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Chapter 13
Fanny tried to accept that it had ended. Seven days had come and gone, and though Simon touched and kissed her with burning passion, there was no love in his eyes. Though they chatted for long hours in the evening before they tumbled into bliss, they did not talk of the past or about the future. They lived in the present, basking in the moment as if the romance budding between them had so space existing anywhere else.
This Simon who she was also learning to love and appreciate did not care about the past. And unquestionably, he did not care for a future with her. Each time she brought up the matter, he became closed off, and she convinced herself that it was unreasonable to have any expectations of him. It was too soon. He still did not remember. He might never remember me…or us. And he might never again fall in love with her.
Her throat burning with an intolerable ache of loss, Fanny gathered Lily and strolled toward the second carriage to barrel into their paradise in the last few minutes. This time she recognized her family’s traveling coach and Nicholas as he pushed his head through the carriage window.
“Unc!” Lily cried, tugging away from Fanny and pumping her legs with all the speed she could muster.
Her brother jumped from the carriage, slanting an indecipherable look at Simon and his mother who was stiffly walking away to her own carriage. Simon watched her go, and Fanny forced herself to look away from his austere countenance. It was not like her to flinch from any confrontation, but would she be able to bear looking into his eyes and seeing goodbye?
“Why do you look so pale?” Nicholas asked gruffly as he reached her side with Lily clasped against his chest.
“He still does not remember.”
His eyes softened. “He might never do, Fanny.”
“I know, and I think…I think I have begun to accept it.”
An expression passed over Nicholas’s features. It was pity, and Fanny wanted to weep at the pain and doubt clawing at her. “Why are you here, Nicholas? This was not the plan.”
“Richard told me of Lady Havisham’s carriage passing through the village. I had no doubt she was headed here.”
She smiled. “So you returned to rescue me.”
Nicholas tapped the tip of her nose gently. “Yes. How has the viscount been?”
She tried to suppress the heat that rose in her cheeks; however, given the ferocity of her brother’s scowl, she had not succeeded. “Hypocrite,” she said with a grin, knowing him to have a lover or two.
Nicholas looked over her shoulder and said in a very deliberate tone, “Does he plan to marry you after living scandalously with you for seven days?”
“Nicholas!” Fanny gasped. For her nape had prickled, and she suspected Simon was in hearing shot of that provocative question.
Lily wriggled in her uncle’s arm and held out hers, crying, “Papa!”
“Mr. Fairbanks,” Simon said coolly as he came up to them and held out his arms for Lily who launched into his embrace. “We meet again.”
Nicholas noted the exchange with a smile; but his gaze, as it volleyed between Fanny and Simon, was sharply assessing. He dipped into a polite, gentlemanly bow. “Lord Havisham, we meet again.”
“Is Lord Celdon in Penport? I had hoped to call upon him.”
Something in his voice caught her attention. Why did he wish to call upon Colin? She forced herself to concentrate on the matter at hand.
Nicholas pinned Simon with a piercing stare as if he hoped to dissect every thought running through his impenetrable mien. “He is in London. Colin is newly wed.”
He gave her a quick, searching look, then replied. “I shall pay my respects as soon as I return to town.”
“And when will that be?” Nicholas asked, his expression hardening.
“Today.”
Fanny’s heart felt as if it would shatter. She did not know what Nicholas saw on his face, but fury flashed in his gaze.
“Are to you marry my sister, Havisham?” he growled.
Mortified, she cried, “Nicholas!”
“Of course I am to marry her; why else would I need to meet with Colin.” He spoke in an extremely polite, very cool manner.
