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‘This is not idle talk. It’s from her own mouth.’
‘Miss Cherroll?’ He studied his mother’s face, uncertain he heard correctly.
‘Yes.’ She nodded her head. ‘She does not exactly say it in words, but a mother knows. A mother definitely notices when a woman’s eyes change if the son’s name is mentioned. If she speaks differently when he is discussed. It’s obvious.’
‘I’ve seen none of it.’
‘I am not surprised. Only concerned. But please do not encourage this woman, Rhys. Such heathenish ways. But she does make the days bearable and she has a heart of gold underneath all that rubbish she spouts. I don’t want more unhappiness for her. She’s had enough. No parents. Not settled like her sister. I see a poor future for her and I don’t wish more unpleasantness on her, especially not under my roof.’
‘You have nothing to worry about.’
Her eyes batted his words back at him. ‘If you say so. She’s not right for society. You should hear the tales of her life. She is of a different world. If it were not for the earl, she’d be making her way at the docks.’
The image of Bellona walking among the toughs and cutpurses jabbed at him.
He pulled open a desk drawer, searching, for what he did not know, but he would know if he saw it. ‘I am aware of the role I have to fulfil. I know how uncomfortable a woman as spirited as Bellona would be living this life.’
‘How uncomfortable she would feel? The whole of the ton will be watching whom you choose as a wife, Rhys. They would not be pleased that you have turned your back on their daughters and sisters. They will think you married beneath yourself. And you will have. Remember your father’s last request. He counselled all his children on the importance of marriage. He asked for his name to be carried on. He wanted the family to continue. Wed a suitable duchess, he said. He said that many times. It was one of the last things he asked for.’
‘Those were not his final words to me. They were to Geoff.’ His breaths were quick. Taking out a pen, he put it by the first one. He stared at them and then put one back inside the desk.
She walked to the window. ‘I worry. I can’t help it. I know how easily you could be taken from me. Everything has changed so much. Not quite a year ago, Geoff was here. A year before that, your father was here. He started failing soon after he told me of your sister’s death.’ She looked into the rain. ‘It was like he died on purpose, so he wouldn’t have to...’
‘Mother. He was seventy-eight. I don’t think he had a lot of choice in the matter.’
‘Did you notice the honeysuckle blooming when Geoff died? I’d been in the garden with him the day before and we’d talked about how he loved the scent of them. So do I. His passing was so cruel—taking him in the spring when so much life began around him.’
She pushed back the curtains and didn’t speak for a moment. ‘He loved honeysuckle. When he was a boy, he’d pick the little flowers and bring them to me and I’d sniff them and exclaim to make him happy, but I truly was the most pleased. The two of you grew up so fast, Rhys. I remember how he felt as a babe in my arms. So many of the things I’d forgotten about while he was here, but after he died I remembered them all so plainly. The best children a mother could have. And the three of you so close. You and Geoff always watched out for each other and your sister. No rivalry at all. I couldn’t have been more proud of my children.’
‘Geoff was my only brother.’ The words sounded normal enough—at least to her.
She turned. ‘I wish for the family every hour. Every day I hear myself thinking about how I wish they would return. It’s not asking much. To have my family. They were given to me once, but whisked away. Even the grandchildren they would have given me were taken from me. A home of this size should be filled with family. Instead we have servants and more servants and no one for them to take care of.’
Walking towards him, she smiled. ‘I don’t want you to think you’re amiss. You’re doing a fine job of managing things since they left, Rhys. I appreciate everything you’ve done to take over where your father and Geoff left off. I know how much you cared for them, too. How much you loved your sister. They would all be so proud of you. I am proud of you. I want you to know that.’
‘Thank you.’
A maid crossed by the doorway with a tray, certainly taking it to Bellona’s room. His mother’s attention wavered and she waited until the woman could not possibly hear the conversation. ‘Bellona must leave or you must go to London.’
