“Whatever has happened can be smoothed over. I’ve come back a wealthy man, Lottie. Far wealthier than Somersville or any other duke or earl in London.”

Her face remained impassive as she scanned the room filled with items of great wealth. All obtained for her.

At last, she lifted her sad eyes to him. “I never cared about money. I would have rather had you all these years, so I did not have to make the choices I did.”

“I did it for you,” he protested. “For us.”

Her lips pulled into a mirthless smile. “You did it for yourself.”