a thousand times over just to see his sweet, loving face smiling up at me.”
“Yes, but to truly celebrate your independence and the life you love, you should be able to call him son.”
She fisted her hand over her chest, grasping a locket that held pictures of their family. “I know in my heart that he is mine.”
Tristan put his hands in his pockets and watched Bea head for the door. “You are too kindhearted and gentle a soul, sister. Warren does not deserve your forgiveness.”
“And why not? I’ve moved on, and managed to build a decent life for myself.”
Though she had a point, it didn’t mean Warren wouldn’t pay dearly for the undue suffering he’d caused Bea, whether Bea acknowledged the other man’s mistakes or not. Whether she forgave him or not.
Bea didn’t argue or agree with him, but she did give him a sad smile before she left the study to attend to her duties for the rest of the day.
Sitting back down at his desk, he pulled out a pen and dipped it in ink. He must return a letter to Lady Charlotte without delay. It simply wouldn’t do for her to find someone else to create the scandal of the season. Tristan would send away any man that tried to step in his path. Lady Charlotte was his and his alone.
Examining why that was so might prove interesting but would have to wait for another time. The one certainty he had was that once he won Lady Charlotte’s affections, he would stare Warren in the eye and dare him to challenge him. Had his sister revealed the whole truth of her ruin at the time her name was put through the wringer, Tristan would have challenged Warren then, but as it was, too much time had passed, and now an end needed to be found so he could move on.
My dearest lady, There was no end to my delight upon opening your missive. And the enticement to create a social flurry spoke of a kindred spirit indeed. Intrigue me further—the Zoological Society, one in the afternoon. I will find you. Yours He gazed down at the letter in his hands. There was nothing of significance that would indicate the author of the letter or its recipient. Tristan would have his valet deliver it personally to Lady Charlotte’s maid. Folding the letter, he tucked it into a plain envelope, heated wax over the back flap, and used the flat end of his seal to press it down. He tucked the letter in his breast pocket and headed toward his room.
Next, he needed to pay Hayden a visit and see what his friend had found out about Jez’s fortune. Jez was unlikely to marry again after the violence her husband had subjected her to. It was only fair that she be given a chance to live the independent life she craved and needed most.
Not that her receiving compensation for the horrendous marriage she had lived through would keep him from seeking to ruin the one man he reviled above all.
* * *
Charlotte hadn’t been to the Zoological Society since she was in apron strings. It felt wonderful and exhilarating and oddly nostalgic. How she’d convinced Genny to attend with her was a wonder. Her cousin had looked at her oddly when she requested that they visit a place reserved for family entertainment. But she didn’t care what her cousin might think because they’d have fun regardless.
The best part of it was that she’d managed to convince Ariel and her mother to attend, and, of course, Mr. Torrance and his sister had joined them. Charlotte hoped that because they were a large group, she would be able to sneak away from their company unnoticed.
Her heart skipped in her chest and her fingers shook with anticipation as they made their way from one cage to the next. She barely took note of all the animals; she was too eager to meet with the marquess and wondered when he would show himself to her.
Comments went around about the fowl that came from Canada and China in the same pen with a small pond. Directly across from them there were various species of geese. Next on their walk were the pelicans from
“Yes, but to truly celebrate your independence and the life you love, you should be able to call him son.”
She fisted her hand over her chest, grasping a locket that held pictures of their family. “I know in my heart that he is mine.”
Tristan put his hands in his pockets and watched Bea head for the door. “You are too kindhearted and gentle a soul, sister. Warren does not deserve your forgiveness.”
“And why not? I’ve moved on, and managed to build a decent life for myself.”
Though she had a point, it didn’t mean Warren wouldn’t pay dearly for the undue suffering he’d caused Bea, whether Bea acknowledged the other man’s mistakes or not. Whether she forgave him or not.
Bea didn’t argue or agree with him, but she did give him a sad smile before she left the study to attend to her duties for the rest of the day.
Sitting back down at his desk, he pulled out a pen and dipped it in ink. He must return a letter to Lady Charlotte without delay. It simply wouldn’t do for her to find someone else to create the scandal of the season. Tristan would send away any man that tried to step in his path. Lady Charlotte was his and his alone.
Examining why that was so might prove interesting but would have to wait for another time. The one certainty he had was that once he won Lady Charlotte’s affections, he would stare Warren in the eye and dare him to challenge him. Had his sister revealed the whole truth of her ruin at the time her name was put through the wringer, Tristan would have challenged Warren then, but as it was, too much time had passed, and now an end needed to be found so he could move on.
My dearest lady, There was no end to my delight upon opening your missive. And the enticement to create a social flurry spoke of a kindred spirit indeed. Intrigue me further—the Zoological Society, one in the afternoon. I will find you. Yours He gazed down at the letter in his hands. There was nothing of significance that would indicate the author of the letter or its recipient. Tristan would have his valet deliver it personally to Lady Charlotte’s maid. Folding the letter, he tucked it into a plain envelope, heated wax over the back flap, and used the flat end of his seal to press it down. He tucked the letter in his breast pocket and headed toward his room.
Next, he needed to pay Hayden a visit and see what his friend had found out about Jez’s fortune. Jez was unlikely to marry again after the violence her husband had subjected her to. It was only fair that she be given a chance to live the independent life she craved and needed most.
Not that her receiving compensation for the horrendous marriage she had lived through would keep him from seeking to ruin the one man he reviled above all.
* * *
Charlotte hadn’t been to the Zoological Society since she was in apron strings. It felt wonderful and exhilarating and oddly nostalgic. How she’d convinced Genny to attend with her was a wonder. Her cousin had looked at her oddly when she requested that they visit a place reserved for family entertainment. But she didn’t care what her cousin might think because they’d have fun regardless.
The best part of it was that she’d managed to convince Ariel and her mother to attend, and, of course, Mr. Torrance and his sister had joined them. Charlotte hoped that because they were a large group, she would be able to sneak away from their company unnoticed.
Her heart skipped in her chest and her fingers shook with anticipation as they made their way from one cage to the next. She barely took note of all the animals; she was too eager to meet with the marquess and wondered when he would show himself to her.
Comments went around about the fowl that came from Canada and China in the same pen with a small pond. Directly across from them there were various species of geese. Next on their walk were the pelicans from
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