her chest.
It was Victoria’s turn to give Louisa a stare of understanding. “ButSimonis the one who seems to be doing so much better. I wonder if our dear sister had an effect on him?”
Louisa planned to distract them by saying how hard Simon had worked to improve himself. But then she started to cry.
“Oh dear,” Victoria said, taking a handkerchief from within her sleeve and handing it over. “Louisa, I didn’t mean—”
“No, no,” Louisa said, waving her hands. “I told myself I wouldn’t cry, wouldn’t…Victoria, I’d like to return to London with you.”
Victoria and Meriel simply stared at her.
Louisa only wiped her eyes, fearing words would give everything away.
“You are welcome in our home any time you want,” Victoria said softly. “You know that.”
Louisa sniffed and nodded.
“Mine, too,” Meriel added. “But you have to tell ussomething. Your letters have been all about Georgie and her progress.”
“But always you mentioned Simon,” Victoria added. “I thought…”
“That I was foolish enough to fall in love with him?” Louisa whispered.
Meriel shook her head. “Love is not foolish.”
“It is when it’s not returned.”
“How could he not loveyou?” Victoria asked. “I always thought you two were so very alike.”
“So you’ve said. But while Simon has finally come to realize he can have a normal life, he doesn’t believe he could ever have a normal marriage.”
“I imagine a proud man like him would now think himself a burden to a wife,” Meriel said shrewdly.
Louisa shrugged. “I’ve even been too afraid to tell him what I think. And I don’t want him to feel guilty, so I’ve just…let him go.”
“Then he’s not worth having,” Meriel said bluntly.
But that only made the tears start again.
Victoria gave Meriel a cross look. “That is not helpful. Louisa dear, perhaps when you return to London, he’ll miss you so dreadfully that he’ll change his mind.”
“No, I think he’ll settle back into what’s easiest for him,” Louisa said bitterly. “He was doing that with the rest of his life before I challenged him. Last night I even told him I was leaving. He had the chance to ask me to stay. He didn’t.”
Meriel narrowed her eyes as she stared down at the lake. In the distance, they could see two boats racing each other across the water. “Perhaps I could—”
“No.” Louisa dried her eyes and told herself she was done crying. “I won’t let him be forced. Forget I mentioned this. I want one last good weekend here, without thinking about regrets.”
When Meriel would have spoken, Victoria reached across and touched her arm.
“We’re here for you, Louisa,” Victoria said simply.
And Louisa was grateful. She stared down at the lake, where she could see Simon’s boat far in the lead, heading away from her. She would get through these last days. The rest of her life was a blank canvas that she would someday fill, but not now, not when her heart was in pieces.
ChapterTwenty-Four
