“Michael knows.”
A shiver stole across Wilhelmina’s shoulders. “I beg your pardon?”
“I didn’t want to enter into my marriage with a lie, so I confided everything in him.”
“Oh God.”
“Don’t worry, Mama. I swore him to secrecy, but maybe you can take comfort in his reaction. He actually applauded you for your selflessness and begged me to let him tell his father. He’s certain the truth will alter Mr. Dale’s opinion of you for the better.”
“I cannot risk it,” Wilhelmina said. “And you had no right to betray my trust.”
“I’m sorry, Mama.”
Wilhelmina dug her nails into her palms and fought the urge to scream. The secret she’d carefully guarded for more than two years had been shared with someone she barely knew. Control had been removed from her grasp and the realization made her feel like she was spinning. “We were wrong to confide in you.”
A pained look stole into Cynthia’s eyes. “Don’t say that, Mama.”
“You’re too young – too naïve to appreciate the repercussions of your actions.”
“I’m sorry, but Michael can be trusted. I assure you.”
Wilhelmina closed her eyes for a second. “You cannot assure me of any such thing.”
“Mama…”
“We will return to Renwick. Once there we’ll arrange for you to go back to London. The sooner you re-enter Society, the quicker you’ll find a husband. That will be your goal from now on – to marry and get yourself settled as fast as possible, before the decisions George and I made destroy whatever remaining chance you have of securing a happy future.”
As much as James wished he was inside the carriage with Mina, he was glad to be able to race alongside it. The exertion did him good. It cleared his head and brought the last few days with her into focus. His heart pounded with each heavy hoofbeat, drumming a rhythm that spurred him onward. He glanced across at Michael whose stark expression suggested his thoughts were elsewhere. Tightening his hold on the reins, James returned his own to the woman who’d not only charmed him, but captured his heart.
The fact she would rather end things between them – walk away from him forever – than take a chance on being honest, angered him in the most unexpected way. Before, when he’d thought she was just like Clara, he’d loathed her. Now that he knew she was anything but, he wanted to try and find a way for them to nurture their relationship rather than see it destroyed. He’d no idea how to do such a thing without getting targeted by the gossips and bringing scandal to his name, but maybe if they worked together they could figure it out.
She didn’t want that though. In fact, she had every intention of keeping him in the dark and in so doing, of forcing distance where there had been closeness that very morning.
He cursed her stubbornness and the loyalty she seemed to have for a man who’d since taken off to God knew where. James had not seen Mr. Hewitt’s name in the papers since the divorce was announced, whereas Mina’s kept popping up. Apparently there was an interest in knowing what a treacherous woman got up to and how many times she’d been cut in public. Mr. Hewitt, however, was allowed to move on with his life with no concern for the damage done to Mina. James hated him more with each passing second.
A village came into view and James slowed his horse to a trot. Michael did the same, and together they followed the carriage’s progress through the narrow main street.
“I trust your opinion of Mrs. Lawson has changed since last we spoke,” Michael said while they rode. When his horse shook its head and snorted, Michael leaned forward to stroke its neck. “The two of you seem surprisingly amicable with each other.”
James swung his gaze toward his son. “What makes you say that?”
“Maybe the fact that you called her Mina? A bit familiar, wouldn’t you say, seeing as you have claimed her to be the most awful woman in existence besides Mama.”
“I’ll admit she’s not as bad as I initially believed,” James said with a shrug. He’d barely gotten used to liking her more than what was wise and was not about to share the struggle he now faced with his son of all people.
“No. She’s not,” Michael said with a hint of suggestiveness. “In fact, she’s probably the best person there is.”
James raised an eyebrow. “Why would you think that?”
Michael’s lips twisted. He seemed to consider how to respond. “Cynthia told me everything, but she swore me to secrecy, so I cannot share what you don’t already know.”
How bloody perfect.
“Not very helpful,” James muttered.
“I know, and I’m sorry, but you can trust me when I tell you that you have seriously misjudged Mrs. Lawson.”
“I know that much already. She’s not the cavorting wife she and her husband gave her out to be, but I cannot for the life of me figure out why she would willingly go along with a scheme that was destined to make her suffer.” James met Michael’s gaze. “Her refusal to tell me irritates me to no end.”
“Because you care for her?”
James expelled a heavy sigh and allowed a nod to reveal the contents of his heart. “More than I ever thought possible.”
“Then you must fight for her, Papa.”
“How?” The magnitude of what Michael suggested, what he himself had considered, was daunting. “Even if there’s a different reality hiding behind her façade, it won’t make any difference with her reputation torn to shreds. It’s unsalvageable, which prevents me from having any kind of respectable relationship with her. Hell, she’s not even fit to be my mistress – not that I would suggest such a thing, mind you – but it does indicate how bad the situation is.”
“It seems to me you’ve given up trying to win her before you’ve begun.”
“What would you have me do, Michael?” It was odd asking his son for advice on such a personal matter, but it also felt good. Especially since it seemed like forever since they’d last bonded over something.
“Figure out what’s more important to you, a life with Mrs. Lawson by your side or your reputation. If you cannot have both, then ask yourself which would enrich your life more? Which one would you regret losing the most? And before you answer, bear in mind that you don’t have to live in London and you don’t have to work for a living, which allows you the freedom to give that life up for her if you choose.” When James kept silent, Michael asked, “Have you assured her you would stand by her regardless of what the truth may be?”
James frowned. “How can I make such a promise without knowing what the truth is?”
“Honestly, Papa,” Michael said as if he were the parent and James the child, “for a man of your intelligence, you can be extraordinarily thickheaded at times.”
Surprised by the set-down, James couldn’t help but smile a little. “Have a little respect, will you?”
Michael rolled his eyes. “It’s no wonder she hasn’t confided in you. How can she when she can’t be sure she can trust you?’
James blinked. “Of course she can trust me.” When Michael gave him a skeptical look he hastened to add, “While I cannot say how I’ll feel about the information, I would never betray her confidence.”