Two days.
That’s all I have left with you, Lettie.
Since his belongings had been picked up from Woodburne Manor earlier this morning, they were already packed in the waiting carriage. Lettie’s belongings were far more substantial than his meager possessions since she was to settle in for a month-long visit with Lady Frances and would be expected to attend numerous social affairs. Her gowns alone would fill up several large trunks.
As Brynne rode up, he noticed Lord Beresford standing outside watching Lettie’s trunks being stowed on board the carriage.
Brynne dismounted and went to greet him.
“We’ll miss you,” the earl said and gave him a hearty pound on the back. “Be well, lad. As my nuisance of a daughteroften says to you, be happy. That’s what I wish most for you, happiness. Nothing matters more in life.”
“I’ll do my best, my lord.”
“I know you will.” He ran a hand roughly across the nape of his neck, as though stuggling for his next words. “Brynne, I wish things had turned out differently. You’re a good man. I’m sorry the Woodburnes are so caught up in their own greed, they refuse to acknowledge your worth. You must know that Suzannah and her father have always cared deeply for you.”
“I do. I feel the same toward them.” He cast the earl a mirthless smile. “Suzannah will be settled shortly with Summersby–”
“Despite Lettie’s efforts.”
Brynne laughed softly. “Her well-intentioned, but misguided efforts. And now Lord Woodburne’s sister and nephews have moved in to secure their golden goose, so to speak.”
“And you’re off to start a new life. If ever you require a letter of recommendation from me, just ask and I’ll gladly give it.”
“I appreciate that, Lord Beresford.”
Their conversation came to a natural end just as the earl’s wife and daughters walked out of the house. The earl stared lovingly at them. “I know you’ll do well for yourself financially. But Brynne, don’t neglect your heart.”
After more farewells to the earl and his family, he waited for Lettie and her sister, Eugenia, to stop hugging and crying and promising to write to each other every day. Their mother was crying as well, but managed to maintain her poise as any well trained countess would. In truth, Lettie’s mother had all the good qualities one would hope for in a countess, a genuine warmth that made her loved by all, especially her husband who obviously doted on her.
Brynne had considered taking a wife, but never very seriously. No woman could ever measure up to Lettie, sothe possibility of marriage was out of the question until the impertinent, flame-haired beauty was well and truly out of his thoughts. He didn’t think he would ever get her out of his heart.
But time and distance would heal his wounds.
He absently rubbed his shoulder to ease the itch on his birthmark. Wolf, indeed! It was nothing more than a red blotch signifying nothing.
Lettie finally released her sister and allowed Brynne to assist her into the carriage. His palms tingled as he touched her, and continued to tingle as he climbed in after her and settled his large frame opposite her against the leather squabs of the fine carriage.
The mere touch of her warm, lively body had him reeling, but Lettie hardly noticed, for her face was pasted to the window and she was sniffling as she stared out of the clear glass pane.
The carriage drove off, separating her from her family for the first time in her life. Fortunately for her, it was to be a mere month-long separation. She’d be reunited with her family at the end of that time.
But he and Lettie… they would be separated for the rest of their lives.
The realization caused him more pain than he’d ever experienced, even when fighting the French army before Napoleon’s capture and then again at the little Corsican’s defeat at Waterloo. He’d been stabbed in the thigh with an enemy bayonet and grazed in the arm by a musket ball, but those were nothing to the hurt he was feeling now.
He studied Lettie, determined to take advantage of their time alone. This first leg of the journey would take about eight hours. Or nine, if they stopped at a reputable inn for refreshments. Then on to Preston where they would stay overnight. Perhaps two nights, if the weather turned bad and they were caught in aviolent storm like the one that had struck last week and dumped a mountain of snow across the countryside.
No, he wanted the journey done and over.
It would do no good to prolong his torment.
He leaned forward and tucked the blanket that Lettie’s mother had thoughtfully provided around her legs. “Don’t want you catching cold,” he muttered, lacking no heat, for his blood had caught fire the moment he’d touched her.
Earl’s daughter.
No touching allowed.
“Aren’t you cold? We can share–”
