Chapter 24

Carina regretted sending the missive to Viscount Ormonde almost immediately but it was too late to retrieve it. Her original letter had been written to the Earl of Chedworth, but she tore that one up. It was the grandfather that had set everything into motion, and if he was as bad as Felix claimed, then she did not want to meet him. However, she still believed that his parents needed to know where he was. Her guilt came from betraying Knight.

Except, Felix had betrayed her first.

That didn't mean that her heart hadn't softened this past fortnight. In fact, it softened so much that she could not be in the same room with him and she certainly couldn't look into his eyes.

His betrothal, while real, was not something he even wanted. And, by marrying her, he would have freed himself and Miss Daphne.

He never lied about his name, or where he came from. He simply omitted his family connections. Had she asked, and he lied, that would be different, but it never occurred to Carina to ask a coachman if his father or grandfather was titled.

It was true that she did not think herself worthy of marrying anyone in Society so when she learned he was betrothed that day, her mind went to what she always believed of herself because of what her father had done. She acted on emotion because her heart had been destroyed, but after a few sleepless nights, tears and then conversations with Gaia, she realized that she may have overreacted.

Though, Carina still could not understand how Felix could turn his back on his family, and maybe she never would.

Now, here he stood, greeting his parents. It was a shame that his sisters and brother couldn't also be present.

"I received a letter," his father answered.

"From whom?"

"It is not important," his mother answered and walked forward to embrace him. "You look well."

"Does grandfather know where I am?"

"No," his father answered. "It is best that he never knows."

"It is good to see you well; we have worried," his mother said.

Those words alone helped Carina feel better about sending the letter.

"But we knew when you left that we'd not hear from you until such time as your grandfather was no longer with us."

They had known, and agreed?

"Luckily, my father did not think it odd that we wished to visit Bath. Had you been in a more obscure place, we likely would have never visited."

"You would protect him so much?" Carina asked without thinking. She hadn't planned on speaking at all and as soon as possible would find a way to slip from the parlor.

Carina hadn't even wanted to be here in the first place, but Gaia insisted since it was Carina who had set this meeting in motion. Therefore, she was stuck in her place upon the settee witnessing a reunion that she had brought about, whether it had been right to do so or not.

"Yes, we would," his father answered.

"I am sorry. It is not my place to question." Carina ducked her head and sipped her tea.

How much had she erred and would Felix be angry with her?

Did it matter if he was angry?

"Did you send the letter, Miss Leonelli?" Felix asked, his tone low.

For a moment she closed her eyes. If she lied, she'd be no better than what she accused him of being. "Yes," she finally whispered.

"Why?"

"Because parents shouldn't be ignored, especially when they still live. And…revenge."

She couldn't look up. She didn't dare. She simply waited.

"What did you manage to do Felix, to cause this lovely young woman to seek revenge?"

"I fell in love with her and want to make her my bride."

Her heart nearly beat out of her chest at his words. Yes, he had claimed the same after that awful day in Sydney Gardens but she was afraid to believe him because he hadn't said the same before she had met Miss Daphne.

Was it true? Did Felix love her and want to marry her even after everything that had transpired?

He wouldn't make such a claim to his parents if it wasn't true, would he?

"Courtship has certainly changed over the years, hasn't it dear?" his father laughed.

Carina set her teacup and saucer on the table and stood. "I should leave you to your reunion."

She did not give anyone a chance to call her back and quickly left by the terrace door.

Felix wanted to be angry with Carina, but it was good to see his parents. This was also the closest he had come to speaking with her in a fortnight.

"Would you please excuse me? I will return shortly."

He then followed Carina and went directly to her favorite bench. He knew that is where she would go, and she likely assumed that he would remain inside with his parents.

"Revenge?" he asked.

"It seemed like a good idea at the time."

"If you wanted true revenge, you would have written to my grandfather."

She winced. "I did but tore it up and wrote to your parents instead."

Thank goodness for that or there would not be a happy reunion.

"Why revenge?" he asked as he settled on the bench beside her.

"I was so hurt if you must know. I was experiencing humiliation and anger. I didn't know what to believe as the truth."

