Page 108 of The Earl Takes All
Stepping back, Edward said, “Edward will suffice.”
Locke looked at him, looked at Julia. “So you know.”
“All of London knows,” she admitted.
He grimaced. “That couldn’t have been very pleasant.”
“Might be a while before I again stand up in the House of Lords to make a statement,” Edward assured him.
Shaking his head, Locke laughed. “I wouldn’t put it past you to be telling them tales next year.” Leaning in, he bussed a kiss over Julia’s cheek. “Welcome to Havisham Hall. My father has been beside himself with the thought of your arrival. He’s actually made a rare departure from his rooms and is waiting for us on the terrace.”
As the Marquess of Marsden pushed himself out of his chair, Edward was taken aback by how frail he appeared, and yet he hardly seemed to have changed. His white hair hung past his shoulders in limp strands, his cheeks as sunken as they’d been the day he met him. His green eyes as sharp. They could fool a person into thinking he still had all his wits about him.
He held his arms wide. “Edward.”
He went to Marsden, let him fold his arms around him. The marquess’s hold was stronger, more powerful, than he’d expected, Marsden’s arthritic hands gently patting his back.
“Sorry, lad, sorry,” he rasped in a voice that had gone permanently hoarse from all the times he’d screamed his love’s name as he’d raced over the moors, firm in his belief that he saw her, that he could reunite with her.
The tears of sadness threatened as Edward hugged the thin, bent man who had been like a father to him and Albert. “He went quickly.” The lie on his tongue was beginning to resound as though it were the truth.
But when he leaned back, he saw in Marsden’s eyes that the marquess recognized the lie for what it was: an attempt to spare him the pain of the truth. Giving his head an almost imperceptible shake, he patted Edward’s cheek, censure in the flatness of lips. He’d forgotten that Marsden had always known when one of them lied, had never approved, but he knew the old man would hold the secret, that he understood it was for Julia.
Looking past Edward, Marsden smiled sadly and held out a hand. “My dear.”
Julia went to him, placed her gloved hand in his. He brought it to his lips. “It is not easy to be the one left behind.”
She darted a glance at Edward. “No, it’s not, but Edward has proven to be a great source of strength.”
“Albert was destined to go young, you know. Had an old soul, like my wife. I could see it in his eyes. But it doesn’t make us miss them any less, does it?”
“It absolutely does not.”
He raised a gnarled finger. “But he left you a precious gift.”
Her smile was brighter than the sun. “Yes, he did.” Taking Allie from the nanny who was standing nearby, she turned back to Marsden. “I’d like to introduce you to Lady Alberta.”
“Beautiful child, beautiful.” He lifted hopeful eyes. “May I hold her? I won’t drop her.”
“Yes, of course.” Very carefully she transferred Allie into Marsden’s arms.
He lowered his head. “Hello, precious.”
Allie emitted a high-pitched sound that very much resembled a laugh.
Her eyes wide, Julia chuckled. “She’s never done that before, has she, Edward?”
“No, she hasn’t. Not that I’ve heard.”
Marsden winked. “I have a way with the ladies.” He looked at Locke. “You need one of these. Except it should be a boy. They could marry.”
Locke merely rolled his eyes, crossed his arms over his chest and looked out over the vast expanse of land that stretched toward the horizon, as though he wished to distance himself from his father and his pointed words.
“Lady Greyling, have some tea with me and tell me everything about her,” Marsden insisted.
“You must call me Julia,” she said as she took a chair.
Holding Allie close, obviously not yet ready to relinquish his hold on her, Marsden sat. Edward and Locke joined them, although most of the conversation was carried by Marsden and Julia. He truly did seem to want to know everything about Allie, although at this point in her life there wasn’t a good deal to tell. Still, Julia went to great pains to expand on any question the marquess asked.
