Part 23 (2/2)

”I understand,” the marquess said, walking through the hall again. ”I'll leave you to have a look over the house again. The study is just off that corridor,” he said, pointing. ”Meet my son and me there when you're done.”

Faraday bowed and went off to explore.

Colin sat in a chair before the desk. His father took the chair beside him. ”Faraday is having trouble making up his mind. I suggested he bring his wife this time. Women always know what they want, but obviously she wasn't well enough to attend him.”

”The second visit probably means he will choose this one over the other,” Colin said.

”We shall see,” the marquess said. ”Of course, you still have time to choose a bride and make the property yours.”

Colin said nothing, but he was dispirited. In a short time, he'd become attached to Sommerall. He would probably always a.s.sociate the time he'd spent here with Angeline. He wished that they could spend one more day here, but they couldn't. It had ended all too soon.

Feeling restless, he rose and walked over to the tall bookshelves, but he wasn't in the mood to read.

”You are welcome to any that interest you,” the marquess said.

”I'll look them over before Faraday takes possession.”

”It's not an inevitable conclusion,” the marquess said.

Colin figured the man had already decided to make the purchase and was only having one more look before making his decision. Then he would have to either persuade Angeline to marry him or his father would sell the property when the six weeks were up.

Fifteen minutes later, he rose again, walked to the window, and nudged the drapes open. It was a clear day, but he couldn't see the mausoleum from this vantage point.

Footsteps alerted him. He turned as Faraday stepped inside and bowed.

The marquess rose. ”Well, have you decided?”

Colin's heart raced, knowing what was to come, but he held his breath anyway.

”I'll have one more look at the other property,” Faraday said. ”You will have my decision soon.” He paused and said, ”I understand that it will not be available for six weeks.”

The marquess cleared his throat. ”Very well, Faraday. I hope this is the last delay.”

”Yes, my lord. I just want to make sure.” He paused and said, ”There's a cradle in the nursery.”

”I would like to take it and the rocker,” Colin said.

His father arched his brows.

Colin had surprised even himself. He'd made the request without a thought, but the rocker and the cradle now made sense. It was a tangible link to his mother, and the only one he would ever have.

”I'll see myself out,” Faraday said. ”Thank you for your patience.”

After he left, the marquess frowned. ”What the devil are you going to do with a rocker and cradle?”

”I want to keep them for the day I start a family,” he said.

”When might that ill.u.s.trious day be?”

”I don't know.” But it would not be long. Otherwise, he stood to lose all.

”It appears no one can make decisions today,” the marquess said. ”However, I can. Come with me to your mother's resting place. I haven't been in some time.”

The fallen autumn leaves crunched beneath their boots. The wind was up, and his father's thinning hair blew about after they both removed their hats. ”Your mother was a beautiful lady inside and out,” he said. ”I fell madly in love with Elizabeth, and I was terrified because I had a compet.i.tor for her hand.”

Colin regarded his father curiously. ”What happened?”

”I tried flowers, sweetmeats, and poetry. She remained unimpressed until one day I found a kitten. When I called on her, I feared the cat had stolen her affections from me. She laughed when I admitted it. She loved that kitten.”

”How did you win her?” Colin said.

”I told her the truth,” he said. ”That I couldn't sleep or eat, and I thought about her all the time. Then I told her that I didn't have any pretty words, but I loved her so much it hurt to think of l-losing her.” His father's voice broke. ”I did anyway.”

Colin put his arm around his father's shoulder. ”I imagine you were very happy when you married.”

”Oh, yes. One day the kitten got out somehow, and I thought I'd never be able to console her. Not long after, she discovered that she was expecting-you. We were overjoyed. I thought I'd go mad while she labored to bring you into the world. Your grandfather, rest his soul, plied me with entirely too much brandy.”

He smiled a little. ”I remember Grandfather well.”

”All I got for it was the devil of a head, but when I finally got to see her, I was so relieved. There you were, a wrinkled, red, squalling infant. I was afraid to hold you, but she insisted.

”It was a happy time. You were a healthy boy. She used to sit in that rocker in the nursery in a patch of sun and sing to you. I was so proud of you. I used to show you off to the tenants, the vicar, and all the paris.h.i.+oners. Elizabeth said I embarra.s.sed her.”

Colin looked at his father wonderingly. This was a side of him that he'd never imagined.

”Elizabeth had two miscarriages afterward, and her health declined. She wanted another babe, but I was afraid and took care not to let it happen. She was determined, and we laughed afterward that she'd seduced me. Six months later, she pa.s.sed away while giving birth to a little girl so tiny she could not have thrived. The babe was...buried with her.”

Colin briefly closed his eyes. ”You must have been wild with grief.”

”Your grandmother had pa.s.sed the year before, but your grandfather came to collect us both. I remember you cried and cried for your mother. It broke my heart.”

”I used to pray for a miracle that she would come home,” Colin said.

He sighed. ”Life goes on, son. You were healthy and inquisitive. We spent a great deal of time together. You would sit on my lap while I read to you.”

”I remember,” Colin said. ”The History of Little Goody Two-Shoes.”

”You made me read it over and over again. I was tempted to burn it, but I saved it for the day you have brats. I hope they make you read that book repeatedly.”

Colin laughed.

”When it was time to send you to school, I didn't want to leave you at Eton, but I knew I had to do it. Two years later, I met Margaret's father. He was in trade of all sorts and had pots of money. One day, the wily man let me see his daughter. I was smitten immediately.” He sighed. ”I felt guilty for having feelings for Margaret. It felt as if I were betraying your mother, but you were at school, and I was lost until I met her.”

Colin could hear the melancholy in his father's voice.

”It was an arranged marriage and hard for Margaret. Her father knew he was ill, and he wanted her to be safe and secure. Back then, she was shy and terrified of living in our world. I vowed then that I would earn her affections, but as it turned out, she earned mine.”

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