“I think this requires more than a conversation, my lord. If you are to establish a relationship with your daughter, you must be present in her life. That is difficult if you are out until all hours and sleeping off the effects of drink most of the next day. Not to mention, you are not in London. This house is near a small town, where most people are acquainted. In fact, I know the woman who was Mr. Notley’s companion tonight. I am afraid your reputation will suffer if this continues.”
He raised a brow. “My reputation? Clearly, you don’t know my reputation, or you’d know a bit of gossip in Devon can’t do any damage.”
“It’s one thing to drink yourself into a stupor every night on the Continent,” she said, “and quite another to do it in the countryside of your homeland. Not to mention, you have a child to think about. Your actions may tarnish her reputationby association. If this is how you intend to behave, it might be better if you sent her away to school, where she won’t be present when—”
“No.” He sat up so quickly, his boots thudded on the floor and caused the stack of books to topple over. “She won’t go away to school.”
His reaction was rather heated, and she took a moment to wonder why. “Fine,” she said calmly. “In that case, you should keep your debauchery away from the house where she is sleeping.” Genevieve rose. “We can speak more in the morning.”
“What else is there to say, Miss Brooking? You think me a terrible father, and you’re correct. Iama terrible father. I was a terrible husband too.” He lifted a hand. “Not without reason, but you wouldn’t know anything about that. All anyone wants to talk about is how I left Harriet alone in London. How I deserted her.”
“My lord, that is none of my business. Goodnight.” She started to move toward the door, but he grasped her hand, and she couldn’t make herself pull away.
“No one wants to consider that I may have had my reasons, or that the woman I courted was a complete fabrication. Once the license was signed, I met the real Harriet Dowling. She should have been an actress for how well she played her part.”
“My lord, I am sorry, but I don’t think—”
“I didn’t think either.” He looked up at her, his eyes far away, as though he were remembering the past and seeing it before him. “Everyone told me I was too young to marry. I thought my parents disapproved of her because she wasn’t titled, and her father was a merchant. But they saw what I didn’t. She only wanted me for my title. She didn’t love me at all. Couldn’t stand the sight of me, in fact.” He let out a bitter sort of laugh. “Ironic, as I was so eager to marry her because love was all I wanted. I was starved for it, and do you know why?” He focused his gaze on Genevieve.
She shook her head, tears stinging her eyes. She wouldn’t let them fall. He wouldn’t appreciate her pity.
“Because I was sent away to schools when I was but eight. I went from one school to another where I was bullied by the older boys, cuffed by the teachers, and beaten by the headmasters.”
Genevieve sank down onto her knees, turning her hand so she was holding his. “My lord, I am so sorry. I understand now why you don’t want to send Frances away to school.”
“You don’t understand the half of it. It’s my fault she’s dead, you know.”
Hisfault? “No.” Genevieve shook her head.
“Yes. Everyone says it was a carriage accident. They were traveling during a heavy rain, and one of the wheels came off and the coach overturned. The coachman was killed and the outriders badly injured. I don’t know if Harriet and”—she saw his throat work as he swallowed—“the baby died instantly. I hope so. It was hours before help came.”
Genevieve put her free hand over her mouth. She hadn’t known there was a baby that had died in the accident. Poor Frances had a sibling. And, from what it sounded like, she had been one of the few survivors, and she’d been trapped in the coach, perhaps in the wet, for hours. Quite suddenly, her fear of the water made sense.
“My lord, it’s terrible, but accidents happen.”
He shook his head. “It wasn’t an accident. It happened on my birthday. Mythirtiethbirthday.” He raised his eyebrows meaningfully. Now he was simply not making sense.
“That makes it even more tragic, Lord Emory. You should lie back down. You must be tired.”
“It was my fault, you know? I pushed that old witch out of my mind and only remembered her and the curse too late.”
Genevieve stared at him.Witch? Curse?Had he been doing more than simply imbibing in spirits? “My lord, what happened wasn’t your fault. It was an accident.”
He shook his head. “No, it wasn’t. She died because of me. She didn’t deserve to die that way, and my son…” His voice broke, and Genevieve didn’t know what to do but take him in her arms and hold him. She’d expected him to weep, but he simply put his arms around her and held her back. Finally, he moved away.
“I’m drunk and taking advantage of your kindness. Go now before I do something else I shall have to apologize for.”
Genevieve nodded. Sheshouldgo, but she didn’t want to leave him like this. Still, he was right. She was his employee, not his confidante. “Very well, my lord. You will consider what I said about the disruptions?”
“You are a determined woman, Miss Brooking.”
“I’ve been told that is my best quality.”
“Oh, no.” His eyes roved over her briefly before he put a hand over them. “That’s not your best quality at all. Goodnight, Miss Brooking.”
“Goodnight.”
Breathless and far too warm, Genevieve fled the room, closing the door behind her and leaning against it. She pressed a hand against her belly, trying to quell the fluttering that threatened to turn into desire. She let out a slow breath. The house was quiet and dark now. She’d left her candle in the library, but she dared not go back to get it. The look Lord Emory had given her was seared into her mind, and her body had reacted all too predictably. How could she not react when a man that attractive lowered his lashes and raked his gaze over her with obvious desire?
