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“They have not. I take it you and my daughter parted on unfavorable terms?”

He nodded. “I made the mistake of confessing my desires for our courting. I realize now I should have asked your permission first, but it is all so…”

“Ah, yes, it is a mingle-mangle. I have myself to blame for all of it. I made the mistake of allowing Sophia to assume she will be the only one considered for marriage.”

Kenneth nodded toward the right, where a path led into the forest.

“It was what all involved assumed.”

“And that is where I failed Ruth. I always tell her she is worthy of love and affection; I always try to make sure she is treated equal to her sister and yet, I never once dampened Sophia’s assumptions, nor voiced my desire to have both of them considered when I spoke to your father about the matter, and I…” The older man’s voice broke suddenly, swallowed by sorrow.

“Your Grace…”

“No, it is quite all right, my lord. It is because in my heart I always was sure she could never be married, despite my telling her there was hope. I did not believe it myself, as her face…”

“I understand. There is no shame in assuming something that was proven a fact, time and again by the behaviors of others. I reacted badly at seeing her face the first time.”

The two men rode in silence for some time, each occupied with their thoughts.

“I did not think she would live, my lord. That terrible day when she was caught in the fire that took her mother, she looked so much like one destined for heaven. I prayed, and I am not a man of faith, but that day I prayed. I summoned every physician worth their salt, and they fought for her, but the horror she endured I would not wish on my worst enemy. Not just the physical pain of enduring the burns from the fire, but the emotional torture of finding out her mother died saving her. She’s overcome so much.”

Kenneth swallowed thinking of young Ruth, so alone, so badly hurt. A desire to protect her came over him but he shook his head. She’d long since recovered, she no longer needed his protection. And to be fair, he’d done a poor job of even protecting her from his own family’s prejudice and cruelty.

“I feel as though I do not deserve her at all, hearing you talk about how she survived then and how she survives now.”

The Duke turned his head, his gentle face lined with wrinkles.

“Neither do I, Lord Rotham. I aimed to raise her and her sister the same, but she was always different. I treated her differently. She is my little miracle and I fear her sister at times feels she is only second in my affections. Making her all the more eager to find a husband. And thus, I failed them both. Ruth, by not believing in my heart she could find a husband of her own, and Sophia by making her feel less than her sister.”

Kenneth took a deep breath. “You have not failed either of them, not from what I can see. They are strong, intelligent, and accomplished each in her own right.”

They rode on and looped back to the way they’d come, having ridden further than they thought she could have walked.

“Pray, what is it that parted the two of you last night, other than your cousin’s bosky appearance?”

Kenneth reverted to his habit of grinding his teeth for a moment before speaking.

“I told her how I felt about her but then Lawrence came and displayed all the behaviors she was so afraid of. She fears I will never find happiness if I marry her, and that her sister will never forgive her. She wishes for me to marry Sophia and forget her.”

The Duke scoffed at this. “By Jove, she is entirely mistaken if she believes I’d ever agree to such a thing. My lord, I will speak to her. Perhaps I can help her see beyond her convictions.”

Kenneth thanked him and the two men rode back toward the manor when suddenly, the Duke stopped.

“Lord Rotham – look.” He pointed up ahead. The carriage with the Coat of Arms of the Duke of Caster stood outside the manor. Kenneth exhaled with relief once he saw Ruth walking up the steps.

“Ruth!” He called out to her. He turned, looking at the Duke who indicated for him to go ahead.

“Talk to her. Perhaps the walk will have helped her clear her head.”

Kenneth nodded, jumping off the horse. He handed the reins of Artemis over to him and walked ahead. The gravel crunched beneath his feet as he ran to her side. His sudden appearance startled her; it was evident by the way her mouth dropped open and she stepped back.

“Kenneth?” The softness of her tone at once soothed him, although he was not sure why. She glanced past him and saw her father standing at a distance, both the horses’ reins in his hands. He smiled at Kenneth and nodded his head before walking the horses toward the stable.

“Why are you here? I…” She looked up at him, her eyes so clear in the early afternoon light they reminded him of the seaside.

“Your father was worried for you. I told him I saw you walking this morning and we thought you might be lost, and thus we set out to look for you.”

“I was lost,” she admitted as her hand gestured toward the carriage. “Lord Bronwyn found me walking in the woods and offered his carriage to spirit me back here.” Her mouth opened slightly as she bit her lip. Her chest rose with a deep breath and when she exhaled, she looked up at him. “He and I spoke. He is a very clever man; I can see why he is such a dear friend.”