been inevitable. This shell once contained the man who had shaped her life. At the most crucial times in her life the Marquess had been there to save her family from the chaos on the continent, to allow her, a mere girl, to fight for England in a meaningful way, to rescue her from the result of loving his son.
She went forward and knelt at the casket. The sobs started in earnest then as she recalled the words that became her mantra for years. As she sat with him, in fear that he would condemn her, sixteen years old and carrying a secret that could destroy both their families, he had taken her hands and with tears in his eyes had said, "You cannot look at what might have been. You must look at what is and what will be. Accept Geoffrey's generous offer. If he feels this is his only chance for an heir, make a life with him. And my dear, much as I love my son, close your eyes to him. Your path now lies in a different direction."
"Yes, m' lord, mon papa du coeur, you were always true with your words. And I love you for loving me enough to guide me even in your own sorrow. Dear Lord, please take this dear soul into Your keeping as we lay his shell to rest." She was reaching in her reticule for a handkerchief when a familiar hand held out one for her. She glanced up at his overly bright eyes as she took the large piece of linen and blotted her eyes, indeed her whole face. She turned from him as she blew her nose and wiped it.
"Thank you, Win, she said as she turned back around. "I shall have this laundered and returned to you." She began the struggle to her feet and his arms automatically reached out to grasp and help steady her.
"I am glad my father has such a loyal daughter of the heart. Through the years I have heard him sing your praises as a wife, a mother, and puzzle solver." He felt more than saw her reaction to the last on the list, just a slight tightening of the muscles under his hands. "Surely you know I have been struggling under his instruction the last few years, even though you have been recovering from your loss."
"Yes, well I wish there was some way to deal with the guilt that playing at solving puzzles that fascinated me could destroy so many who are dear to me. In the end, I did not see that such ugliness could reach me here in England. I thought that was over and done with in France long ago."
He looked down into her white and drawn countenance and the fine lines that etched in her face filled his fingers with the desire to smooth them away. "Ugliness reaches all of us as long as there are men who are willing to unleash it. Your cousin's husband was such a man."
She went forward and knelt at the casket. The sobs started in earnest then as she recalled the words that became her mantra for years. As she sat with him, in fear that he would condemn her, sixteen years old and carrying a secret that could destroy both their families, he had taken her hands and with tears in his eyes had said, "You cannot look at what might have been. You must look at what is and what will be. Accept Geoffrey's generous offer. If he feels this is his only chance for an heir, make a life with him. And my dear, much as I love my son, close your eyes to him. Your path now lies in a different direction."
"Yes, m' lord, mon papa du coeur, you were always true with your words. And I love you for loving me enough to guide me even in your own sorrow. Dear Lord, please take this dear soul into Your keeping as we lay his shell to rest." She was reaching in her reticule for a handkerchief when a familiar hand held out one for her. She glanced up at his overly bright eyes as she took the large piece of linen and blotted her eyes, indeed her whole face. She turned from him as she blew her nose and wiped it.
"Thank you, Win, she said as she turned back around. "I shall have this laundered and returned to you." She began the struggle to her feet and his arms automatically reached out to grasp and help steady her.
"I am glad my father has such a loyal daughter of the heart. Through the years I have heard him sing your praises as a wife, a mother, and puzzle solver." He felt more than saw her reaction to the last on the list, just a slight tightening of the muscles under his hands. "Surely you know I have been struggling under his instruction the last few years, even though you have been recovering from your loss."
"Yes, well I wish there was some way to deal with the guilt that playing at solving puzzles that fascinated me could destroy so many who are dear to me. In the end, I did not see that such ugliness could reach me here in England. I thought that was over and done with in France long ago."
He looked down into her white and drawn countenance and the fine lines that etched in her face filled his fingers with the desire to smooth them away. "Ugliness reaches all of us as long as there are men who are willing to unleash it. Your cousin's husband was such a man."
