Page 70 of For a Lady's Fiery Heart

Caroline’s mother covered her mouth with her hands and began to cry. Her father looked up at her grimly. It had been rare that she had ever seen her father’s eyes look so clear, void of the effects of liquor and too much carousing. He furrowed his brow and looked as if he might cry as well. However, he sniffed back the emotion and shook his head. “No. I do not deserve this.” He tried to hand the money back to her.

Caroline and James again exchanged glances. This is not what she had been expecting at all. “Whatever do you mean, Papa? Lord Highclere got the money out of the bank himself and gave it to us to return to you. We thought you would be pleased.”

Her father sank onto the couch. “I do not deserve it,” he said, looking angry. Caroline could not understand. After a moment, he looked up at her. “My recklessness cost you your freedom, my child. You cannot know how this has haunted me–the idea of it!” He broke then, tears streaming down his old, lined face. Caroline’s heart broke, for she had never seen her father cry–at least not like this.

Caroline knelt in front of him, resting a hand over his. “Papa?”

Her father looked up at James and then down at her, touching her cheek tenderly.

“Oh, my child. I forced you to wed against your will. And now you come back and tell me that it was all for nought? If I had not been so deep into my cups, I would have realised I was being cheated. I would not even be at that game–” he wailed. “I am not blaming Lord Highclere, mind you, Viscount Hereford. He had every right–”

“No, he did not,” James said firmly.

Caroline squeezed her father’s hand. “Papa, I forgive you,” she said softly. Her father stilled, and Caroline took a moment to look up at James over her shoulder. “Marrying James was the best decision I have ever made. How can I be angry that you encouraged me to marry a man who is so kind and generous and noble?”

Her father let out a laugh of disbelief. “Truly?” he asked. “I had hoped that in time you would come to love each other. But with the rocky start you both had, I was unsure my hopes would ever come to pass. I have felt so guilty these last months.”

“There is no need for guilt anymore, Papa,” Caroline smiled. Tears smarted her own eyes. “I love you, Papa.”

Her father looked stunned. He glanced at her mother, taking her hand. He then leaned forward and hugged Caroline, wrapping his free arm around her. She lay her head on his chest as she had done when she was a child and breathed in the familiar scent of tobacco and the outdoors. “I love you, too, child,” he whispered against her hair.

After a few moments, her mother gently pushed her father aside and hugged Caroline in turn. Her father stood and shook hands with James. “I am indebted to you, my son,” her father said.

Grace was a heap of tears as well, and they all took turns hugging each other. Laughter soon filled the room, and it felt as if a huge weight had been lifted off of all of them.

“I want to apologise once more for my father. I realise he should be the one to say it, but–”

“Indeed he should,” a voice sounded at the parlour door, and they all turned in tandem. Grace gasped, and Caroline felt the heat rising in her cheeks. Would her father-in-law make a scene in front of her family?

“Now, Father–” James said, stepping forward, but Lord Highclere held up his hand.

“No, son. You are right. It should be me,” he said softly. He walked around James and came to stand in front of Caroline’s father. They all held their breath as they waited to see what Lord Highclere would say.

“I am at fault,” Lord Highclere began. He glanced at James, looking embarrassed. “I cheated you, and that was wrong. I have had a lot of time to think over the last week. I realise the error of my ways, and while James was the one to force me to sign over the deed and said I should return the money to you, it should have been my idea. My son is a much better man than I.”

Caroline thought her father looked like a gentle breeze could have blown him over, so shocked was he. “Well, I–” he stuttered. “I forgive you, Lord Highclere. And I thank you for returning Pembroke to me.”

“Of course,” Lord Highclere said. “I know it is very late in coming, but I would like to think I can still learn to do better in the future.” He took a deep breath and looked at Caroline. “And now, one more apology that has been far too long in coming.”

Caroline came over to stand beside James, and his father faced them both. “It was wrong of me to invite Lady Beatrice to stay with us. I knew her intentions, and I allowed her to come and try to wreck your marriage because I did not want to say no to a friend. I am sorry.” He hung his head. “I am proud to have you as my daughter-in-law.”

She smiled. “Thank you, Lord Highclere,” she replied. “Well, this has turned out better than I could have ever imagined!” she exclaimed. She turned to James, who drew her into his arms. At first, Caroline was a little embarrassed to be in such an intimate embrace in front of her family, but soon she only had eyes for James.

He touched her cheek. “Thank you for not giving up on me, Caroline,” he said.

“Likewise,” Caroline smiled. He leaned down, kissing her gently. Her heart swelled, warmth spreading through her middle. James was not perfect by any means, just as she was not. But he was the perfect man for her.

THE END