Page 93 of Anything But a Duke
Lady Josephine simply nodded in reply. She started for the door, but then pivoted on her heel to face him again. “If there is ever anything I might do for you, Mr. Iverson, please know that I would assist you if you’re in need. We never knew each other, but we are family by blood.”
Aidan had the mad impulse to embrace Lady Josephine. Not because there was any true familial tenderness between them, but because she was his sister and she had come to tell him as much when she might have kept the secret of her father’s bastard children forever. He knew that the earl’s illness and imminent death was what freed her, and he felt a swell of sympathy for her, despite their difference in history and circumstances.
“You may call on me too, my lady. I have only money to offer, but if you’re ever in need, you know where to find me.”
Beyond the dark lace of her veil, her mouth curved in a momentary smile. “Good day to you.”
Aidan dropped into his office chair the minute the door shut behind her. He had answers now, but they brought no real peace.
The guilt he’d felt for years sharpened into a pain that pierced him through. He should have known that mad flare of hope he’d felt in Callihan’s lodging house was folly. Every newspaper account had made clear that none had survived the workhouse fire.
He slid a hand across his desk and rested his palm on the carved box that held the only memento he would ever have of Sarah. Lifting the delicate scrap from its resting place, he thought back on his few precious memories of her. He smiled remembering her dimpled grin.
He’d never been able to see her grow up, to see her become the kind and clever woman she would have been. Aidan swallowed hard to hold back the sting of tears. He bit into his lower lip and struggled to draw breath past the searing ache behind his ribs.
“I’m sorry, Sarah,” he whispered to the drawing she’d once made for him. “I would have come back for you.”
Returning the drawing back to its resting place, he let out a shaky breath. He needed to lay Sarah to rest too. He’d never provided her the memorial he should have. Now he had answers. He knew who their father was and what had become of their mother. It was time to remember Sarah as she deserved.
He stood and retrieved the old fiddle from the carpet. Smashing the damned thing would have brought momentary relief, but it wouldn’t erase his history. Those days of struggling and regret were his forever, a part of who he was and why he’d climbed as high as he had.
He could answer the question now.Who are your people?But it changed nothing about who he’d become and what he wanted.
Why in the hell had he ever cared about being accepted by noblemen like his father? Men who would use a woman and discard her. Men who used their privilege to hide their sins.
His goals seemed frivolous now. Belonging to an exclusive club. Currying the favor of men involved with the prince’s exhibition.
None of it mattered as much as Diana. Just the thought of her made his heart beat faster, and everything became clear.
She was what he needed. Loving her and spending the rest of his days by her side were the only goals worth pursuing.
After replacing the violin in the cabinet, he collected the invitation from Elizabeth Thorndyke that lay at the corner of his desk.
He’d told Diana he would meet with her friend, but there was no question of a match with the lady, with any other woman but Diana. He could no longer imagine marriage as a simple transaction or practical exchange.
But he was still a practical man. And he’d always been fond of conquering two problems with a single tool. If he attended the ball, he could keep to his word to Diana and she could fulfill her promise to her friend.
But most importantly, he’d have a chance to see her again.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Diana escaped to the back garden as soon as she arrived at Bess’s town house. She knew she should go back inside and assist with whatever preparations might be needed for the ball, but the cool air was preferable to an overheated drawing room. And being alone with her thoughts was far easier than pretending she was excited about the prospect of a successful match between Grace and Aidan.
Diana wanted to wish Grace well. She wanted Aidan to have all that he’d desired.
She also wanted to return to her workshop and keep herself busy so she didn’t have to think about any of it.
“I know people say I’m a terrible gambler...” Dominick said as he stepped into the garden to join her.
“That’s because youarea terrible gambler.”
He sniffed haughtily as he came to stand beside her. “I did acknowledge that people say so. But if I admit to being bad at games of chance, you’ll have to admit you’re a dreadful liar.”
“I’m not a liar at all.”
“What would you call this then?” He nudged his chin to indicate the gathering inside.
“A reunion and ball with my closest friends from finishing school.”
