Page 43 of The Wager of a Lady
What would he have done? Offered to marry her?
He stretched a hand across his chest. It felt as if he’d been in the worst tavern brawl of his life. Leo’s entire body ached.
Deceitful Georgina.
Marcus Barrington had been dead several days when Leo had finally arrived at Cherry Hill, still smarting from Georgina’s dismissal. The unexpected regret and sharp, horrible pain over his father’s death had nearly choked Leo. He’d wished for her presence again. For just a scent of spring.
Amanda had been inconsolable, so stricken with grief she could barely speak. She’d glared at Leo with accusation instead of offering her customary warm welcome.
“How does your righteous indignation suit you now, Leo?” she’d said. “Why not continue to rail at him for making you a bastard? Go on. He’s dead. He’ll hardly protest.”
Leo had fallen back at Amanda’s words.
Tony had stood off to the side, his features pinched. “I received much the same greeting. Though I think mine may have been worse.”
Tony was now the Duke of Averell and not happy about it. Maggie, Tony’s new duchess, round with child, was devastated at his father’s death, for she’d loved Marcus Barrington, as most women did. Leo’s sisters and Olivia, Amanda’s ward, had fluttered about hopelessly lost, like a flock of wounded doves, uncertain where to land without Marcus to direct them.
God, the paintings Theodosia had done.
Horrible, stark expressions of anguish on canvas. Painful to look at.
The staff of Cherry Hill had been prostrate with grief over his father’s death. Black armbands adorned their arms. Cook had burned dinner two nights in a row. Maids had wept while they cleaned and dusted. Even the bloody horses in the stable had worn expressions of loss.
Becauseeveryonehad loved Marcus Barrington, it seemed, but his two sons.
“I loved him,” Leo whispered, his breath rustling the paper of the letter. “Only I didn’t want to.” Something else he’d realized far too late.
Blame and regret were such dangerous emotions, especially when mixed with bitterness and anger. Leo had spent his whole life keeping his feelings tucked carefully away, safely hidden beneath his charming demeanor, pretending so many things didn’t matter when in fact, they did.
He eyed the letter, reached to touch the pages, and just as quickly jerked his hand away.
Those pages were the last words of Marcus Barrington, Duke of Averell, to his bastard son. Amanda had tossed it at Leo, still unable to even speak civilly to him.
Tony, she wouldn’t even look at.
After reading the letter, Leo had calmly folded the paper and placed it in his coat pocket. He’d stared out at his assembled family, snarling out that he must immediately return to London. No one had seemed shocked. Tony hadn’t tried to stop him.
Now he had read the letter so many times he could recite every word, trace every flourish of the shaking hand which had laid out the truth to him. A truth Leo had missed in that hallway at Elysium as Georgina had slid away from him. And all the truths that had come before.
He took a mouthful of the scotch, swishing it around in his mouth.
What about when I become with child. What then, Leo?
But there already was a child.Hischild. She’d failed to mention that very pertinent fact to Leo.
A bastard just like him.
He’d sworn never to have children. He only had to think of Tony’s mother to know what havoc a bastard could cause. He’d always been so careful. Made sure his bed partners used tiny sponges soaked in vinegar. Covered his cock in those awful French letters.
What a bloody stupid name. French letter.
Except with Georgina. He’d taken no real precautions with her besides withdrawing, a method not in the least foolproof. Part of him, Leo finally admitted, had wanted the sight of Georgina round with his child. It had taken over a month and a great deal of scotch for him to admitthattruth.
He’d sent a note to Beechwood Court,finally. As furious as he was at Georgina’s deception, theywouldcome to some sort of understanding, he just wasn’t sure what it would be yet.
The reply had come from her butler.
Lady Masterson has extended her stay in London.
