Baron of Blasphemy (Lords of Scandal 12)

“March, I think.” Isabella rubbed her growing stomach. “Just in time for spring.”

Abigail drew in a deeper breath. “Will you invite Papa to the christening?”

The room quieted.

“I’ve not decided.” Isabella confessed. “I’ve yet to meet with him at all. I love him, of course. But…” Her voice trailed off.

“He left us. Left this life…” Eliza finished.

Emily shook her head. “Brandon says he did us a great service with what he did. We’d still be in danger if he hadn’t.”

The women exchanged glances.

Abigail bit her lower lip. She had taken time to understand all that had happened and also her emotions regarding her father. She’d seen him twice, but their relationship remained distant. “I understand it, logically. I do. In his own way, he protected us but also…”

“He left us so vulnerable,” Isabella added.

“And alone.” Emily raised a finger. “And not just the past few years. Always.”

Avery cleared her throat. “If I may add to the conversation.”

“Of course,” Abigail squeezed her cousin’s hand again.

“I understand your feelings, but your father is a good man. Perhaps a bit fixated on work, but many men are. But he loved your mother and he loved you, unlike my father who treated us like pieces to be bartered for the money we could bring. He sinned, yes, but if I were you, I’d forgive those sins. There are many which are so much greater. And who among us isn’t guilty of one sin or another?”

Abigail nodded. “That is an excellent point. And though I’ll never feel the same about him, when I have children, I’d like them to have one grandparent at least. It’s not going to be Chad’s mother. I can say that. The woman is about as warm as the ocean in January.”

Eliza gave Abigail a warm smile. “You’re right, dear sister. That is excellent advice.”

Abigail blinked. Had Eliza just complimented her? “Thank you.”

“And thank you for taking on the burden of hearing him out to begin with,” Emily added. “It must have been so difficult.”

“She’s one of the tough Carringtons,” Eliza said, straightening.

Abigail cleared her throat. The compliment was what she’d always wanted. To be seen as equal among her sisters. Who knew that she’d have to give in order to receive? “I love you all, you know that, don’t you?”

“We love you too.” Isabella reached for her hand then. And one by one, they all linked their hands together. “But now, Eliza has some news she needs to share.”

Abigail held her breath, was her sister pregnant too? “What is it?”

Eliza grinned at all of them. “Malice and I are going to America.”

Abigail’s jaw dropped. “What?”

Eliza shrugged. “It’s for the business, of course. We’re trying to secure a new contract. But I’ve always wanted to go, and we’re going to take some time to see some of the East Coast, at least.”

“That’s so…exciting. When do you leave?”

“Right after the christening. I’ll miss you all terribly, but I’ll be back before you know it.”

Abigail broke the chain and jumped up to hug Eliza. “I am so happy for you.”

“I’m happy too,” Eliza whispered in her ear. “I think you’re right about Papa. As much as I’d like to throttle him, we did end up exactly where we needed to be.”

“Papa always hated that about the Carringtons.” Avery winked. “But it turns out, I’ve got a bit of that too.”

“Oh yes…you certainly do.” Abigail sat back down next to her cousin. “Now tell us your story again. I simply love it….”