Page 7 of The Seaside Homecoming
“What on earth are you doing here?” she blurted with no attempt at politeness.
“Miss Summers.” He bowed. “I have just met with your aunt, as you are probably aware. Surely she mentioned she had written to me.”
“She did not. I am astonished to see you. I had no idea she contacted you nor have I any idea why she would.”
“No? I must say that surprises me.”
“Then that makes two of us. Why did she want to see you?”
He hesitated. “If she did not tell you, perhaps I had better leave it to her to explain. Still a bit of a mystery to me anyway.”
Did he assume Claire had wanted to see him? She hurried to correct that humiliating misapprehension. “If you think I asked her to contact you, to interfere in some way, you are greatly mistaken. I had not thought to ever see you again.”
He held up his hand, pinkie ring flashing with the movement. “I have no wish to start a quarrel. In fact, I am glad to see you looking well and living in such a ... respectable house. Is the old woman kind to you?”
A denial was on the tip of her tongue, but she bit it back. She would not seek this man’s pity.
She squared her shoulders. “You said you came to meet with my aunt. Why did you ask to speak to me?”
“I merely wanted to assure myself you were well. I confess I have thought of you often. I regret what happened between us, and I also regret it is not in my power to make amends. I hope you will allow me to at least apologize.”
She was so flabbergasted by his overdue apology that she could barely fashion a reply. Finally, she managed, “Say what you like. It changes nothing.”
When Lord Bertram left, Claire marched directly to her aunt’s bedchamber. She found the woman propped up by pillows atop her made bed. She was dressed—with help from the lady’s maid—in a favorite Sunday frock with her ruby cross pendant at her neck and a lap rug over her legs.
She looked at Claire with interest. “You saw him, then?”
“I did and was astonished to find him here at all, let alone at your invitation. I did not realize you were acquainted with the man.”
“I was not. Never met him till today.”
Claire frowned in confusion. “To my recollection, I have never mentioned his name. So how...?”
“Your father named the man in one of his letters.”
“Why did you wish to see him?”
“Several reasons. To satisfy my curiosity, first of all. He is handsome, I grant you. Well-spoken. Titled. I can see why he turned your head. Yet he is also in a great deal of debt.”
“How do you know that? I doubt he would offer such information.”
“He did not, nor did he deny it. I looked into the man’s situation. Not bad for an old woman confined to her bed, ey?”
Claire was too befuddled to be impressed. “Why go to the trouble? What were the other reasons you mentioned?”
“I am ... not prepared to say as yet.”
At the vague answer, irritation flared, as it often did in her aunt’s presence, and for once, Claire failed to hold her tongue.“What, did you invite him here to remind me of my stupidity? My humiliation at his hand? I assure you no reminder was needed. I repent of it daily.”
Agnes Mercer’s eyes glinted. “Ah. So the mouse has a voice after all. Not the insipid milk-and-water miss I’ve known these last two years. I am glad to see some spark in you.”
“Are you? When you have chastised and suppressed my every expression except docile compliance?”
“Careful, my girl. I don’t like that sharp tongue aimed at me, but you will need that spirit and courage when I’m gone.”
The thought brought unease and even fear. Claire admitted, “I don’t know where I’ll go after you die.”
“What about afteryoudie? I know where I hope to go.”
