Chapter Nineteen

 

As the carriage moved along at a steady pace, Rose thought about the meeting with Lord Drake, the man who had hurt her mother. To give a woman a child and then refuse to take responsibility sickened her.

Also, his refusal had forced her mother to leave Rumsbury, leaving Rose to be brought up in London. It was not that London was all that bad, but after her time at Scarlett Hall, Rose knew she had missed out on much living in a city.

“You are very quiet today,” Holden said, bringing her to the present. “I have not upset you again, have I?”

“Not at all,” Rose replied. “I was just thinking is all.”

He drew in a relieved breath and released it, a smile on his face.

The carriage slowed, and when Rose peered out the window, she saw a large house with green vines clinging to its walls. It was ironic; her mother would have enjoyed such a house.

When the vehicle pulled up in front of the portico, Rose’s heart pounded with anticipation. She would be meeting the man who had almost ruined her mother’s name.

The door opened, and Holden helped her alight from the carriage.

“There he is,” Holden said, motioning toward the left.

Rose followed his gaze to find a man with dark hair with traces of gray waving at them from the stables. It was the same man Holden had been speaking to at Mr. Banner’s party.

Holden walked forward with long strides toward Lord Drake only to stop and turn back to her, his face red. “I am sorry,” he said, returning to her side. “I was so excited that I left you behind. I am afraid I am unaccustomed to having a woman at my side when conducting business.”

Rose could not help but giggle as she placed a hand on his arm. “You came back for me and that is what matters.”

They walked toward Lord Drake, and Rose drew in every detail of the man. She was uncertain what to expect, perhaps a roguish grin and an arrogance stance. Instead, he had a kind smile that gave off a sense of solicitousness.

“Lord Drake,” Holden said, offering the man his hand. “My fiancé, Miss Rose Skylark.”

“Most excellent news,” Lord Drake said with a nod. “My congratulations. It is a pleasure to meet you, Miss Skylark. Are you new to Rumsbury?”

“Thank you,” Rose replied. “And, yes, I am new. I have been here only a few months, but my mother is originally from Rumsbury.”

“I see. Well, you are most welcome.” He turned to Holden. “Let us get our business out of the way, and then perhaps you can stay for a cup of tea.”

“That would be fine,” Holden replied.

They followed Lord Drake into the stables, the scent of horses, hay, and oats filling Rose’s nostrils.

Stopping before one of the stalls, Lord Drake said, “This is the horse we discussed at the party.” He opened the stall door and walked the horse to the corridor. “What do you think?”

Holden walked around the horse, patting a flank here, petting its neck there, all the while asking various questions, to which Lord Drake responded. With each response, Holden nodded and moved on. Soon they were discussing prices, haggling back and forth like a couple of goodwives at the market.

“I do not know about that price,” Holden said, shaking his head. “I would say paying that outside of London is more than the going rate.”

This made Lord Drake laugh. “You are a wise businessman,” he said. “Why not ride her around the grounds, see how strong and well-trained she is before we settle on a price.”

Holden turned to Rose. “I will return shortly. Will you be all right here until then?”

Rose smiled, pleased at the opportunity before her. “Of course. You will not be gone long. Go on. See what your new horse is like.” When Holden mounted the animal, she did not miss the wide grin he wore as he trotted away.

“He has admirable negotiation skills,” Lord Drake said as he accepted a clean cloth from a stable hand. “Although he smiles all too much for a man who pretends he is disinterested in the item of purchase.”

Rose smiled and looked about them. “Do you have family, my lord?” she asked, attempting to sound as if she was merely asking to pass the time.

“Yes,” Lord Drake said. “I have a daughter a few years younger than you.”

“She must feel honored that her father cares for her,” she said, fighting down the sense of irritation that rose within her. “That he has not run as a coward but instead remains to raise his child as a father should.”

Lord Drake stopped and narrowed his eyes her. “What is it you are trying to say, Miss Skylark?” he asked.

How she had made it this far without reaching out and striking the man, she did not know. Perhaps it had been his amiable demeanor or his ready smile, but no longer could she hold back her anger.

“My mother is Lady Rachel Prescott,” she said. “I am certain you know her. She was forced to leave Rumsbury in shame because you refused to do your duty and marry her when she learned she was with child.”

What she had expected was retaliation, shouting, ire, but instead, he closed his eyes and drew in a deep breath.

“Do not deny your actions,” she said, tears threatening to spill over her lashes. How her heart ached for what this man had done to her mother!

“I cannot,” he said finally. “What you say is true. Was it your mother who told you what happened?”

“No. I found out through other means.”

Lord Drake sighed heavily. “Come, let us walk,” he said. “I believe Mr. Bradshaw will be gone for a while.” He offered an arm, and, with reluctance, she placed her hand upon it. “When I met your mother, I was a different man. I had little wisdom and made poor choices. When I learned she was with child, I admit that I panicked and refused to marry her.”

“She was left to live with that shame,” Rose snapped. “Not you.”

“You are right in what you say,” he said as he brought them to a stop beside a low gate behind the stables. “Rachel left carrying a child of whose life I wanted no part.” He shook his head. “It was not until perhaps four years later that I went to London in search of her. Although it was a long time in passing, I wanted to take responsibility for our child and to offer her marriage, if she would accept it.”

Rose turned and gaped at him. “You had a change of heart?”

