She shrugged. “He does that. Sometimes it feels like… punishment. Or… as if he merely forgets me.”
He gathered her up in his arms. “The man’s a mutton brain.” He wanted to brighten her eyes, so he took her hand and pulled her away from the house. “But you are working on something?”
She nodded. “It’s a personal project of no import.”
“Tell me about it?”
“A Spanish poet, Maria Rosa de Gálvez. I adore her.”
“Which do you prefer translating? Contracts or poems?”
She grinned, the smallest thing. But sure, too. “Poems. ‘Despedida al Real Sitio de Aranjuez.’”
“What is that?”
“The name of the poem. In English, ‘Farewell to the Royal Gardens at Aranjuez.’”
“I like the way you say it. Even if I do not understand it. When you’re done, may I read your translation?”
“You would not want to.”
He bumped her shoulder with his own. “Of course I do.”
She inhaled shakily, her smile blooming brighter. “Yes, yes, I think you may. Where are you taking me?” Beatrice asked between puffing breaths.
Richard pulled her around the side of the house and through the garden. “I’ve something planned. You’ll like it. Unless you’d prefer to go back inside and work…”
She shook her head. “I adore surprises. Have you decided yet what to do about your brother?”
His steps slowed. “No. I never should have answered his letter. John didn’t. John told me not to. Told me to wash my hands of the villain. But…”
She looped her arm through his and rested her head on his shoulder. “He’s your family. Even if he is vile.”
“He’s not… evil. I don’t think. He’s simply… thoughtless. More interested in his own diversion than in others’ well-being. I should not have told him about the wedding.”
“He might have come even without that information. He has children here.”
“Does he seem to care about Lucy and the boys?”
She squeezed his arm. Answer enough in the silence that followed. No. Daniel didn’t care.
Her lips thinned. Had he resurfaced memories of her own father walking away from her, leaving her with nothing, no one? He tightened his arm, a silent promise never to abandon her.
“You should not do this alone,” she said. “John and Evelina must know Daniel is here.”
“It would ruin their party. They deserve to celebrate without the shadows Daniel tows along behind him. Besides, it’s my fault he’s here. I’ll take care of him, keep him out of the way, and see him off as soon as can be.” Hopefully before the wedding in two days. “No, I cannot tell John. He’ll want to send the children away. He won’t want them near Daniel. But that means he won’t have them near for the wedding, and that would hurt him too much.”
“You could let John decide that for himself. He’s their legal guardian. It’s not your worry to?—”
“Itismy worry, Bea. It always has been. Keeping the peace, pleasing everyone. An unwanted bastard learns early to ingratiate himself or suffer the consequences.”
“What consequences?” Her voice small and tight.
He stroked her hip. “Nothing serious, sweetheart. The marchioness, my father’s wife, found me a bit… inconvenient at times, preferred to pretend I didn’t exist when there were guests. I don’t blame her. Consider her position. Having another woman’s babe foisted onto her, proof of her husband’s perfidy. I don’t have a bit of my mother in me. Look just like John and Daniel. Like our father. No hiding my origins.”
“You were a child. It wasn’t your fault. What do you mean she pretended you didn’t exist?”
His shoulders stiffened, the pity in her voice putting him on edge. “I stayed in my room for small periods of time. When there were guests.”
