Page 72 of The Earl and His Lady

It would be a selfish love, to wish that kind of loneliness on a person. Abigail hadn’t been a selfish person. Charles had been the opposite of selfish.

“My lady?”

Virginia nearly leaped back from the wall, her heart racing. She’d been so intent on her thoughts she hadn’t heard Gresham’s approach. She turned to him, trying to look unstartled.

“I apologize, my lady.” Gresham bowed, his bushy white brows furrowing in a contrite manner. “I did not mean to alarm you.”

“It’s quite all right, Gresham.” She tapped her chest, drawing in a deep breath. “I’m afraid I was rather occupied by my thoughts. What is it you needed?”

“My lady, I wished you to know the message has been sent on as you wished.”

“Oh.” He never bothered to search her out to confirm such a thing before. “Thank you. Is that all?”

“Not all, my lady, but I do have a personal matter I would like to discuss, if it is convenient?”

“Of course, Gresham. What is it?”

“As his lordship is not present, and I believe he would have a difficult time understanding, I wish to ask my lady if I might retire from my duties in the house.”

Virginia blinked at him, her heart sinking. “Gresham, if this is because of what Lady Vinespar said—”

He shook his head. “No, my lady. I have been thinking on it for some time. I have been a servant in this household since his lordship’s grandfather was its master. It is time, I believe, for me to allow a younger man to look after the family. It has been my greatest honor to serve in this house.”

Virginia nodded. “I understand. Very well. We will look into a replacement. Thank you for coming to me. I will make certain his lordship arranges your pension as well. You have served this family with great loyalty. Thank you. For everything.”

He bowed. “Thank you, my lady.” Then he took a step back, as if to leave.

“Gresham?” Virginia asked, bringing his attention back to her. She would never, ever confide the private matters of her marriage or family to a servant. She knew better than that. But Gresham was loyal to the family and had been for three generations.

“Yes, my lady?” He waited, his expression all politeness.

“You knew the Lady Abigail Calvert?”

The old man nodded once, his eyes softening. “I did, my lady. Before and after her marriage.”

“If you do not think me bold to ask it, what was she like?” Virginia asked.

Gresham turned to look at Abigail’s portrait, his posture straightening a touch. “She was kindness itself, my lady. Young, but thoughtful. A good mistress. She loved the family, and his lordship, with her whole heart.” He turned back to Virginia and met her eyes squarely. “But what is it you really want to know, my lady?”

Virginia felt her smile waver. Dare she ask? “I want to know what she would’ve thought of me. Of Lucas marrying again. But I don’t suppose you would know the answers to those questions.”

The butler’s shoulders relaxed and he returned her smile, his small and gentle, but genuine. “I can answer that, my lady, easy as you please. Lady Abigail, as we called her when she was a child, would have adopted you at once. She would have seen what my lord sees: a good woman in need of friendship and support, someone who took a bruden upon herself to protect others. She would have liked you a great deal.”

Virginia’s eyes watered and she looked down, tempted to disbelieve him. But his words rang with sincerity. He had no reason to lie. He could’ve easily agreed he couldn’t answer such a thing and been on his way.

“But as to the other matter, of his lordship marrying again, I know the answer to that too. I was there the night she passed. Me and Mrs. Hail, so you can ask her if you don’t trust the word of an old man.” When she looked, he was still wearing that gentle smile, and his eyes glistened too. “One of the very last things she said to my lord was to bid him to find happiness again. She knew as well as any of us how much heart he has. She knew it would nearly kill him to lose her. So she made him promise.”

The young earl in the portrait, his smile and pride, had been a man very much in love, with all his life ahead of him to adore the woman at his side. He’d achieved happiness, and then bliss with the knowledge of her pregnancy, only to have it all snatched away by scarlet fever.

“How long did it take him to be happy, Gresham?” she asked, staring at Lucas’s portrait.

“I’d say he didn’t really find his happiness again until May of this year, my lady.” Virginia’s eyes widened at his words. “When he met you,” he added, unnecessarily driving the point into her heart.

Virginia took half a step back. “Gresham, I am not searching out compliments.”

He nodded. “I know that, my lady. But the morning that he decided to ask for your hand, I found him here.” Gresham pointed to the place beneath the portrait. “He’d slept there all night. I imagine he had many concerns. Perhaps he worried it would seem unfaithful of him to love another.” He shook his head, his smile fading before he continued.

“Lady Abigail, she would never wish for him to be alone or unhappy. My lord has always had a kind heart, but for so long, he kept much of himself locked away. In the weeks since you married, he has smiled more. Laughed more. Your sons bring him joy.”