He reached over and took her hand. "I am deeply and truly sorry for that."

"It is also because I could not understand how you could not see and talk to your parents in so long. I would give anything to see my mother again."

He swiped a tear that had leaked out of the corner of her eye and trailed down her cheek.

"We were living in different circumstances," he offered. "I could not go home. Not only would my grandfather attempt to force me to do his bidding but when I did not, my parents would suffer."

"Your parents are adults. How can your grandfather have so much power?"

"He has never turned anything over to my father. He even keeps the purse strings closed to him. As his heir, my father always believed that once he was done with school, that he could go about and do as he wished. He quickly learned that quarterlies only come when father does as grandfather wishes. He never had enough funds to find a home of his own and had to earn anything he wished to have. Even when he thought to go into trade, find a position as I had done, grandfather made certain each opportunity was soon lost or denied my father. Once there was a family, my father was forced to rely solely on my grandfather."

"Many heirs reside in the home of their father as they will take over when he is gone."

"Most heirs are not treated like small children or servants. Rewarded when they have acted accordingly or punished when he failed to do what was required."

"Is your grandfather so horrible?" Carina asked.

"Yes," Felix answered. "My older brother remains because he is watching over our younger sisters. He will step in to protect them no matter what grandfather may attempt to do. Grandfather also knows that Alden will not do his bidding. He made a promise that if grandfather attempted to control his life that he would take our sisters and disappear as I have done."

"Alden, not Alton. Another lie."

Felix winced. "I was afraid that if you knew that it was Alden Knight who visited that you'd realize that I was his missing brother."

"I have never heard the name Alden Knight before."

"I should not have lied, but you know my reasons for keeping some information to myself."

"Your brother would have found a position and supported them?" she asked.

"Alden is an observer and realized early on how grandfather wanted to control everyone and from the first time he began receiving his quarterlies, he saved, not spending any more than was necessary, and concentrated his education in an area that if required, he could find a position that would serve him well. I did not have the same foresight, believing that grandfather only cared about Alden the heir. Thankfully, after I left, I met Lydell, and my situation improved much to my pleasure."

"But to leave your family."

"My parents told me to go. I had already been considering doing just that because I could not marry Miss Daphne, nor did I want to live in India. They did not want that for me either and would rather I was happy in England, than miserable in a far away country. Either way, they would not be able to see me."

"I suppose you are correct," she whispered.

"It has not been easy to be apart from them, Carina. So many times, I have missed them and considered options of how I could visit without grandfather ever learning but did not want to risk it." He chuckled. "One of the reasons I liked being Lydell's driver was that I could see everyone from the high seat and constantly looked for my siblings. It is also why I watched the doors of every entertainment, but this is the first time, to my knowledge, that anyone in my family has visited Bath."

"Other than your brother," she reminded him.

"Bolton is the one who sent for him when he thought I was going to die. Alden and Bolton are friends and often in the other's company in London at various establishments so it was not suspicious when my brother received an invitation to visit. I just wish I would have known earlier because I would have had Bolton issue the invitation more often."

"Oh, Felix, I am so sorry."

"In time, we will be able to visit freely again."

"Yes, but your grandfather will have to die before that occurs, I assume."

"Or he will do something so outrageous that my parents would rather starve than live under his thumb a moment longer."

"What could he do that would be so terrible?" Carina asked.

"Attempt to push one of my sisters into a miserable marriage." Alden could hold his own against grandfather, Felix left, but Johanna and Serena were still at his mercy.

Felix hated for anyone to know the secrets of his family or come to realize what some would consider a weakness in his father. But distance and memories helped Felix realize that his father did everything for his children. Had none of them been born, no doubt his parents would be living in America, far away from grandfather. But they wanted their children to have all the benefits that came with being the grandchildren of a wealthy earl no matter the cost his mother and father suffered.

"I have missed you, Carina."

She finally looked up and into his eyes. "I have missed you, as well."

His heart swelled with hope that maybe she had finally forgiven him and Felix leaned in to press his lips against hers, but Carina stopped him with a palm to his face. All hope crumbled.