The Season had started, and now she was having second thoughts about trying to pursue Harry. She was a damned fool. Why would he want to be with her? She was the plain Drake sister. The two beautiful sisters had men.
Perhaps she should find him a wife in truth.
“Damn you, Harry.” Why did he have to be so damned handsome?
“Is it your turn to curse me now?”
She started and then slowly looked up at the imposing man. “What...how...why did you follow me out here?”
“Well, I noticed you didn’t quite make it to the retiring room. I decided to make certain you stayed safe. Why were you cursing me?” Harry moved to sit on the bench with her.
“You shouldn’t be out here with me alone,” she said, trying not to notice how the side of his muscular thigh touched hers or how much his presence seemed to warm her body.
“What happened to my impetuous Louisa who never cared what anyone thought of her?” He touched her chin to turn her head toward him.
Don’t look in his eyes, she told herself. Do not do it! “It has been a difficult few years, Harry.”
“I can’t apologize enough for my father’s actions.”
Louisa shook her head. “It is far beyond just what your father did. My father had plenty of blame for our current situation, as does my mother.”
“What exactly happened, Louisa?”
“I cannot speak of it. Not even to you.”
He reached for her hand and squeezed gently. “You know I have always kept your secrets.”
She nodded. Still, she had never told Harry. She’d never told anyone. When he departed for India, she had lost her confidante. With a deep breath, she started, “My mother decided Tessa needed a Season when she was eighteen. My father fought her on it due to the expense involved. But she insisted and my father...” she pressed her lips together to keep her tears at bay.
“My mother purchased the gowns for her and had arranged for a house in town. My father stole money from the bank in Cornwall, where he worked to pay for everything. Emma and I were visiting our aunt while all of this happened. When we returned, we were told he had died, and we were moving to London that very day. We were never even allowed to visit his gravesite, which of course didn’t exist because he was in prison.”
She shook her head and wiped a tear. “After his imprisonment, my mother came to London and began the story of how she was a widow of a London banker.”
“Which should not have been enough to get her into Society,” Harry commented.
“No, she used her connections to her uncle, Lord Greyson. And that is where my sister takes over by befriending your father.”
“I see,” he replied stiffly.
“Once your father noticed my sister, my mother was able to influence him to gain invitations to certain balls and parties. Once Tessa married Langley, we were all in Society. After Langley died, the small inheritance kept us from the poor house. Tessa paid some of our father’s debt, and the rest went to maintaining our position in Society.”
“When did you discover all this?”
“After your father died. Tessa finally admitted everything to me. Until that time, I still believed my father had died in Cornwall.”
“I’m sorry, Louisa. Why didn’t you write me?”
“You were mourning your wife and your father. I didn’t wish to disturb you with my troubles. And you hadn’t returned any of my letters of condolence, so I saw no point.”
“I am dreadfully sorry for that,” he whispered, staring out at the gardens. “Have you spoken to him?”
“Not in any detail. My father came for Christmas at Tessa’s. A part of me is still angry with him for what he did. He shouldn’t have allowed my mother to plan a Season for my sister when we didn’t have the money.”
“He loves his daughters and wanted only the best for them. Anything to make them happy.”
“Well, that didn’t work. My father went to prison. Tessa married three men she did not love because of the guilt she carried over our father. And now we’re all living a lie.” Every time she thought about what they all had done, her stomached roiled.
She glanced up into his eyes and was lost. Her gaze fell to his lips, which were full but not too full. Perfect for kissing. She could see the stubborn stubble on his chin where his valet didn’t get close enough.