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“Lord Havisham,” Vanessa said sharply, her dark curls bouncing atop her forehead. Piercing green eyes, very much like her brother’s, glared at Fanny. “He is Lord Havisham, Miss Fairbanks. You are not of close enough acquaintance to refer to my brother with such familiarity.”
Fanny’s hand tightened on her fan, and she only took a calming breath for the sake of propriety. “It was announced that your brother had perished, Miss Gracely. Lord Havisham, my family…we all thought he had died. Your family has never once made it clear that Lord Havisham survived his ordeal. That was poorly done, Miss Gracely.” And I piteously mourned and wailed for you.
Simon stepped forward and bowed cordially to Fanny. “Pardon us for the confusion, miss,” he said politely. “Our family is not very popular within the ton; however, we have shocked a few with my reemergence. I did not die, but I was ill for a long time and recuperated at our family home in Scotland. Considering we had some connection in the past, I hope this explanation is sufficient for you.”
She stared at him, heart hammering. Sufficient?Some connection in the past? How unimportant he made it all seem. As if she had been a mere dalliance. Fanny flinched when she recalled how his mother had turned her away when she had turned up at their country home upon hearing the news of his death.
“You were nothing but a tart to my son, Miss Fairbanks. Please see yourself from our home and do not return.”
“It is not enough, my lord,” she said hoarsely. How could it be?
His expression grew more austere. “I regret that I cannot offer more.”
His sister took the arm he offered, and his fiancée clasped the other.
“If you will excuse us, Miss Fairbanks, this drizzle might turn into a downpour at any moment. I must see my sister and Lady Katherine inside.”
“Of course,” she said from lips that felt numb.
He walked past her with his sister and his fiancée. Fanny was unable to watch them go.
“Miss Fairbanks,” he called.
Her pulse quickened. Taking a deep breath, she faced him, wiping the rain from her cheeks. “Yes, my lord?”
“It is wise to return inside. Even with this slight drizzle, you are likely to catch your death.”
“How kind you are, my lord,” his fiancée chirped brightly while his sister merely glared at Fanny.
She nodded and he continued on. This time she watched, feeling as if a piece of her soul had died. “Simon?”
Fanny swore it was a mere whisper, but he paused and turned around.
“Do you know who I am?”
He frowned. “At first, I did not, but I’ve since recalled that you are Miss Frances Fairbanks, Colin’s little sister. Colin and I were on respectful, friendly terms, and I shall call upon him to explain the fact that I am alive.”
Oh God. She never thought such pain was possible. “I see.” She lifted her chin. “Do you remember who I am to you?”
His eyes flared slightly, then his gaze narrowed on her. Vanessa was stiff with rage, and his fiancée frowned, looking back between Fanny and the viscount.
“You were no one to my brother, Miss Fairbanks. I cannot comprehend what you are implying in front of Lady Katherine, but it is crass and unbecoming.”
Fanny did not acknowledge that stinging rebuke but held Simon’s gaze, silently pleading with him to release them and come to her.
“You are not anyone to me, Miss Fairbanks. I bid you a pleasant evening.” He started to turn around, and then he jerked as if someone had slapped him. His head swiveled to look at her, and it was Fanny’s turn to jolt. There…in the piercing beauty of his eyes, she saw desire, laughter, and love. She saw the way he once had touched her, the way he had once loved her.
A shuddering breath left her when his lashes closed, and when their eyes met, it was as if he had blinked them away. Viscount Havisham walked away with his sister, leaving Fanny clutching her fan and silent tears streaking down her face to mingle with the rain.
Simon was alive. Truly breathtakingly alive. It was really quite overwhelming. She wanted to hide in the gardens. She was meant to gather her composure and then return inside, laughing and smiling as if her world had not shattered. But she could not.
Fanny did something she had not done since she learned of Simon’s death. She sat on the stone bench and wept. First, they were silent tears of fear and joy. Then they were a release of all the emotions she had kept buried inside. She’d had to be strong for the babe in her belly when she had heard the news of his death. Fanny had lifted her chin, reminded herself she was a Fairbanks and had lived as best as she could. Now she cried loud sounds that were part agony, part relief, and part joy. Then she laughed, and to her mind, there was a tinge of hysteria. Still, she laughed. He was alive.
Truly alive.
