Page 108 of The Secret Love of a Gentleman
‘Do you think it was Kilbride?’
‘You must swear to do nothing.’
‘I swear,’ his father agreed, resting a palm on his chest, over his morning coat, over his heart.
Rob nodded. ‘He saw me speaking to Caro. I think he sent men to attack me.’
‘What did you speak to Caroline about?’
Rob sighed, pain clenching about his heart. ‘We had talked about an engagement. At the ball, she refused and asked me to wait a year or more. We became close in the summer and she came to town to see me.’
‘You are young to think of marriage.’
‘That is what Caro said, and yet she said she loved me. When she danced with Kilbride, it hurt that I could not prevent it without causing gossip. I planned a long engagement but I wanted it to be public, and no longer our secret.’ Emotionsclasped at Rob’s throat. He swallowed. ‘She said we should wait.’
‘Did she know about your desire to work in politics?’
He nodded.
‘Then, perhaps, she wanted to give you the chance to succeed without being forced to rely on us to support a wife. She must have seen how much you hate letting any of the family help you.’
‘I told her we would live on John’s allowance if we must.’
‘Onyourallowance. You have a right to it. John’s inheritance came fromyourgrandfather. Why should you not benefit?’
Rob sighed. John had said the same. He held his father’s gaze, as a melee of doubt, hope and despair battled in his head.
‘Perhaps she was afraid that if she married you your desire for independence would resurface at some point; that later you might regret giving up your dreams and blame her.’
Rob wished she was here to be asked. ‘I did not say I would give up my dreams, I would have pursued them anyway.’
His father smiled. ‘I am sure you would. But she has lived through one marriage that did not turn out as she imagined.’
‘I know. I have thought that.’
‘If she asked you for time to be convinced, Robbie, my advice would be that you sort out this lease for Robert’s property, and have the house made ready, as long as you will be able to run for Parliament from there. The doctor said you are to remain in bed for six weeks and put no weight on that leg. When you are healed, she will have had a chance to miss you.’ He smiled. ‘Go to see her then, tell her what you have planned, and speak about when she will agree to an engagement. If Caro came to London to see you, the woman who a few months ago would have hidden from both of us, she must want to be with you.’
‘I want her to marry me as soon as I am well.’
‘Then I hope she agrees. I will continue to give you advice,and you may choose to take it or not. I promise not to lead your life for you. It sounds as though you have it planned out well enough. Rest now and read your letters.’ His father stood. ‘If you wish to reply to any of them, ask your mother for help when she sits with you later.’
Rob nodded. ‘Thank you. I do value your advice, Papa.’
His father smiled, then left Rob alone.
Rob opened one of Mary’s letters first.
My dearest brother,
We are so sorry we rushed off without a goodbye.
Andrew said that you would understand, but I fear you must think us awful, and Caro too, especially when you two have been so close.
You will write to me, won’t you? We will probably not come to town again until next spring, so you must not be a stranger, you must come and visit us.
Your loving sister,
Mary
