Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 95222 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 476(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95222 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 476(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
She softens before my eyes. ‘And whom are you talking about, son?’
She knows, but she would like to hear the word. ‘Taya, Mama. I am talking about Taya. They should be protecting her, not banishing her.’
‘And why, may I ask, is that?’
‘Because I love her,’ I say, startling myself. The words come without much thought, and Mama’s expression takes on an edge of sadness.
‘Then why, Frank, did you kiss Lizzy Fallow?’ She shakes her head in disappointment and leaves, closing the door softly behind her.
‘What?’ I breathe, confused. ‘Kiss Li …’ I inhale, memories of that night coming back to me, when Lizzy Fallow jumped on me. ‘Oh no. Oh, no, no, no.’ My head falls into my hands. ‘God dammit!’ I yell, mortified. What have I done? If I could only understand why Taya was there that night. If I could only explain why I was there. I quickly dress and go downstairs. I enter the study, finding Papa at the desk, a quill in his hand. He looks up and smiles. ‘Son.’
‘Papa,’ I say, closing the door. ‘Might I have a word?’
He rests his quill down and sits back, getting comfortable. ‘What is it, Frank? I am very busy.’
I scan his desk, where papers are strewn everywhere. ‘Yesterday’s sales?’
‘Eight thousand.’
I wince.
‘The Earl of Pembrokeshire has moved in across the square. Did you know that, Frank?’
‘I knew that.’
‘He’s biting at our heels, badgering the Duke for a printing machine.’ The distress on his face ages him ten years, and it is entirely my fault. Where does my stupidity end? ‘And what of his curricle. He claims you stole it.’
Technically, yes. But Clara crashed it. ‘I did not realise it was his curricle.’
‘What has got into you, Frank? I was full of hope and then … what? What happened?’
Love. I sigh, rubbing at my forehead. I may not be able to have my love, but I can protect her. I can at least do that, and then perhaps she won’t hate me, for she hates too many people and it must be draining. I could live with myself then, at least.
‘Frank?’ Papa says, and I look up at him. He recoils. ‘Are you all right? You look incredibly pale all of a sudden. Should I call a doctor?’
‘A doctor cannot cure me, Papa.’ I say, my mind whirling so fast, information landing in it too quickly for me to piece everything together.
‘What on earth are you talking about?’
‘I am in love, Papa,’ I blurt, unable to control my mouth as well as my thoughts, it seems. ‘I am madly in love, and I have made a thorough mess of it.’
‘In love? Who are you …’ He sits back in his chair. ‘Oh no.’
‘Oh yes,’ I say.
‘Oh no, no … wait. Does your mother know about this?’
‘I am afraid I cannot lie to you Papa. Yes, she does know, but I did not tell her, be sure of that, because, quite troublingly, I did not realise myself.’ I stand abruptly, my head still spinning. ‘I cannot save my heart, Papa, but I can save our business and hopefully the life of the woman I love.’ I motion to the quill in Papa’s hand. ‘May I?’
He looks down, as if he’s forgotten what he is holding, thinking, as if wondering if he should give it to me. ‘The life of the woman you love?’
‘You should speak to Mama.’
‘Do you know what you are doing?’
‘No.’
Papa laughs, shaking his head. ‘Not many men who are in love do, Frank.’ He passes the quill across the desk to me. ‘I trust you.’
It’s as if he knows that I need to hear those very words at this very moment. I dunk the quill in the ink well, pull a piece of paper towards me, and start writing the story that will save my business, my family, Taya, and, I pray, my heart.
I wake for the first time in too long with a fresh head and clear mind. I send word to Kip to saddle my horse, wash and dress in my finest threads, and pull on my gloves that Dalton hands me. ‘Where are you going?’ Mama asks.
‘I am going to fix what I have broken,’ I say, leaving the house, determined. Hopeful.
Praying I don’t bugger this up too.
First, I visit Eliza when I know her husband to be out for his morning ride, and, after she hears me out, she is more than helpful and very supportive of my plan. When I arrive at the stables, Figaro is ready and waiting for me. I take a leisurely trot to Kentstone’s to reassure Fleming I will return with the news he is waiting for. Once again, I have to talk myself down from blackening his daylights when I see a fresh collection of bruises on Ruby’s arms, but now, more than ever, I need Fleming, so I must battle with my morals for a little while longer.