Page 51 of Choosing Her Earl at Last
“You sacrificed yourself, your own happiness, for the sake of your family, for the sake of your sister?” Michael’s voice held awe mixed with sorrow.
“It was the only thing that I could do. Father’s business had taken a great loss, and we were mere days away from becoming destitute. He owed the marquess money, and Norman said that he would forgive the debt if Father provided him with a bride.”
“I had no notion as to your father’s struggles. Why did he not reach out to my family for help?”
“He was too embarrassed. Your grandfather trusted him explicitly. Father could not bear to break that trust.”
“Grandfather would not have judged him for the loss of a shipment. There is nothing that one can do when nature intervenes.”
“I am certain that he wished that he had done something differently by the end of his life, as he paid me a visit toward the end and behaved quite melancholic upon the issue.”
“And you? How do you feel about it after so much time?”
There was something behind Michael’s eyes that Emmeline could not quite read.
“I hated every moment of it, but Norman’s title opened doors for my father that had been hitherto closed to him. I could not begrudge my family the financial stability that my marriage brought to them. Once we were married, I began to suspect Norman of far worse things than simply being a cold fish of a man.”
“Did he hurt you?” Michael’s eyes flickered with rage at the thought.
Emmeline shook her head. “He never physically harmed me. My concerns were more of a criminal nature. I have no proof, but I cannot shake the feeling that his demise was caused by some, perhaps, unlawful dealings that he had been involved with when he was abroad.
Unfortunately, I never had enough evidence to go to the magistrate. It appears to have all been for naught, however. In spite of all of his financial dealings, he still left me with nothing but the title of marchioness.”
“You are a brave woman, Emmeline Frampton,” Michael informed her, his eyes that had once been filled with anger over her choice now held respect. “I am sorry that I misjudged you.”
“You had every right to think the worst of me, given the circumstances.”
“I should have known that you would not have betrayed our love for anything less than survival.”
Hearing his admission broke something within Emmeline, and she collapsed to the ground, sobbing. All of the years of blame and pain sliding down her cheeks, mixing with the rain. Lighting crashed overhead as Michael lifted her into his arms and carried her under a leafy canopy provided by a prolific arbor.
“You understand?” she sobbed, unable to control her emotions. “You forgive me?”
Michael drew in a deep breath and set her back down on her feet. “While I did misjudge your motives and am truly sorry for having done so, it does not remove the years of pain, of not knowing what had happened.
While I do understand that you were trying to save your family, I do not understand why you did not tell me. I do not understand why it has taken you five years to explain your actions. I may forgive you for your parents’ actions, but I am not ready to forgive you for the pain that your own silence caused.”
Emmeline stood before him, feeling as if someone had taken a dagger out of her heart, only to plunge it back in deeper. “Michael,” she choked out, staggering back away from him. “I…” She did not know what to say to such a confession.
“Did you attempt to write to me? Did your husband or family destroy the letters?” Michael asked, giving her the opportunity to offer an explanation. “Were you forbidden to write me and feared that violence would befall you if you did so?”
Emmeline shook her head. “No,” she breathed in shame.
Michael’s eyes shuttered as he straightened his posture, placing the walls firmly back around his heart. “Then, no, Emmeline, I cannot at this time forgive you.” Turning away from her, he walked to the edge of the arbor.
“Michael, please,” Emmeline whispered, breaking her rule to never beg a man for anything.
He shook his head, never turning back to face her. “We should return to the house. Louisa, Mother, and Father will be worried. We should get out of these wet clothes before we catch an auge.”
Not waiting for her acknowledgement, he stepped back out into the rain and walked across the garden to the house. Emmeline, left with no other choice, followed behind him. With everystep, all hope of forgiveness and reconciliation drained from her heart.
Chapter 22
“You just left her there?” Colin asked as he and Michael walked behind Ezra Hardy as he led them down some of the most dangerous streets in all of London.
Michael sighed, raking his hand through his hair in frustration. “I did not know what else to do. I needed time to think without her being in front of me. After her confession and my denial of forgiveness, she would not look at me. It was as if a ghost had taken up residence within my home.”
Colin shook his head in disapproval. “I do not understand you at times, Cousin. You finally have the answers that you have sought for over five years, yet it is still not enough for you.”
