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“The Bow Street Boys are babysitting him for now. He has written out a full confession including his work for Stafford. I will send it to you to present to the Prime Minister and the Prince Regent at your next meeting.”

“I can’t. I need you to deliver this to the Prime Minister today. I am resigning as the King’s Liaison.” He handed him a sealed letter.

Tony looked at the letter in his hand with the ducal seal on it. “What? Why?”

“I have been a fool, Tony. I am riding for Epping Cottage today. I need to see my daughter, and I need to marry Rose.”

Tony’s mouth fell open. “It appears I have missed an extraordinary event.”

“I am sure Marianne will fill you in, but I cannot stay. I just needed to know this was all in hand.”

“It is.” Then Tony did something he had never done before. He hugged his brother. “I don’t care how it came about, but I cannot tell you how happy I am that you are going to resolve this issue with Max. She deserves to be loved by her father, and you deserve to be loved by her. She is such a good child and so like you. I suppose Rose instigated the whole thing?”

“I suppose she did. Incredibly, Rose actually loves me. And I love her. I do not know how it happened, but I cannot live without her now. The whole engagement was meant to be temporary to protect her from Brookhaven, but I already knew I loved her then. I was too much of a fool to actually tell her. I don’t deserve her, Tony, but I’m going to try to.”

“Anyone with eyes could see that she loved you. I don’t care about the particulars, just go now.”

“Thank you,” he said, hugging his brother again. “For everything.”

“You better write to me and let me know when the wedding is.”

“I will, if she says yes.”

“She will.”

Edward nodded and took his leave, mounting his horse and heading back to the house. He needed some clothes and some money, and then he needed to get on the road. He was not too far behind Rose, and traveling by horse was faster than by carriage, but he did not want to meet her on the road. He had a plan.

He was going straight to Thomas and Anna’s house, where Max was apparently still staying. He needed to make sure that Max knew the whole story of why he had left. He owed her so much more than just an explanation, but it was a start.

*

The first night holed up at a coaching inn, he finally opened Max’s letter. She explained that she loved her horse and Shakespeare. She liked to collect pretty bugs. Was that Charles’s influence? She loved art and music.

Then the next part of her letter broke his heart.

Papa, I am sorry for whatever I have done to make you hate me so. I promise I am a good girl. I hope one day you will come for Christmas so that I can introduce you to Cordelia. Grandmama said that one day you may come and that it would be her greatest wish. It would be my wish as well.

He then read it every night on his journey. To remind him why he was on this expedition. To remind him that he had a lot to make up for. Max thought it was because of her, and it was, but she was never the problem, not really. He was the problem. He could see it now. His pride, his lack of courage to love her despite what Victoria had said. He had lost eight years of his daughter’s life. How do you explain such idiocy to a child?

When he saw Epping Cottage come into view, he suddenly felt nervous. An unfamiliar feeling for him. He was about to meet his daughter. No doubt she had pictured herself surrounded by all that love her at Christmas, but instead she would get just him. Today was the day, and he could only pray that she did not run when she met him.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Upon Rose’s arrival at Ashtonvale, the staff greeted her with surprise and quickly made up her old room within an hour. Just enough time to have some soup before retiring. Every bone in her body ached, and although she had Elsie for company, she cried at least once every day. What would she do if he did not love her enough to follow her? What would she tell Max?

Tomorrow she would write to Anna and let her know that Max could return to Ashtonvale if she wished. Tonight, though, she would sleep and hope that she could explain to Max what happened in London and her father. How she had fallen in love with him. That they were, for all intents and purposes, engaged.

The next morning she spent writing a message to Anna, telling her that she had arrived at Ashtonvale. Did Anna know about the engagement? Rose was sure that the dowager would have written immediately; if not her, then likely Gabrielle, as she and Anna were very close.

The house felt even more immense with no one in it. No shrieks of laughter from Max and the soft reprimand from Marianne that young ladies do not shriek. Elsie was busy unpacking all her fancy London gowns, but thankfully, more appropriate country clothes which she had left behind here were available. Rose wandered the walled garden and picked some flowers before returning for a light lunch. She did not know how far Epping Cottage was from here, so she did not expect Max to arrive back today.

Unfortunately, this gave her far too much time to think. To think of Edward and how angry he must have been to wake and find her gone, not just from his bed but from his house. To be honest, it was the only way she could think of to force his hand. To make him come here and face his past. Had she done the right thing? Would he even come? What would she do if he did not? Plagued by doubts, she wandered into what Elsie had found out was the duke’s room. The furniture was covered, but it was a huge room that overlooked the ornate garden at the back of the house, with its fancy design modeled after the French style. This was the place where Victoria died, Max was born, and Edward’s soul was crushed. There was a heaviness about it, like it lacked enough air, or perhaps the ghost of Victoria still loomed here. Her dark specter collected in the shadowy corners of the room. Rose rubbed her arms and left. Going down to the light-filled parlor on the second floor, she ordered some tea and gazed out at the grandeur of the grounds until the sun dipped low, and she realized she had dozed off in the chair by the window.

Tomorrow Max would be back, and then she could warn her about the possibility of her father turning up. She did not want to raise her hopes, but she would be remiss not to prepare her either.

*

To say that everyone was surprised to find the Duke of Warrington on the steps looking like he had ridden through hell was an understatement. He had quite put the house in an uproar, which was not what he intended. When Anna arrived in the parlor, she was still wearing her shock on her face.