Page 27 of Impossible
“If his wounds include a broken heart, then yes.”
Ada’s curiosity forced her forward in her chair, eager to know more. “Why would you say that?”
“He was quite different before he went to Spain. He was charming, even flirtatious. He seems to have recovered from his wounds—he had a pronounced limp when he first came home but doesn’t any longer—however, he is a completely changed man, a hollow shell, really.” There was no mistaking the pity in her voice.
“You think his heart was broken?”
“I think it’s possible that whatever happened to him in Spain goes beyond a battle that damaged his body.”
That certainly seemed likely, given his demeanor. Ada already knew his angry façade hid the real man. Or was that man gone forever?
He couldn’t be. People could recover from horrible things. Ada had. More than once.
She could show him how to find himself again, to experience joy. Except that wasn’t her objective in coming here. Lucien had asked her to organize his ledgers, not bring back the man they all remembered.
Even so, wouldn’t Lucien want her to do that? He missed his friend and was frustrated by this beastly version who refused friendship and family. He could have a half sister, but preferred his isolation.
“I’m taking up too much of your time, Mrs. Tallent.” Ada opened her ledger and made a few notes. “Before I go, would you mind telling me about your farm and whether you need any improvements?”
“Certainly.”
Over the next quarter hour, Mrs. Tallent gave Ada a thorough accounting of their farm, even showing her the farm’s ledgers. Ada was thoroughly impressed by the woman and decided she would make an excellent steward if she wasn’t already a farmer.
“Do you like farming?” Ada asked.
Mrs. Tallent shrugged. “It’s all we have. I worry that things are changing, that it will be harder for Archie. I would have liked for him to go to school.”
“Perhaps he still can,” Ada said, her mind working. “Molly too, if you wanted her to.”
“I don’t know how any of that would be possible,” Mrs. Tallent responded, sounding bemused.
Ada set the farm’s ledger on a table between her and Mrs. Tallent. “I mentioned that his lordship will be hiring a steward, and I’m going to suggest he consider you.”
Mrs. Tallent gaped at her. “You can’t.”
“Why not?”
“I wouldn’t want that job. He’s awful to work for.” Her shoulders twitched. “I’d like to get my childrenawayfrom his household.”
“I understand why you would feel that way, but what if he were different, more like the man he used to be?”
Mrs. Tallent scoffed. “Then I would think about it. However, he isn’t different, and the man he used to be is long gone.”
Yes, he was, but Ada now hoped with great conviction that she could bring him back. “I have one more week,” she said with a confidence she didn’t entirely feel. “Hopefully, I can get you to change your mind.”
“The fact that he’s even considering making changes is a huge step forward. It seems you may be just what he needs.” Mrs. Tallent stood. “Still, I’m not going to hold my breath. I’ve a farm to tend.”
“You do indeed.” Ada clutched her ledger as she got to her feet. “Thank you again for your time and for your son’s time. I will do my best to effect positive change at Stonehill.”
“That would be wonderful,” Mrs. Tallent said. “But promise me you won’t be disappointed if you fail. It won’t be your fault.”
“I promise.” It was an easy one to make, because Ada wasn’t going to fail.
Chapter6
The hair ribbon was still bothering him.
Max hadn’t thought about that specific detail in a very long time, likely because he tried to block everything about that day and night from his memory. But yesterday, that girl’s scarlet ribbon had taken him back, and while he’d done a fair job of keeping himself from recalling what had happened, he couldn’t stop the wave of fury and despair. It wasn’t the memory itself, it was the memory of the emotions. News of the battle won in Waterloo added to his unease even though Napoleon had been defeated.
