When Cassandra returned—he could not bring himself to sayif, even in the privacy of his own mind—he would not only tell her but also show her he returned her love with all his heart.
“I am sorry,” he told Lady Pennington sincerely, “for any harm I caused, too.”
She ran her finger along her cup’s edge. “Well, you weren’t wrongto end things, you know.”
“What do you mean?”
“I cared for you.” She shifted as if uncomfortable. “But perhaps not as much as I allowed you to believe.”
“How….honest.” A few months ago, her admission would have devastated him.
Now, he simply shook his head.
“My father’s first thought was always of your father, of the estate.” she went on. “Always. I resented that he placed the well-being of your family over his own. When I realized you cared for me. I…” Again, she shrugged. “I went after what I thought I could get.”
“We were both young.”
She laughed ruefully. “Youwere young.Iwas foolish.”
In his opinion, they’dbothshown an appalling lack of sense. “You are happy now,” he gently reminded.
“With Pennington?” Her face went soft. “Yes. And you? You love your duchess, don’t you?”
“With all my heart.” His answer came readily and with ease.
“That’s good.” She looked away. “Well, we had our day,” she said with a sigh. “You were a lovely distraction from drudgery.”
“A distraction,” Harbury repeated, with a half-smile…then a snort, then an ironic chuckle.
She’dthought ofhimas a distraction.
As his laugh deepened, she raised her brows and shook her head as if she didn’t understand him at all.
“I can’t explain.” He inhaled deeply and shook his head, suppressing his appreciation of the irony. “It’s just…I have some experience with distractions.”
She raised her brows. “Apparently.”
“Be happy,” he offered.
“I intend to.” Her smile broadened. “Penny finds me fascinating, you know.”
“That, you are.”
“What does your lady think of you?”
He considered. “I hope she finds me…” What was the opposite of a distraction? “As essential to her as she is to me.”
Lady Pennington nodded as if she approved. “I also want to let you know how much I appreciate what you did for my father.”
“The duchess put the plan in motion. I only played a part… Forhissake.” Another awkward silence. “What will you do about him?”
“Take him home with me. Take care of him. Make sure that, if nothing else, he understands he is safe.”
“He will receive a full pension from the estate.”
She shook her head. “I don’t want your money.”
“A little late to be noble?”
