Page 107 of Brave New Earl (The Way to a Lord's Heart 1)

“What’s re-deemed?”

“Restored, er, gotten it back.”

“So she had my honor until I said I was sorry? Until I do my punishment?”

“In a way.”

Geoffrey frowned. “I don’t likeherhaving it.”

He hadn’t put this well, Benjamin thought. Should conversations with a five-year-old be so complicated? He wished for Jean, to help him explain. “She didn’t really have it,” he began. “That’s not right. Your honor is always your own. It means the way you treat other people. And keep the promises you make. The only person who can take it away is you.”

“By making mistakes,” said Geoffrey. “But you said everybody makes mistakes.” He sounded apprehensive.

“Most everyone does,” Benjamin agreed. Hadn’t he been mired in a large mistake for most of his son’s life? “But we can make up for them, as you did today. Your honor is lost when you do bad things, and you aren’t sorry or willing to set them right.”

“And you just keep doing them,” Geoffrey said.

“Yes.” Benjamin was glad to see Furness Hall up ahead. This talk was feeling like hard work. He wanted Jean more than ever. Fortunately, Geoffrey seemed satisfied by his explanation.

“I can give Tom carrots to take to Fergus,” the boy said as they rode into the stable yard. “And tell him they came from me.” He glanced at Benjamin, testing out this scheme.

“I think that would be all right.” At some point, they would have to talk about the letter of the law and the spirit, but not today.

Geoffrey seemed inclined to linger in the stable as long as possible, but Benjamin sent him off to change out of his best clothes. Then he went to find Jean in the library and tell her how the visit had gone.

“Geoffrey is an amazing little person,” she said when he’d finished.

“By his own efforts. I did so little these five years.” Regret still tinged Benjamin’s regard for his son. He hoped that one day it would be gone.

“We’re not looking backward. That is agreed.”

He put his arm around her and pulled her closer on the sofa. “It is.”

“You’ve done wonders for Geoffrey lately.”

“As have you.”

She smiled. “I’m almost sorry Miss Warren is coming. But not quite. How will she get along with Tom, do you think?”

“Ah.” Benjamin shrugged. “Apparently Tom is going with my uncle when he leaves. I gather he’s been promised adventures.”

Jean sat straighter. “Oh, Geoffrey will be so unhappy.”

“That’s what I thought. But it seems Tom has been telling him all along that he wouldn’t stay. From the very beginning. So I hope it won’t be too bad. I thought I’d give Geoffrey Molly.”

“A second pony in exchange for a human companion? Like a kitten in exchange for a marriage?”

“Only my first idea.” He gave her a rueful smile. “I’m finding my way.”

“He needs other children to play with.”

“We’ll find him some.” Benjamin waggled his eyebrows. “One way or another.” And there was the flush on her cheeks that never failed to beguile him. “But I want to talk about you. Are you truly all right after that bout in the storeroom?”

“I am.” Jean smiled back at him. “It turns out that rescue comes from the inside, not the outside.”

“Ah.” He gazed at her, his heart full of admiration and love. “I can’t say ‘too bad.’ But I should have liked to be your knight in shining armor.”

“Oh, you’re that all right. My own Galahad. It’s just that the dragon has…changed his spots.”

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