Tess frowned in puzzlement. “Why?”
The gravity she saw in his eyes was somehow unsettling. “At that point in Richard’s life, I thought he needed to grow up and learn to take responsibility for his actions.”
“What actions?”
Ian’s expression remained guarded, enigmatic, as he shrugged. “It isn’t important now.”
“It is to me,” Tess pressed.
Several moments passed before he finally answered. “Richard made a serious mistake a few years ago.”
“What mistake? When was this?”
“During the spring of your comeout season.”
Tess thought back, remembering. Spring of 1813 was when Richard had first begun courting her, and when she had first met Ian. She moved closer so that she stood directly in front of his desk. “So what was Richard’s big mistake?”
Ian’s eyes were shadowed. “He didn’t wish you to know about it. He wanted to try and make up for his transgression before you learned of it, and I agreed then not to share his secret.”
Tess’s hands clenched at his cryptic reply. “I am so weary of everyone always wrapping me in cotton wool,” she exclaimed in frustration. “Why all this secrecy? What is it that Richard didn’t wish me to know?”
Ian grimaced, then sighed softly again. “I think you should sit down, Tess.”
“Thank you, I will stand.”
To her surprise, he moved from behind the desk and crossed the study to the window. His back to her, he stood looking out at the square of elegant Mayfair residences. His voice was low when he spoke. “Jamie is not actually my son but Richard’s. He never acknowledged the boy because he didn’t want to disappoint you.”
Tess felt herself gasp. Richard’s son? Richard had a son he had never told her about?
Her incredulous silence filled the room, but not because she thought Ian was making up the tale. She remained speechless while trying to absorb the shocking impact of his revelation.
That explained why Jamie’s features looked so familiar to her, she realized. Because the toddler was the spitting image of Richard as a boy. But why had he purposely kept the truth from her? And why had Ian abetted him?
Her hand stole to her heart where a sudden sharp pain had lodged.
“He should have told me,” Tess murmured hoarsely. “I cannot believe he would have kept such a significant secret from me.”
“He wanted to spare you pain,” Ian explained. “And he feared if you knew the truth, you would terminate his courtship when it was just beginning.”
“Richard thought I would have repudiated him if I learned about his licentious behavior? Because he had fathered a child out of wedlock?”
“It was not only the child,” Ian said quietly.
“What more could there be?”
He glanced over his shoulder at her. “It was also how the child was conceived.”
“I don’t understand.”
“That spring … Richard seduced one of his young maidservants. A young female dependent in his own household.”
Tess stared. “Surely you are mistaken.” Yet in her heart she knew he would never make such a charge if it wasn’t true.
“It is no mistake,” Ian responded. “Her name was Nancy and she was only fifteen at the time.”
Reaching out, Tess held on to the desk for support. How could the gentle, laughing, charming friend she had known for much of her life have committed such a disreputable act? No honorable man would behave so deplorably.…
When she remained mute, her gaze imploring him for a denial, Ian continued. “In his defense, Richard claimed that he was foxed when he succumbed to temptation, and that the girl was eager to share his bed. Despite her age, Nancy was a coquette and was trying to attract the notice of a handsome, charming gentleman like Richard. She admitted as much when I questioned her later.”