“Oh, but I thought I could get a puppy. Papa said I could,” Rosy said.
The Countess rolled her eyes.“I will have to have a word with him about his recent generosity. He will end up agreeing to?—”
She was interrupted by a knock at the door, and a moment later, the Earl entered. He was already dressed in his finest suit, ready to walk Joanna down the aisle. The way he looked at her, with a sweet smile, reminded her of the man she’d so admired as a child.
“My dear,” he said and kissed his wife on the cheek.
The Countess smiled back and squeezed his hand before motioning for Sally and Rosy to leave the room, giving Joanna and their father privacy.
Once the door closed behind them, the Earl stepped to Joanna’s side. “You look lovely, my dear,” he said, his voice warm and genuine.
Joanna smiled, grateful for his kind words. “Thank you, Father.”
He took her hand. “Joanna, I am grateful to have this moment with you because I just wanted to tell you how proud I am of you. I know we did not always see eye to eye, but these past few months taught me just how strong you are and how foolish I was not to listen to you sooner.”
“I am grateful to hear you say this, Father. I really am. I know that things have not always been easy between us…”
“Indeed, I have made many mistakes. Mistakes which almost lost me my wife and then my family.” He shook his head remorsefully.
“Why did you do what you did?” Joanna asked.
He sighed. “I was raised to believe that a man had to provide for his family, and if he could not, then he was a failure. So, I did what I thought I had to, even though my methods were questionable.”
Joanna’s smile faded slightly as memories of their many confrontations flooded her mind. She knew her father had worked hard to regain the respect of his family and that of Society at large. Even though Kenneth had not revealed the full truth, and Lord Worcester had been true to his word and loaned her father the money to pay off his debts, the tales of his misbehavior were on dit. He’d been labeled as a man who stole from children and who was not true to his word. It was a difficult cross to bear, and she knew he struggled greatly with it.
“I see how wrong I was, of course. And the truth is, even when I was engaging in those actions, I knew that they were wrong.” The Earl bit his lip. “The children suffered because of me, and I will never forgive myself nor expect full forgiveness. All I can do is repay Lord Worcester, and vow to do better.”
Joanna squeezed his hand reassuringly. “You’ve been forgiven by everyone involved, including Mrs. Hardy.”
He sighed. “Not everyone. I’m still treated like an outsider at the House of Lords.”
Joanna shook her head. “It will all be forgotten by next Season. Besides, you have Kenneth, Lord Worcester, and Lord Barring by your side. Even Leonard has forgiven you and will speak up for you.”
Kenneth’s best friend had not taken kindly to her father’s actions, but even he was beginning to thaw toward him.
The Earl smiled faintly. “Thanks to Kenneth’s interference—but I’m grateful, anyway.” He smiled then, eager to change the subject. “A message came from Judith Birks.”
“Oh?” Joanna raised an eyebrow.
She’d invited Judith because while they had not restored their friendship fully, Lord Worcester had proven himself honorable and kind, and such kindness had to be taken into account—even if it meant inviting his daughter to her wedding.
“She cannot attend the wedding because her carriage has broken down,” the Earl continued. “She wrote to her father, and he has just relayed the news to me.”
Joanna raised an eyebrow skeptically. “Is that true? It seems peculiar. Besides, she does not live far from here. Surely, she could hire a coach.”
Her father shrugged. “It might not be true, but if it isn’t, then I don’t blame her. Her actions are known to everyone who loves you and Kenneth.”
Joanna nodded thoughtfully. “I would understand if she doesn’t want to come. But she should have just told me instead of coming up with a story.” She sighed.
Some people did not change, but she would not let this ruin her day.
“Mrs. Hardy arrived with five carriages, all of them packed full of children of all ages,” her father added, and she beamed at him. “Your Peter among them.”
Joanna’s heart leaped when she thought of the little boy. Ever since the orphanage was struck with the near disaster, she and Kenneth had spent several days a week there to ensure all was well. During that time, she had grown ever closer to little Peter. It had always broken her heart how forlorn he looked whenever one of the other children was taken to their new home.
Lately, she and Kenneth had come to an agreement with Mrs. Hardy. Peter would come with them on Friday evenings to spend the weekend either at Kenneth’s home or Joanna’s. The boy adored those visits, and her family was likewise fond of him.
However, nobody was fonder of his visits than the Dowager Duchess of Wells. She blossomed whenever Peter was around and would bring him toys and treats.