“Indeed. Let us just say that my view on life had changed much in that time, and the guilt I carried for what I had done weighed heavy on me. Of course, I learned she had lost the child and therefore refused my offer of marriage.”

A tear rolled down Rose’s cheek. “Although you offered her marriage, as late as it was, it does not excuse what you did. Nothing can.”

Lord Drake sighed. “Perhaps not, but I had to try. Your mother forgave me, you know. I cherish that fact to this day, for it brought me peace I did not deserve. You have every right to be angry with me. I imagine that is the reason you came here today, to give me a piece of your mind?”

“I will not lie; that was my intention.”

“If I may offer a bit of advice,” he said, his voice kind. “Let go of your anger, for I spent many years cultivating mine, and it not only harms the person carrying it, but also those around them.”

Somehow, Rose could not hold her anger with this man. If her mother had forgiven him, then who was she to not? “Perhaps you are right,” she said. Then a new thought came to her. “Did you meet my father while you were in London?”

“No. I did not have the fortune of meeting the man.”

They fell quiet for a moment, and another thought occurred to her. “What reason did my mother give for refusing your offer of marriage?”

Lord Drake shrugged. “Since the child was lost, there was no reason for us to marry. Your mother and I had a…simple relationship, but we never truly cared for one another in the same way I can see you and Bradshaw do.

Rose smiled, but something nagged at the back of her mind. Then it hit her. She was born the year after Lord Drake had gone to see her mother, and her mother made no mention of her father to Lord Drake. Was it possible that her father met her mother soon after?

“What is it?” Lord Drake asked.

“Do you happen to remember what month you spoke to my mother?”

He rubbed his chin for a moment. “I suppose it was late autumn, but I do not remember the exact month. Why?”

“It is nothing,” Rose replied. “But I want you to know that I harbor no ill will toward you.”

The man smiled, deepening the wrinkles around his eyes. “I appreciate you saying so. I will sleep better knowing that.”

They turned as Holden approached and dismounted. “Concerning the price,” he said breathlessly, “I am ready to make a final offer.”

“There is no need,” Lord Drake replied. “I will accept your first offer.” He then winked at Rose.

Later, as she and Holden left the Drake estate, Rose’s stomach ached from worry. Why was there so much mystery concerning her father? And was his name truly Michael Skylark? Or could he be a different man altogether?

***

Although Rose made every attempt to keep her focus on Holden as he spoke, she found her mind returning to Lord Drake and what he had told her. Her mother had said that she had been married two years before Rose was born but never mentioned that Lord Drake had proposed to her.

Then there was the mystery that surrounded her father. It seemed no story she heard made sense. Was Lord Drake lying or had he simply been misinformed? Had her mother kept secret from him that she was already married, not wishing to hurt him despite the fact he had hurt her so many years before?

The stories her mother and Aunt Eleanor told also conflicted. And there was the letter from her mother to Charles requesting he never come near her again.

She blinked back the tears, but one escaped.

“I bought her to breed with one of my stallions,” Holden was saying, “but when she is delivered next week, you may ride her if you wish.” When he turned toward her, he stopped. “Rose? Have I upset you? If so, I am sorry. Or did Lord Drake say something to you while I was gone?” He shook his head angrily. “I should have waited to ride the horse!”

“No, it has nothing to do with any of that,” she said as she dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief. “I am just overwhelmed at the moment.”

Holden nodded. “I understand. I feel as if I am under a great deal of pressure, as well.”

“I assume you speak of your father,” she said, glad he did not interrogate her further.

“No,” Holden said. “I speak of you. Not that you are doing anything to cause me concern. It is just that now I must prove myself worthy to you, and I am afraid I will fail.”

Rose smiled. “You are not failing,” she said. “My thoughts were on my father, not on you or our possible marriage. I wish to explain but…”

He raised a hand and she fell silent. “There is no need to explain,” he said with a smile that melted her heart. “May I offer a bit of comfort?”

Rose nodded, although she did not know what he meant until he moved to sit beside her and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. Without thought, she placed her head on his chest.

“I am afraid I am no poet, so I am not good with my words. This is the best I can do.”

“It is plenty,” she said, feeling comforted in his hold. “Thank you.”

They rode along in silence for some time until he said, “I think you would have liked my mother, and she would have liked you, too.” He sighed. “I understand your pain concerning your father. Well, perhaps not all of your pain, for at least I knew my mother. Regardless, if it helps any, I am sure he would be very proud of the lady you are today.”

“Do you believe so?” Rose asked as she looked up at him.

“Indeed. You are a strong woman. If you can make a fool like me see the error of his ways, you must be strong.”

Rose sat up and turned toward him. “Your words have helped me more than you can ever know,” she said. “Thank you.”

“I do want to make you happy,” he said. “If you ever need anything from me, will you tell me?”

Rose nodded. “I will.”

The carriage came to a stop in front of Scarlett Hall, and a footman opened the door. Rose turned to Holden once more. “The day after tomorrow would be a nice day to go for a carriage ride,” she said. “That is, if you would like to. And if the weather holds.”

Holden grinned. “I would enjoy that very much.”

For a moment, the sun highlighted his face and his eyes glinted with kindness. The oddest of feelings came over Rose. It was as if all the worries of the world disappeared as long as he was beside her. Would life not be wonderful if every day left her feeling the same?