Page 47 of Her Daring Earl
“Well,” Levi responded, “it would certainly become apparent in due time as to whether or not she is lying about being with child. Although if you waited to marry her, it would be fairly late and quite obvious as to what brought about your wedded bliss.”
Fitz nodded as Levi laid out all the arguments that he had been reviewing himself.
“As to whose baby it would be… I know that I cannot be certain, but from what Siena has told me about Eliza, I would have a hard time believing she was with another man and then contrived to trap you into this.”
“But you cannot be sure.”
“One can never be sure about anything.”
“How do I know?”
“At some point, I suppose you have to decide whether or not you trust her.”
Fitz shot him a hard look. “When did you become the voice of reason?”
Levi released a low chuckle. “I was always reasonable. I just decided to start sharing my thoughts since I have obviously made such wonderful choices myself.”
Fitz snorted as Levi turned to look at him more closely.
“How much does this have to do with Jessica?”
“I do not like to speak about her.”
“Of course you don’t. But this situation is remarkably similar.”
“Too similar,” Fitz said, shaking his head as they turned the horses back toward the house, although he wasn’t ready to enter it yet and face Eliza or any of his family.
“You are biased because of it.”
“How could I not be? Jessica did this very thing. She told me she was with child, and I nearly married her, until the father of her baby came to me and told me the truth of it all. That they were without means and had planned to use me to support the child.”
“How did you know that he wasn’t lying to you?” Levi asked, and Fitz pushed back the brim of his hat to meet his gaze.
“I felt it in my gut.”
“And you were right – that baby came just six months after you had been together.”
“Imagine if I had married her. What my life would be like.”
“You would have made it work.”
“Perhaps, but what life would that be, one built upon a foundation of lies – if she had even stayed?”
“Not a particularly pleasant one, I imagine,” Levi said, and they rode in silence for a few moments.
“After I escaped the trap, I told myself that when I did marry, it would be a practical, advantageous match. Yet here I am again.”
“What do you feel now? You said your gut reaction told you the truth before. What is it telling you now, about Eliza?”
Fitz closed his eyes, trusting his horse to know the way, before opening them and looking at Levi with clarity.
“She is not one to fabricate stories.”
Levi said nothing, waiting for Fitz to come to the realization himself.
“She’s telling the truth, isn’t she?”
Levi only stared at him with his one good eye, the other hidden by the eye patch.
