Page 40 of A Well-Trained Lady

I was not prepared to encounter the sorrow that overcame Augustus’s features. “I did it for Ruth.”

“For Ruth?”

Augustus ran a hand through his hair. “Your mother threatened to ruin her reputation if I would not comply with her demands.”

His accusation hit me with such force I took a step back to compensate for it. “Surely you misunderstood. Papa adored Ruth. He would never have stood idly by and allowed her to come to harm. And Mother … she is harsh, but even she has limits.” Didn’t she?

His gaze bore into me. “Do you believe I would have given you up for any less of a consequence?”

My heart nearly burst at his declaration, and I moved my hand to cover the ache of it. “But why would they do such a thing?”

Augustus took a cautious step toward me, lifting a beckoning hand. “Bella, you are pale. Let us begin our walk back.”

I gave a slow shake of my head. “I need to know.”

“I would do anything to make amends for the hurt I have caused you. But I fear I cannot offer you more. I only have conjectures myself.”

I swallowed. “They never gave you a reason?”

Augustus shook his head. “Your mother only said that if either Ruth or I were to attempt to contact you, she would make certain we would be made to regret it.”

A rogue tear escaped down my cheek, but I didn’t wipe it away. “Was Ruth there to hear such a thing?”

“No.” He cautiously lifted his hand and wiped my tear with his thumb. His fingers lingered on my cheek. “Your father thankfully spared her that.”

“But surely she knows of it now?”

Augustus shook his head. “I fear I could not bring myself to tell her the truth. Not then … and not now.”

“But what of my letters? Did she not wonder—”

He glanced away, silencing my inquiry.

“You never gave them to her?” My voice sounded quiet and distant in my own ears.

“It was for the best. Ruth was too young to fully understand the consequence. She would have risked anything for your friendship.”

I gave an empty nod. With so many emotions circulating within me, I was uncertain which to give priority. I was livid that Augustus had allowed Ruth to believe she was forgotten, as I felt I had been. Yet I was relieved that Augustus had a reason for staying away, a reason I could not blame him for. Then there was the shame I felt at my parents’ actions, and the betrayal for the years they had spent convincing me that Ruth and Augustus had moved on with their lives without me.

“Come, Bella.” Augustus took hold of my arm, and this time I allowed him to lead me forward.

As we walked back in the direction we had come, my thoughts continued to whirl through my head. What would ever have caused Mother to be so severe, especially to someone as dear as Ruth? And how would she go about marring Ruth’s reputation anyway? Even if Mother had not liked her parents, as Papa had mentioned, it was not reason enough to see her ruined. “What are your conjectures?” I whispered, uncertain I wished to know.

Augustus’s gaze flitted to me. “Precisely that—conjectures.”

“Please, Augustus.”

He rubbed at his jawline with his free hand before looking down at me. “Are you aware of your father’s connection to my aunt?”

I clasped the pearl necklace at my throat. “Only that they were neighbors all their lives.”

“Perhaps I should not be the one to relay such—”

“If you refuse me, I shall likely never know.” Any other time I would have been mortified to hear the desperation in my voice, but in this moment I hardly cared.

After a moment, Augustus gave a brief nod of acknowledgment, apparently seeing the reality of my statement. “They were once set to be married.”

My eyes widened. “Mrs. Seton and my father were engaged?”