Page 42 of Lady Mary's May Day Mischief
He scoffed. “Ah. So you apologize but then wish to move me to your ends? Isn’t that the very thing you say you apologize for?”
“It is. But my intentions are good. Very well, as good—no, better than before! Yes. If you care for her. If you wish to be free of the past, then yes. Write to her. Set her free.”
“She has always been free to do as she wished.”
“No, she has not. She wishes to make amends to you. Wishes that you might allow it.”
“I bear her no ill will.”
“If so, please write and tell her so. She does not look for any other suitor. If you might find it in your heart to tell her you have moved on with your life, she might be able to as well.”
“You are aggressive, my lady.”
She had to swallow that insult, but state her case as best she might. “I fear I cannot change it, at least not for this request. I have wronged you, sir. And Millicent, too. I apologized to her years ago. Once more the other day. I should have done the same to you then, but had not realized the fullness of my mistake until recently.”
“The Courtlands’ event?”
“Yes.” That news had traveled far and wide.
“This visit was…unexpected of you. Thank you for coming.”
So he would give her no inkling of his actions. Very well. She would not belabor her point but picked up her walking stick and got to her feet. “You are welcome. I appreciate you receiving me.”
A smile flickered over his handsome mouth as he focused on her stick. “Is your affliction a treasure?”
She recognized his words as variation on a famous phrase of John Donne’s. “Never.”
He indicated his wounded arm. “I’ve had enough of mine.”
“I made mistakes because of mine. Interfering in others’ lives was one.”
“You won’t do it more?”
“Never.”
“Tell that to Lord Bridges, will you?”
That made her blink. “What?”
“I suggest you go to the Abbey soon.”
“I do. I planned it but…”
“He called here this morning. He needs to hear that you’ve been here and talked with me. Will you go?”
“I will.”
He grinned at her.
“Marvelous.” He stood. “So then, will you sit again for a few minutes? If you do, I’ll fill your glass and tell you what I plan to do now.”
* * *
As her coach passed her childhood home of ochre and red brick, she tingled with yearning to visit. She’d sent a letter to her cousin yesterday that she might be along today or tomorrow and she hoped she might prevail upon him to visit with him a night or two. Without any expectations that Blake would receive her, she thought to plan well before she returned to Bath. The carriage took her along the straight path to the front door of Lawton Abbey and her pulse picked up a pace. Unlike her other visits, she’d not sent advance notice to Blake she would arrive.
But it was late afternoon and the winds of dusk buffeted the coach and chilled her hopes of reconciliation.
“Good afternoon, Lady Mary!” The family butler helped her alight. He was a man who’d served as long as Mary could remember. Though he spotted her walking stick, he made no reference. A good thing. “Welcome to Lawton Abbey. We did not know you would visit.”
