“I’ll have Molly with me. We’ll be perfectly respectable.”
But she still looked nervous, and that amused him.
Audrey atea simple breakfast as she felt the first touch of the sun’s morning rays on her face. She only nibbled toast and eggs because Molly insisted.
Strangely, she was almost too nervous to eat. She was leaving the only home she’d ever known, where she knew every piece of furniture, and every person’s distinctive footstep. She was going off into a dark world she couldn’t see, in the hands of a man she’d only just met—Martin’s friend. Shouldn’t she have considered that more closely? she wondered a bit wildly.
No, he was an earl, a former captain in the Queen’s army. He would not mistreat her. He said he owed her his assistance, because he felt so badly about Martin’s death. She would have to trust in that.
“There you are,” Robert said.
“You sound almost relieved,” she answered lightly.
“I thought someone might have changed your mind.”
She’d certainly been worried her father might try. But she hadn’t seen him yet this morning.
“You should eat before our journey,” she told him.
“I did, since I had to meet the carriage when it was delivered. The footmen are already loading your trunks.”
“Thank you,” she said, feeling surprised. It was so rare for someone to do things for her, or on her schedule. She had so much to get used to.
“Audrey?” said her brother as he entered the dining room.
“I’m still here, Edwin. Please share this last meal with me. Is Father?—”
“No, he’s in his study,” her brother said, “and doesn’t wish to be disturbed.”
If that was how he wanted it, then fine.
“I … had some things I wished to say to you,” Edwin began, his words awkward. “I was never home much, and I think I was so concerned with myself, I never … thought much about you. It was wrong of me, and I ask your forgiveness.”
Audrey blinked at the sting of tears. Wasn’t this just what she’d wished, to improve relationships with her siblings? It took her leaving to make her brother treat her better, she thought with faint irony.
“I accepted Father’s certainty that you could never handle the outside world,” Edwin continued, “especially after Blake abandoned you as he did. But that was wrong. I saw how you were with my friends, how—normal everything seemed. Forgive me if that sounds cruel, but I hope you understand what I mean.”
Robert said, “Collins?—”
“No, Robert,” Audrey said firmly. “It is all right.” She turned toward her brother. “Edwin, I accept your apology, and I want you to know how glad I am for it. When I write to you, I hope you’ll answer.”
“I will,” he said, relief in his voice. “Now I must go. My friends are just rising and will be departing soon.”
“Go. Enjoy yourself, Edwin. We will keep in touch.”
When he’d gone, Audrey turned to Robert. “I know what you might have said, that Edwin’s words couldn’t make up for years of neglect. But I consider his words a good start. And accepting them—forgiving him—is my choice, not yours. Again, you’re trying to do too much for me.”
“Perhaps you’re assuming too much,” he said. “You didn’t know what I was going to say. Please do me the courtesy of not scolding me unless I need it.”
The awkward moment felt strange to her, for everything had been so easy between them so far. “Very well, if I was mistaken, then I apologize.”
“Ifyou were mistaken?” he echoed.
She couldn’t help but smile ruefully. “Ah, these word games we play. Then I apologize with no conditions attached.”
“Good. I feel much better. But I want to explain one thing that you should consider. I feel protective toward you as I would toward any woman I had agreed to marry. That is just what mendo.Perhaps you’re occasionally being too sensitive.”
She considered that with astonishment. “I have not experienced protectiveness in a long time, my—Robert. I will consider what you’ve said.”
