He felt the need to sit down; otherwise, he was certain the floor would come up to meet him.
“I warned her against speaking to you,” Lord Abney seethed. “I know of your scandalous past and I had a feeling your intentions were far from honourable. But I let myself believe that perhaps I was being overly cynical. I even began to think that you may actually harbour affections for her.”
Michael buried his head in his hands. He knew this was the time to explain himself, to set things right, but he couldn’t get Elaine’s horrified cry out of his head. “I had to do it,” he murmured, mostly to himself. “It was the only way to get the truth.”
“You approached her deliberately!” Lord Abney roared. “You toyed with her affections but to what end? What purposedid you have in breaking her heart? I never should have let her go near you!”
He broke her heart. He broke her heart.
“James, please.” It was Clarissa again, sounding markedly calmer this time. “Perhaps it is best if we leave.”
“Yes, please! Or else there is no telling what I may do if he is in my sight any longer.”
Clarissa touched Michael’s arm, a quiet request for him to stand. Michael pulled himself out of his head long enough to look Lord Abney in the eye and bow his head slightly. An apology was ripe on his lips but he knew there was nothing he could say to fix this situation right now. So he simply turned and left.
He was wrong about everything. The last four years, the last few weeks, the last few days. He’d made bad decision after bad decision and the only good one he managed now wanted nothing to do with him.
Chapter Twenty
To think that her father’s laboured breathing would be the only thing capable of calming her mind. Elaine watched as he slept, undisturbed by the emotional turmoil of his daughter sitting at his bedside. It had been days since the dinner with Michael and his family, days since she had discovered his plan and called off the wedding. And this was the first time she could reflect on it without tears welling in her eyes.
Of course, it still felt as if her heart was being ripped from her chest. Her eyes were still puffy from her nights crying herself to sleep and the only relief she felt was when she was tending to her father. He was a constant, steady and anchoring presence that kept her from slipping completely into despair.
Elaine blinked rapidly, fighting the tears burning the back of her eyes. Seeking to distract herself, she began tucking the covers around Edward’s frail body. When she was done, she moved to make sure he was not feverish.
Elaine gasped when she realised that he was no longer asleep. He was watching her steadily, eyes boring into her.
“Papa,” she breathed, sinking back into her chair. “I did not realise you had awoken.”
“How could I not when you fuss over my covers so?” he rasped then began struggling to sit up. Elaine rushed forward to help. She bit her lip, fighting another wave of tears when she realised just how much frailer he had become in the past few days. Was it because of her neglect? She’d been so caught up with the Season and the duke that she had left much of her father’s care to the maids. Was that the reason he seemed to have lost some weight?
Edward must have seen the guilt on her face because he reached out a trembling hand. Elaine reached out to grasp it. “What troubles you, my dear?” he asked.
Elaine forced a smile onto her face as she shook her head. “Nothing, Papa. I am just happy you are awake now. Perhaps I could read to you?”
“That is not the face of a happy person,” he remarked slowly. There was a pause and then, “I saw you with the Duke of Ryewood.”
Elaine’s heart skipped a beat. Of all the places, she hadn’t expected Michael to be mentioned here. “That’s right, you did,” she breathed. “That day in the gardens.”
“Have you two become friends?”
Elaine lowered her eyes. There was so much her father didn’t know and she suddenly felt bad for keeping him in the dark. “He…was. But then we were betrothed.”
Edward’s eyes flared. “Betrothed?”
“It is over now. The wedding was meant to be a few days ago but…” Guilt pulled the truth to her lips and all of a sudden, she was apologising. “Forgive me, Pa. I should have told you sooner.”
“It is all right, my dear,” he assured her, resting another frail and shaky hand atop hers. “My condition keeps me asleep most of the day, you would hardly have a chance to tell me. I am not angry with you. I am simply…surprised.”
“Surprised?” she echoed. “Why?”
“The Duke of Ryewood…do you know his past?”
Slowly, Elaine shook her head. “I know he was involved in a scandal, but I do not know what it entailed.”
“And yet you agreed to marry him?”
“I did not have a—” She broke off, then tried again. “I fell in love with him. It did not matter.” Elaine wiped a stray tear, gathering her strength. “But it was not meant to be. It seemedHis Grace had more pressing matters on his mind and…well, I shall find another suitor so—Papa, why are you crying?”
