Sir Aaron nodded. “I do. You have three if I remember correctly, and your father favors them over you.”
“Yes, and that is true, but it is not the full truth. My father not caring about me has nothing to do with me being the youngest as I’ve intimated before. Nor does it have anything to do with my parents believing they’ve already found their places in society because of the men my sisters married. I am the problem.”
She dropped her gaze, finding it hard to look him in the face. Her heart pounded in her chest so hard that she thought it would burst through her sternum. If she spoke the words, they would only become truer. Was that what she wanted?
“I’m not sure I can say it. For if I do, you’ll want nothing to do with me. Just like my father.”
He placed a finger beneath her chin, lifted her face to look at him, and smiled. “There is nothing you can say that will drive me away. What could you have done that was so bad?”
A lone tear rolled down her cheek. “Since I was young, I spent a great deal of time spying on others—as you know from my eavesdropping on your conversation at the park. Just before I was sent to Courtly Manor, I overheard a conversation between my parents.” She gave a deep sigh. “I should have put a stop to my spying then, but what I heard only pushed me to do more. I’m delaying, I know. And I’m sorry. It’s not easy to say.”
“Trust me,” he said. “It cannot be worse than my secret.”
She shook her head. “I learned my mother had an affair.”
“But you cannot blame yourself for her wrongdoings,” Sir Aaron said.
Louisa gave a choking sob. “But you don’t understand. I’m the result of that affair!” Tears poured down her face as she continued. “It’s the reason I’m always flirting. I have used my beauty as a means of protection from the hurt I have inside. To enamor a potential suitor so that if he were to learn the truth, if he finds me attractive enough, perhaps he’ll look past this terrible fault of mine.”
Louisa looked up into his warm blue eyes and was surprised to find no judgment in them. “We’re very much the same, you and I,” she continued. “And like you, I want to put the past behind me. For I love you, too, and would like nothing better than to become your wife. If you’ll still have me now that you know the truth about my birth.”
His strong arms wrapping around her was his response. He held her, whispering words of love as she wept. And when she looked up at him, he did not hesitate to press his lips to hers.
“I don’t care about who you used to be or how you came into this world. I’m just thankful that you did. Otherwise, I would be alone.”
Her heart beat with love as she said, “I don’t care who tries to harm me, be he a drunkard or a highwayman, for I know you will always protect me.”
They held each other for what seemed an eternity until they stood, hand in hand, looking upon the village of Chatsworth once again.
“My destiny lies in that village,” Sir Aaron said. “But once we’re married, we’ll likely move to another place. But no matter where we go, we’ll always be at one another’s side, growing an estate that we can one day leave to our children. That is the destiny that lays ahead of us.”
Although the idea of traveling the country appealed to Louisa, doubt tugged at her. Was her destiny nothing more than to help her soon-to-be-husband acquire wealth? Surely, life had more in store for her than that?
ChapterThirty-Two
Sitting in the drawing room of his Chatsworth home, Sir Aaron Kirkwood, Most Noble Order of the Garter, had never felt better. His journey to fulfilling his destiny would begin this evening with the decision of the fate of the theater. Just one stepping stone toward making a true name for himself rather than carrying the burden of a lie as he had done for far too long.
Yet his mind was not on what was to take place after the play. Instead, it was on the conversation he and Miss Louisa had shared the previous day. Had he known they would share their deepest, darkest secrets, would he have offered that outing? Likely not. Now that it was done, however, he was glad they had.
To finally reveal the lie behind his knighthood had been a relief. Her acceptance had been like air to a person drowning. Never had he expected anyone, but more especially the woman he loved, to accept him despite the falsehood his life was.
And to hear the story of how Miss Louisa came into this world made his heart ache. The fact she was the result of an affair might make others turn their backs on her, but he did not care. He loved her. That was all that mattered. When her father arrived on Monday, Aaron would meet his future father-in-law.
Yet one twinge of regret tugged at Aaron. He had failed to reveal another secret to Miss Louisa, for doing so would cause her undue worry. A letter had arrived three days earlier. Lord Ezra Colburn sought an audience. Yet the man was not to come alone. Lord Lenten would be in his company.
After his insults when Aaron and Miss Louisa had helped with his dog, Aaron would have preferred to never see the baron again—or Lord Ezra for that matter—but curiosity kept him from refusing the call.
“Lord Ezra and Lord Lenten,” Scriven announced before moving aside to allow the two gentlemen to enter the room.
The temperature plummeted with the entrance of Lord Ezra. His black attire matched his dark hair and eyes. And his presence.
Lord Lenten’s entrance warmed the air only faintly. His blue coat was as impeccable as his carefully combed blond hair.
Aaron waved away the butler and turned to bow to his guests. “My lords, welcome to Hearsely Estate.” He motioned toward the seating area in front of the fireplace. “Sit, please. Would you like a drink? I have the finest brandy or a nice port. But I highly recommend—”
“Before we enjoy your hospitality,” Lord Ezra interrupted, “my friend has something to say.” He turned to his companion. “Go on, Lenten.”
Lord Lenten slid a finger beneath his cravat. Red tinged his features, and he shot Lord Ezra a glare Aaron was certain he was not supposed to see. “The day we encountered one another on the road, when you gave aid to my dog… well, my actions were less than appreciative. In fact, they were downright deplorable. As I’m reminded of often.” He shot Lord Ezra a harsh glance again before adding, “Therefore, I wish to apologize for my rudeness.”