That statement took Hartley by surprise. He’d never heard his mother apologize for anything. What was she up to? “Apologize?”
“Will you sit with me a moment? Please?”
He walked over and sat on the sofa next to her. For the first time, he noticed the lines around his mother’s eyes and mouth. She’d aged a great deal since the last time he’d seen her. She was still a handsome woman, but she looked tired. “Are you ill, Mother?”
Kathryn stared into his eyes, and her hand reached out to touch the scarred side of his face.
He reared back. “Don’t touch me!”
She dropped her hand. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think my touch was so abhorrent to you.”
“You surprised me, that’s all.”
“May I say I’ve not seen you look so well in a long time?”
Hartley grunted. He didn’t need platitudes from his mother.
She reached for his hand, and this time, he didn’t pull away. “My dear Hartley, I’m so ashamed of my behavior when you first came home from the war.”
“Mother, it was a long time ago.”
“No. Let me say what I’ve come to say. I’ve had years to think about this, and there are things that must be said.”
“Very well.”
“When you left London, I foolishly thought life would go on as if nothing had happened, but your father wouldn’t let the topic of your ruined face go. He harped on it every day until I could no longer tolerate his rants and stopped sharing meals with him. Evidently, he didn’t let the subject drop when he was at his club either. Men talk foolishness sometimes, but I began to notice a shift in the way the ton interacted with me. The constant reminder of my son’s war injury and seeing the pity in their eyes became too much. Now I understand what you were feeling and why you had to leave London.”
“Pity is the worst.”
Kathryn squeezed his hand. “It is, and I cannot apologize enough for how I made you feel. I was so superficial in my reaction, and it cost me my son’s respect. I left your father and joined you at our country estate, but I was too selfish to admit how shallow I’d been and then your father died. When you left for Hartley Manor, I was truly alone. I had a lot of time to think about my own behavior, and I’m so profoundly sorry for how I acted. I can only hope you can find it in your heart to forgive a foolish old woman,” she said, tears rolling down her face.
It was all he’d hoped to hear for so long—for his parents to see that he was still the same man whether he had a scar on his face or not. His mother was a proud woman, and having her humble herself in front of him banished the last vestiges of resentment for how his parents had treated him. He knew everyone had faults, including himself, and more than anything, he realized he wanted to have his mother in his life again.
“Mother, thank you for that, and yes, I do forgive you,” he said, pulling her into his arms and cradling her while she wept.
“Thank you, Jon. That means the world to me. May I ask you a question?” she asked, sitting back and wiping the tears from her cheeks.
“Of course.”
“Are you courting Lady Harriet?”
“I am. She means the world to me.”
“Does the young lady feel the same way?”
“I’m most pleased to say that she does.”
“I’m very happy for you, my dear. She seems like a lovely young woman, and I hope to spend more time with her.”
The last thing Hartley had expected today was to reconcile with his mother. All he’d been trying to accomplish was to enjoy tea with Lady Harriet and her family, but the day had ended in a much more momentous way.
For the first time in a long time, he was genuinely happy.
Chapter 19
Two days later having teaat Lord Hartley’s manor, Harriet was seated in the parlor with her grandmother and mother for visiting hours. Lord Cawley and Mr. Pratt had both called on her, much to her consternation. She’d never encouraged either of them, but they were here anyway. She found it most annoying.
“Lady Harriet, would you care to promenade around the room?” Lord Cawley asked.
