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“And all these years I thought that you could.” He smiled at her. “You know Lady Beatrice from Thornhill House.”
“Thorndon’s sister, yes.”
“She recently inherited a bookshop and hired me to renovate it into a clubhouse for her friends. Grandfather covets the property. He wants to tear it down and build a garment manufactory.”
“I see. None of this surprises me, I suppose. I saw that you had developed an interest in Lady Beatrice in Cornwall. I didn’t think anything would come ofit. And my father being cruel . . . well, that’s nothing new.” She gave a bitter little laugh. “And now that he knows I’ve been defying his decrees, he’ll find a way to stop me from seeing my own sister.”
“I’m sorry, Mother.”
“It’s not your fault. I knew that there was the risk I could be caught, that Phyllis and I would have to stop meeting like this. She’s been trying to convince me to talk to him in person. She has some silly idea that reconciliation could be staged at this late date. I’ve no such illusions.”
“Nor I. Mother, he’s truly a monster.”
“He knows who you are?”
“We locked horns.”
“Enough about my father. I want to hear about you and Lady Beatrice.” Her expression turned hopeful. “Is there to be a wedding?”
“We haven’t had that conversation yet. We spoke of finding a path together. It’s... complicated. We’re from such different stations in life.”
“What on earth are you saying? Marrying you would be the greatest prize any girl could hope to win.”
“Ha! Spoken like my mother. We have to consider this with clear heads and do what’s right. Falling in love outside of your social class carries a heavy cost. Just look at you and Father.”
“Where did you arrive at such a wrongheaded notion? A heavy cost. Pshaw. Love is the best thing that ever happened to me.”
“Watching you, Mother. The years of deprivation. Watching you let out your hems, your hands reddened and roughened, watching you smile butseeing the sadness born of deprivation lingering in your eyes.”
“My dear boy.” She touched his hand. “You’ve always been sensitive to emotions. I’m sorry if I allowed you to see that sadness, but please believe me when I say that I wouldn’t change one second of my life. I love your father completely and without reservation. I love him even more today than I did when I first saw him.”
“Yes, but that doesn’t change the fact that you gave up everything to be with him, and your life has been immeasurably more difficult because you married him.”
“I’d give it all up again in a heartbeat. True love, a love that is real and undeniable, only comes along once in a lifetime if ever, and if it finds you then you must seize it with both hands.”
“She’s sister to a duke, Mother. A duke who holds power over our family.”
“I don’t care if she’s a princess of royal blood. You’re more than worthy of her,” she said fiercely.
Ford smiled. “Again. Spoken like my mother.”
“You’re a good man, Ford. I’m proud of the man you’ve become. Strong, honorable, hardworking. And so very handsome.” She ruffled his hair.
“Stop.”
“Well, it’s true. I can’t understand why every girl in London hasn’t tried to snap you up.”
“Oh, they’ve tried, all right.”
“And so very modest,” she teased.
“I know that I’m worthy of her, that’s not the question. It’s only that I have nothing to lose, nothing I couldn’t rebuild. And she has everything tolose. Her reputation, her life of luxury. Her family’s approval and love.”
“Do you love her?” she asked, her eyes solemn.
Ford nodded. “I do.”
“And does she love you?”
