Page 63 of A Virgin for the Duke of Scars
Juliette had smiled when she saw the color rise in Theresa’s cheeks.
Theresa was certain her sister-in-law knew what they had done.
I am a married woman. This is my duty,she reminded herself.
“You must be exhausted,” Juliette told her. “Your first garden party in London. I would be tired, too. Travel safely, then. We will take good care of Ashball until we return.”
Theresa and Aaron then hurried to the stables and waited for the grooms to retrieve their horses and saddle them for the ride home.
Theresa stifled a yawn. Juliette was right—tonight had been a monumental feat for a little nun who had grown up in a convent.
She had curtsied and met so many people. She had spent time with her husband and had not embarrassed him in front of his friends. It was, all in all, a massive success.
“Your Grace, the horses are ready,” a groom said as he emerged from the stables with their horses, clutching the reins in each hand.
“May I steal you for a moment, Your Grace?” A voice suddenly called from behind them.
Theresa did not want to meet any more people tonight. The only thing she wanted to do was mount her horse, ride back to Blackwell Manor, and retreat to her chambers. Better yet, she would spend more time with her husband.
But something about the imploring tone made her turn around.
“Father.”
Lord Wyndham looked down at the ground, a bit sheepish to have been greeted as such by his long-lost daughter. Perhaps she should have addressed him by his title. She had no idea how to proceed in this kind of situation.
He was her father, and yet he was not.
Aaron stiffened at her side. She sensed that he was about to tell him something, but then her father asked, “Are you happy in your new life, Theresa?”
“I am satisfied with my new life,” she replied. She looked at Aaron, only to find him watching her carefully. “Not thanks to you.”
“I am sorry for the way things transpired.” The Marquess hesitated. “Your mother did not know what I had planned for your wedding day. Do not be angry with her. As soon as Hope sent word about her whereabouts, your mother left to be with her.”
Theresa bit her lip. Part of her wanted to be sad for her father. Both his wife and daughter had left him. The other part reminded her that it was because of his actions that he was now alone at Wyndham Park.
She pictured his face on her wedding day as he took her arm and forced her down the aisle. The stony look on his face,the determination in his eyes. She could not muster up any sympathy for him, as sad as that sounded.
“Perhaps some distance would do you all good,” she offered. “For what it is worth, I forgive you, Father. I have met people who truly care for me, thanks to your actions.”
The Marquess gave her a smile that did not reach his eyes. It was bitter, strained, pained.
“Perhaps when this is all over, and your mother and sister come back home, we can spend some time together and get to know each other as a family.”
“I would like that,” Theresa said.
At that moment, Midnight whinnied, as if reminding her that she and Aaron were supposed to be leaving for home. A home that she would not have found, were it not for the role her father had played.
“We must take our leave, Father,” she said, accepting the reins of her horse from Aaron. “I am sure you will understand.”
Aaron helped her up onto her horse.
The Marquess looked shocked that her husband would permit her to ride alongside him. She remembered that he had insisted on the carriage the day of their wedding. He did not know the first thing about her.
She and Aaron took off at a leisurely canter. They would not pick up speed until they were on the main road back to Blackwell Manor.
They had been riding in silence for some time when Aaron finally spoke up.
“Did you mean what you told your father? About the people who care for you?”
