For her part, Cressida had told Callie part of the truth about their father. She revealed that he had blackmailed people, including old Mr. Lacey, but she never mentioned what he had done to Alec. Callie would have been too horrified and guilt-stricken by that knowledge, and it was over in any event. Papa was dead. Cressida was content to bury his sins with him, and let her family embrace their lives to come, instead of regret the life Papa had lived.
And now, today, they had solved the last part of the puzzle. Cressida knew Alec and James had engaged investigators to find Isabella Lacey months ago. He and James had intended to provide a comfortable annuity for her and her son, until old Mr. Lacey sent them a terse note indicating his desire to settle five thousand pounds on his grandson. Perhaps it was the closest the old man could come to any apology for his actions. He had left Marston soon after that dreadful day at his house, when all the festering secrets had been spilled, and no one had been sorry to see him go. Alec and James had carried on with their plan to find Mrs. Lacey, and agreed they would contribute another five thousand pounds.
Cressida smiled as she watched Alec laugh at something James was relating, some prank the three of them had played as lads. William listened raptly, exclaiming in delight, and Alec tousled the boy’s hair when he grew too excited. This was the last ghost to exorcise, the fulfillment of his long-ago promise to a friend. And to see him do it with such compassion and decency made her heart almost burst with love for the man she had married.
Finally it was time to say their farewells. Young William hooted with delight when James Peterbury promised to call on them again soon, but fell silent as Alec motioned him over.
“This is for you,” he told the boy. “Your father made it many years ago, and I have been keeping it for you.”
William’s eyes were as round as saucers as he took the carved wooden horse. “Did my papa really make it?”
“He did,” Alec assured him. “Right before he met your mother.”
Solemnly the child carried it to his mother. “It is an Andalusian horse,” she told him with a smile. “They live near my home in Spain.” She turned to Alec, her eyes glistening. “Thank you, sir—he never knew his father, but he will never forget this day.”
As they all walked out into the late afternoon sunshine, a closed carriage started down the lane. Glossy and expensive, it rolled slowly past. The driver made no sign of stopping, but as it passed Mrs. Lacey’s small cottage, the curtain fluttered open. A pale face appeared at the glass for just a moment, and then the carriage was gone, continuing down the road out of town.
Cressida watched the carriage rumble away. It looked small and lonely against the wide, barren heath in front of it, as if it were driving into oblivion. “That was old Mr. Lacey, wasn’t it?”
Alec nodded. “It was.”
She looked up at her husband. “You let him see the boy.”
“Just once. He deserves to see what he lost.”
“Yes.” She sighed.
He took her hand between his. “I am sorry you noticed him,” he began.
Cressida shook her head. “No. Don’t be sorry. I could never face him again, but you were right to let him see his only grandson.”
“He gave his word not to come near them again. As far as they know, he is dead. If he chooses to leave William any more funds at his death, the solicitors will deal with it, and neither William nor his mother will ever know.”
Cressida looked over at young William Lacey, pretending to gallop his carved horse over the front step. “I’m glad he relented,” she said softly.
Alec took one look at the carriage, now tiny in the distance, and turned back to her. “I’m glad he’s gone,” he said bluntly. “I’ve more important people to deal with.”
“Mrs. Lacey—”
“Not Mrs. Lacey,” he interrupted her. “Did I not tell you? Peterbury offered to provide any assistance she needs.” He glanced at his friend, still deep in conversation with Mrs. Lacey. “He’s taken up the duty with commendable enthusiasm, it seems.”
Cressida recognized the wicked gleam in his eye. “Then who?”
He tilted his head. “A woman without equal. Intelligent, sensible, daring, kindhearted…and of course beautiful beyond my dreams.” Cressida blushed. “And the most seductive mouth I’ve ever seen,” he murmured. “When she blushes and smiles at me, my heart all but bursts.”
“What a woman,” she said with a laugh. “You must tell me if you ever find her.”
Alec leaned closer, until she could see every spark of love and happiness in the depths of his eyes. “I already have. And I’m never letting you go.”
About the Author
CAROLINE LINDEN knew from an early age she was a reader, but not a writer. Despite an addiction to Trixie Belden and Nancy Drew, she studied physics and dreamed of being an astronaut. She earned a math degree from Harvard College and then wrote software for a financial services firm, all the while reading everything in sight but especially romance. Only after she had children, and found herself with only picture books to read, did she begin to make up a story of her own. To her immense surprise, it turned out to be an entire novel—and it was much more fun than writing computer code. Now the author of five books, she lives with her family in New England. Please visit her online at www.carolinelinden.com.
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Romances by Caroline Linden
A VIEW TO A KISS
FOR YOUR
