Page 68 of Refining the Debutante
Lady Callister put her hands in her lap. “For a while, he was in the common side, but now he has a private room and is more comfortable.”
“How is that possible?” Miranda said, searching Lady Callister’s eyes. “He must have a benefactor. He was sure no one would help him.”
Lady Callister nodded. “Yes, there is someone helping your father, though I cannot say who. Your concern now is to look to the future.”
“I... I can try to work off his debts,” Miranda said hopefully.
“An admirable desire,” Lady Callister said. “I thought you meant to do so when you refused new gowns. Perhaps it would be easier to marry someone with money. You are a beautiful girl, and there are plenty of rich merchants who would not mind your family’s history.”
Miranda again recoiled, and Lady Callister seemed to make note of her reaction. How could she admit her foolishness? She had just turned down Captain Grant.
“Never mind that just now.” Lady Callister put out her hand to calm Miranda. “Would you like to visit him? I know my grand-nephew would take you.”
Miranda pushed away her frustration and thought for a moment. “I know it will be hard, but I should like to visit. Who is your grand-nephew? Would he truly step foot in the Marshalsea?”
“Why, Mr. Roderick. Who else do you think I would ask to accompany you?”
Miranda blinked rapidly. Then she jumped to her feet. “Good heavens! You are related to... ?” Miranda put her hand over her eyes. “This whole time you have intentionally kept this from me?”
“Initially,” Lady Callister said, not looking the least bit guilty. “We did not tell you because Ethan worried you would not accept the position. He said it was difficult to convince you to come to Stonebrook, and you might balk at the idea of further charity.” Lady Callister’s voice was soft and her words careful. “His sisters agreed to play along and give you time to settle in to your new position. I assumed you had pieced the relationship together naturally, but at times I wondered. You might be angry, and you have every right to be, but I assure you, the intentions were honorable. My grand-nephew worries about me so, and he created a solution that took care of us both.”
Miranda folded her arms around herself. “You must both think I am a complete idiot. Does Mr. Roderick also know about my father?”
Lady Callister gave a firm nod. “He has been the means of all of my information.”
“And”—Miranda felt hot tears once more on her cheeks—“you let my reputation affect your family. I am so ashamed and... and at a complete loss as to what to do.”
“We took a risk, plain and simple. However, our decision does not change your situation overmuch,” Lady Callister said.
“It does. Can’t you see?” Having a father living overseas because of his debts truly could not be as horrible as one locked away as a prisoner. “How could you do this for a complete stranger? I want to thank you and call you a fool at the same time.”
Lady Callister firmly grabbed Miranda’s hand. “Sit down, and get ahold of yourself. We were responsible for our own choices and made them willingly. It is your turn to make some choices. In order to move on with your life, you must face your past.”
“Is this why we came?”
Lady Callister sighed and looked at her lap. “I am an old woman. I have seen lives come into this world and leave it. I have ignored more people and problems than I ought to have. My husband, bless his soul, was not a generous man. After he died, I got to thinking that if I have been blessed more than most, then my money should have an obligation tied to it.
“Ethan helped me invest some of my funds here and there, but I haven’t reached out past my own tenants—until I met you. I was given a second chance. You were like clay, and I could mold you into a musical performer, a scriptorian, or anything else I could imagine. And then you surprised me and started to worm your way into my affections. I noticed it first when Captain Grant came to visit, and I was not ready to part with you.”
Miranda could not believe her ears. Her tears ceased, and she listened fervently.
“I got into my mind that I could bring you back to London, and with my influence, perhaps we could smooth your reputation. But we must deal with your past first.”
This was the opportunity Miranda had hoped and prayed for. A comforting peace settled over her heart. She was no longer facing her future alone. She had Lady Callister—an angel with a halo of soft white hair, a wealth of experience, and a well of strength. With her help, Miranda could face her past.
Chapter 28
Seeing Ethan again should nothave excited her under such abysmal conditions. She was angry at him for the secrets he’d kept from her. And yet, there he stood in front of Lady Callister’s open door, in his crisp black overcoat with his adorable, imperfect cravat poking out, and her heart could not be still. She stepped down off the last step of the staircase and waited for him to come in so the footman could shut the door behind him. He didn’t move.
“How are you enjoying London?” Ethan asked, his mannerisms anything but easy.
Miranda’s nerves were already frayed, but the awkwardness between them only increased her anxiousness. The last time she had seen him, the night of Lady Callister’s ball, their parting had left her heartsick. She had thought she would not see him again until the following spring, with his new wife on his arm. She pulled her cloak closer around her, attempting to protect herself from his unnerving presence.
“I could not say I am enjoying London at all,” she finally said. “I find I have lost my taste for the place.” A drastic understatement, considering her light tone, but Ethan was aware of their destination, so there was no point in expounding.
“I am sorry you had to find out like this.” He shifted his feet, further revealing his discomfort.
“Which part? That Lady Callister is your great-aunt or that you knew my father was incarcerated?”
