“I’ve wondered the same thing when I saw the will. Don’t waste time on trying to find a logical reason for his actions; the only conclusion that makes sense is that he was an abominable person.”
“We’re all victims of our parents, one way or another,” Talbot said quietly.
His friend turned to look at him.
“Does she know?”
“No. You know how I dislike talking about them.” Talbot wrinkled his nose.
“Did you ever consider that talking about them might actually help you with Lizzie?”
Talbot sighed. “I did. In fact, it was my first instinct. But after what I did to her, I cannot expect her to believe anything I say, and she has confirmed as much. She would see it as another trick, another one of my attempts to deceive her.”
“But…”
“Leave it alone, Hawkins.” Talbot shook his head, and Nicholas stood up.
“As you wish. We can talk more in Parliament tomorrow.”
*
On the fifth day after she woke up, Elizabeth came downstairs for breakfast. Colin’s heart was beating against his ribs like it wanted out. He quietly observed her as she talked to Catherine while throwing pieces of meat to Thunder.
Doctor and Mrs. Cooper had moved back to their own home a day after she had woken up, as did Jane. Elizabeth’s mother was the only one who’d remained, at Elizabeth’s insistence.
Colin allowed himself to feel hopeful for the first time in more than a week. His wife was looking better, she was eating more, she was bonding with the dog he’d bought her, and with time (and persistence, he reminded himself), things would improve.
He kept telling himself so, even though Elizabeth’s refusal to acknowledge his existence in any way made him painfully aware that his wife was capable of erasing him from her heart completely if he gave her even the tiniest opening to do so.
“I shall be out this afternoon, but Stevenson can fetch me if need be,” he said suddenly, disturbed by the direction of his thoughts. “Feel free to send for me. Any time.”
Catherine looked at her daughter, who was looking at the dog. She gave Talbot a look filled with pity, but he shook his head. He deserved this.
After breakfast, he went out in his carriage, first to Nicholas’s house to pick him up, and then they drove to visit Lady Georgiana together. Her imposing townhouse was, like its owner, a monument to times past with its red mahogany furniture andrococostyle.
“It reminds me of my grandparents’ home,” Nicholas whispered to him as a butler led them to the drawing room where they would be received.
Talbot had no such memories, so he said nothing.
They were announced and Lady Georgiana greeted them politely and warmly, according them all the respect their titles were due without appearing ingratiating. Talbot had an enormous respect for people who were able to achieve that.
He suddenly reallysawher, saw beyond her dignified posture, her wrinkled, veined, frail, bejewelled hands, and into the air of authority that would make lesser men bow even deeper.
“Your Graces,” she said seriously when they all sat down, “to what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?”
She knows the value of time,Colin thought before assuming his signature bored-but-haughty pose in his tapestry-covered Chippendale armchair.
“We’re here because I have,unfortunately,” he made sure to emphasize that last word accusingly, “seen the inflammatory letter you sent to my duchess. I’m not here to ask for her readmittance into your ballrooms, which I myself will be avoiding, together with her brother, but to right a wrong,” he said ominously.
“Please do, Your Grace,” the Marchioness replied calmly.
Colin smiled, not surprised that the woman who once denied The Duke of Wellington entry into Almack’s didn’t shy away from a challenge.
“I’m not ashamed to admit that I am a man used to getting what he wants,” Talbot said and held Lady Georgiana’s gaze firmly. “So when, due to my own actions earlier this year, DukeHawkins’ sister refused to dance or converse with me again, I resorted to contriving a situation which would make her mine. I was the one at fault, the one who behaved inappropriately, and yet my wife got all the blame.”
Lady Georgiana raised her eyebrows upon hearing this.
“Don’t look so surprised, you must have heard about my father,” Talbot said nonchalantly, despite feeling anything but.
