Miss Stern’s jaw dropped for a second before she recovered herself. “They were caught together? No one told me that part.”
“They were. But as I said, I was not there, and I really didn’t know her. I wanted to believe it was true. That she was so desperate to marry, she would do something like that to catch a husband. Knowing Merton as I did—he and I had been friends since we were children—I knew he was too honorable not to wed her. Not only that, but I knew she was not on his list. Suffice it to say that Merton and I were very high sticklers. We were members of the Tory party and believed many things I now think are not only questionable but wrong. I digress.”
A line formed between Miss Stern’s brows. “How did you meet him?”
“I was a second son with not much to do. My family did not have any traditional professions for second sons. I was introduced to him as a suitable friend.” He sipped his tea, glad that it wasn’t brandy or he’d never get through this. “I suppose that is a much longer story.” Nate really did not want to have to bear his soul, but pressed on. “I was also jealous of your sister. Merton had come to Town to find a bride with his list of suitable ladies. As far as I knew, your sister was anything but suitable, yet he was determined to marry her.” Nate took a large drink of tea and drained the cup.
“You thought you were losing your best friend?” Miss Stern asked.
“Yes, and to a scheming woman.” Part of the pain Nate had felt rose up. Instead of helping he’d lost his only real friend. “I later discovered that they were in love. We had both been raised to think love matches were vulgar, and it never occurred to me he was in love. Then, suddenly, there was a wedding date. Ergo, when the lady approached me with her story I wanted to believe that I was saving him from marrying someone who would make his life miserable by taking your sister out of Town until after the date of the wedding. When I planned the—the abduction it honestly never occurred to me that I might hurt her reputation. When she mentioned it I had a twinge of conscience, but continued on. None of it was well done of me. I truly never dreamed Merton would come after her.”
“And she escaped herself.” Miss Stern smiled again.
“Did she?” Nate couldn’t help but smile at the news. “Your sister is an extremely resourceful lady. After my mother was told what I’d done she sent me back to Ouse Tower and refused to allow me to return to Town until I mended my ways.” He gave her a rueful grin. “You see, she was, and still is, my trustee. It took me almost a year before I stopped resisting my punishment. After that I dived into what I needed to learn and had not. I understood how much better I could make the lives of not only my dependents, but others in the neighborhood by helping anyone who would let me. I learned the difference between giving a person something and allowing them to keep their pride by not helping too much, or in a more creative way. I also learned to recognize when a family was in danger of starving and would go hungry if I did not find a way to feed them.”
She nodded slowly. “I was raised knowing the difference, but I have seen Merton struggle with the concept. Thank God he finally learned.”
“I have not had any contact with him since . . . since then.” Nate pressed his lips together for a moment. It had taken him too long to realize that if he was not a peer, his punishment would have been much harsher. “I deeply regret what I did. But I do not know how to make up for it.”
Henrietta had to think, and she needed to do it quickly. He had done something horrible. Yes, it had been based on a lie he was told, but he was still responsible for his actions. She wanted to believe that given the same choice now, he would do the right thing. That he had truly changed. The problem was, how was she to be certain? “Can you tell me more about the day in Whitechapel?”
Fotherby seemed grateful to change the topic. “Of course. A year prior, shortly after the young woman had been made to leave her home, a neighbor of mine, a gentleman farmer, asked for my help in contacting a runner. I found someone who could give me a name, and I hired the man. I did not tell the farmer the full cost. I was fairly sure he could not afford it. When we found the woman and her child, I offered to bring him to Town. I, or rather my mother, had horses stationed at posting inns along the way. His wife insisted on taking their own coach, but I tried to ensure that her travel was easier.” Lord Fotherby smiled. “I’m glad she accepted the assistance. In any event, the woman we were searching for was to have married his eldest son, but the son died before they could wed. The man’s plan was to have her accept the family’s name as if she had been married and raise the child as his heir. He wrote me saying all was well.” Nate shook his head. “He did not like accepting my assistance. He would rather there was no peerage. Fortunately, he does not know the whole.”
“That you paid most of the fee.” Henrietta couldn’t stop her grin. “My father is also a Radical. He was not at all happy Merton is a marquis.”
Fotherby took her hands, warming them as no other gentleman had done before, and sending tingles through her body. His face, his eyes, were so intent, she almost backed away. “The night I was able to assist you. That is the man I have become. I hope you can bring yourself to believe me.”
Henrietta thought she did believe him. And she liked what she saw. Yet that was only part of the battle. If she decided to see where, if anywhere, this led, she would be going against her family’s desires. She had been raised to put her family and her community first. Fotherby, even a friendship with him, would violate that tenant of her upbringing. Unless she could bring her sister and Merton around. She wanted to slide a glance at her friends, but Lord Fotherby’s focus on her was so strong she could feel him.
She raised her gaze to his and became distracted by how beautiful his turquoise eyes were. They looked like the water in a painting of the West Indies she had once seen. “I do think you have told me the truth. From what I have heard about you, I am certain you have changed as well. But despite my going out to rescue children, I am rather careful.” She frowned to herself. How best to put this? “You, my lord, are a complication. No, that’s not the right word.”
“I am a problem you might not want to take on?” His tone was soft . . . and dolorous. The sadness twisted her heart.
“I do not think it is that either. I cannot simply ask you to tea.” Henrietta did not even want to know what her sister would say if he simply showed up at Merton House.
“No. I do understand that would not be possible.” He looked and sounded a little more hopeful. “Perhaps we can get to know each other. Slowly. After all, the Season has not yet begun in earnest.”
He was so handsome. She had not got that impression from the people she had spoken with. He seemed to have been a bit ridiculous before. “I think we can do that.”
The tension visibly left him. His shoulders dropped, and the tightness around his eyes and mouth—she really did not need to think about his perfectly formed mouth—dissolved. “Thank you.”
Henrietta had never been drawn to a man before. Part of her wanted to argue with the fates, why him? She gave herself an inner shrug. Now she did glance at her friends, who she caught sliding looks at her and Fotherby. “We must go about this, whatever this is, carefully. I will not lie to my sister, but nor do I wish to get into a confrontation with her.” Dorie and Georgie would have ideas about how to avoid that. “Let us go back to the others.”