The Daring Miss Darcy (Lost Ladies of London #4)(74)

“It seems your husband was right all along.” And Vane was the blind fool who refused to listen.

“Love brings hope does it not?”

“Indeed.”

“How on earth did you find her?” Lillian’s eyes widened in her eagerness to hear the tale.

“I didn’t.” Vane couldn’t help but smile. Even Mr Joseph had struggled to locate her. “She found me. I would like to take the credit, but it was purely accidental.”

“Or perhaps Fate played a part,” Lillian said.

He didn’t know how things happened as they did. Occasionally, he wondered if one’s destiny was already decided. If all events, good and bad, were merely lessons in one’s development. Perhaps one couldn’t understand the lesson because it was part of an infinitely bigger picture.

“When Estelle left, I lost my faith in life, in love, in everything. So I’m inclined to think you’re right. I’ve lived without faith and I’ve learnt to trust in it again.”

Lillian searched his face. “You seem different. Have you and Estelle reconciled your differences?”

“We have.” Vane nodded. Oh, they had done so much more than that. “I love her, Lillian, and she feels the same way.”

Lillian gave a contented sigh. “It is what I have always known. It is what I have prayed for.”

Behind them Fabian took Estelle’s hand. He placed it in the crook of his arm and escorted her away from the dock to the path leading up to the castle.

Estelle glanced back over her shoulder and Vane’s heart lurched. The look she gave him conveyed the depth of her devotion. He smiled back and hoped she would understand what he had to do.

Mackenzie dabbed his eyes as he prepared to climb out of the small vessel. “Och, it’s a sight to behold. I can tell you that. The drink will flow tonight.”

“Wait.” Vane held up his hand to prevent Mackenzie from climbing up onto the landing pier. “Do not disembark yet.”

Lillian frowned. “Is something wrong?” She looked at Vane and then at the boat. “Why do you want Mackenzie to remain in the boat?”

Vane’s tongue grew thick in his mouth as he struggled to find the right words.

“You’re leaving, aren’t you?” Lillian blurted.

“I’m afraid, I must.”

“Is it because of Estelle? If you love her why can’t you stay? Talk to me.”

“Lillian, I will if you stop bombarding me with questions. I have important business elsewhere. That is all.”

Lillian fell silent though her eyes flitted back and forth as though trying to make sense of it all. “Does Estelle know of these business plans?”

“No.” He reached into his coat pocket and handed Lillian a letter. “Will you give this to Estelle? Tell her I pray she understands. Tell her to wait for me.”

Lillian shook her head repeatedly. “But I don’t understand. Why can’t you stay and explain?” Two deep lines appeared between her brows.

Good God, he wanted nothing more than to spend a week in a castle with the woman he loved.

“Because Estelle needs time alone with Fabian without a distraction. And there is something I must do for her if she’s ever to be free of the nightmare she’s lived these last eight years.”

“Then leave tomorrow. Come up to the castle and dine with us. Have a good night’s rest before you embark on your journey.”

“Lillian, stop it. You’re only making it more difficult.”

Vane closed his eyes briefly.

One word from Estelle and he would never leave her side. They had a future together, years to spend living the life they’d dreamed. But she could not live in peace while fearing the smugglers. He could not permit their children to suffer for someone else’s mistake.

“You know Estelle will beg me not to go,” he continued. “You know she will insist that my reasons don’t matter. But our father was to blame for what happened to her and I will at least attempt to put it right.”

Vane took Lillian by the arms and kissed her on the cheek before she said something to change his mind or questioned him about the past.

“Why must you always be so stubborn? Why must you feel as though you’re to blame for those things beyond your control?” She sucked in a breath. “What happened to me was not your fault. What happened to Estelle was not your fault, either. Stop blaming yourself and be happy.”

Vane stepped away. “If you care for me at all, you will support me in this.”

“Support you? I will stand guard at your back until the day I die.”

“Then let me go. And promise me you will reassure Estelle that I am doing this for the right reasons.”

Silence ensued.

Lillian sighed. It was the sound of surrender.

She threw her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly. “Then promise me you’ll take care. Promise me you will return to us soon.”

“I swear it.” Vane kissed her on the temple, then pulled away and climbed back into the boat. “Can you take me back to Branscombe, Mackenzie?”

“Aye, my lord,” Mackenzie said. The sorrow in the Scot’s voice was nothing to that in Vane’s heart. “Happen I need the exercise if I’m ever to outdo you with the oars.”