The Luck of the Bride (The Cavensham Heiresses #3)(96)

“Did you explain?”

She nodded and bit her lip to keep from crying out in agony. “I don’t think he believed me.” She took a deep breath and exhaled. “I really can’t say I blame him. I’d done it before, and I confessed it was my signature. What else could he believe?”

She wiped a lone tear from her eyes. In seconds, Hart had her sitting in the sofa beside him.

“I’m banished to Lawson Court until he decides what to do to me.”

“Let me go talk to him,” he offered.

“No. I don’t want you to be involved. It’s finished. Whatever happens, I deserve. I stole from him. It just wasn’t the amount that the bookkeeper insists is missing.”

He embraced her. “Let me make this right. You need to be by your siblings’ sides.”

Adamant in her refusal, she stood and shook her head. She wouldn’t divulge Michael’s secrets. Nevertheless, her actions prevented her from ever taking her place beside her siblings again. “My presence will ruin Faith and Julia. Michael will take care of them. After they marry, Bennett will come home.”

He turned away, but not fast enough. Crimson colored his cheeks.

“What is it?” Immediately, she dreaded asking the question.

“You—” His voice softened in sympathy. “You have several notes from the merchants in Leyton. They no longer need your assistance in keeping their books.”

Stunned, she couldn’t say a word. The rancid rumors had reached Leyton before she did. Her plans to rebuild her life were destroyed. She’d thought to start a full-time bookkeeping business in Leyton and use those wages as a way to pay the money back from the trust she’d borrowed.

“Oh.” That’s all she could manage when the truth assailed her.

She wasn’t simply ruined.

She was a pariah.

Earlier, when she disembarked the Langham carriage, the laborers close to the house didn’t acknowledge her or even look her way in greeting. People she’d known all her life looked through her as if she were invisible. She’d been cut before, but never from the kinsfolk she’d been raised to respect and taught to be kind to.

“Let me pay it back,” he offered.

Confused, she searched his face. “How could you?”

Hart dipped his head and studied his entwined hands. “Erlington left me his holdings in the United States. He has a collection of wool mills in Massachusetts worth over two hundred thousand pounds. I had no idea he had that type of fortune.”

She shook her head at the heady sum. Hart’s wealth exceeded most of the nobles in the aristocracy. “That’s yours?”

“Not all of it. Erlington gave you twenty-five percent.”

“What?” Her pulse raced at such an unimaginable figure. “Fifty thousand pounds?”

“Indeed.” Sadness dulled his smile. They both would have preferred if Hart’s lover was still alive and in possession of his own fortune. “He wanted you to have it. He shared he’d never forget your kindness and how loving you were to us. His brother, the Marquess of Haviland, will not fight Erlington’s wishes.” He took one of her hands and squeezed. “Haviland was there, and I’m relieved to say we both appreciated each other’s company during Erlington’s final days.”

“I’m sure you both brought each other comfort during the most difficult of times,” she whispered.

“Come to Boston with me,” he offered.

“What?” she asked incredulously. “Why?”

“You could be my bookkeeper and help manage the mills. You know wool and have experience negotiating prices. We can run them together.”

“I don’t think—”

“What if you’re carrying his child?” Hart asked softly. He didn’t mean to wound her, but the words stole her breath.

“No, it can’t be.” She shook her head in denial. Her luck couldn’t be that bad. She moaned at the unfairness of it all. Yes, luck had always been a fickle friend.

“Either way, it would allow you a new life, a new opportunity to find happiness. You could come live with me.”

His offer was sincere and proof that March had one friend she could rely on. Yet, she couldn’t fathom leaving Faith, Julia, and Bennett to face the wreckage she had caused.

As if hearing her thoughts, Hart added, “It might give some much needed distance between your siblings and the scandal. You could return to Lawson Court in a year or so.”

“You think it wise?” she whispered.

“Yes. McCalpin promised he’d take care of them for you.” He kissed her cheek and stood. “I’m leaving in two days. Consider it. We’ll talk tomorrow.”

Once again, her gaze drew to the fire as if Hell called for her. What choice did she have? She had no place here in England—no safe sanctuary and no one to help her except for Hart.

Suddenly, Maximus jumped and settled on her lap. With a soft purr, he gently kneaded her legs as if offering comfort.

She closed her eyes to stop the onslaught of tears as she stroked his soft fur. She’d have to leave her family with Michael.

She’d already left her heart with him.

And he didn’t want it.





Chapter Twenty-Three