Page 93 of A Foolish Flirtation

“Who hasn’t he wronged in the past?” Nye asked dryly. “That just makes her one of the family as far as I’m concerned. What did you do? Ruin her?” Mina gasped.

“No! Not that… Well, maybe socially,” Jeremy admitted wretchedly. “I spoiled her marriage prospects and made a disaster of her London season. I courted her, quite openly, then turned around and married Amanda. I exposed her to public ridicule and private condemnation. I was incredibly selfish. I hurt her. Beyond forgiveness. Beyond repair.”

They all three sat quietly for a moment, until Nye spoke. “Well, that was probably your biggest mistake,” he said heavily. “That first marriage of yours.”

“That was not my mistake, as it happens,” Jeremy retorted. “I had no say in the matter. I was informed on my twelfth birthday of the betrothal.”

Nye shrugged. “The lords of Faris have always been high-handed,” he said pointedly. “I don’t remember getting much choice either. Luckily, you picked better for me than your father did for you.” He exchanged a look with his wife, reaching over to take her hand in his.

Jeremy was taken aback. “I’m nothing like him,” he said in surprised accents.

“Never said you were.”

“Well, he was your father too.”

Nye shook his head. “No, he wasn’t. Not in any way that counted. It was Jacob Nye raised me. Shame he didn’t have a hand in raising you as well.”

“Maybe if he had, I would have turned out a sight better than I did,” Jeremy agreed.

Nye gave a grim smile. “He’d have taken a stick to you. He always said you were wild.”

“Did he?” Jeremy wasn’t really surprised by this. “I always rather liked old Jacob. He never complained about my bar tab.”

“He always said you were good for it.” Nye gave him a level look. “And you always were.”

“Eventually,” Jeremy agreed. “Do you know one time, he said I was too drunk to ride my horse home and had that old groom of his dunk my head in the water trough. The old devil damn near drowned me.”

Nye chuckled. “Old Sam Teague? Bet he would have enjoyed that.”

Jeremy pulled a face. “No doubt. He never had much time for me, did Samuel. Thought me quite the spoiled young lordling.”

“It was him taught me to box.”

“I know. I was always far more interested in your life than you were in mine.”

Nye regarded Jeremy steadily for a moment. “You are worth knowing as it happens,” he said abruptly.

Jeremy was surprised. “What makes you say that?”

“The boy.” Nye paused. “Your boy. The way you are with him. If I ever compared our lives in the past, I soon realized I got the better bargain. You’re ten times the father to your son than the old lord was to you.”

Jeremy swallowed. “Thanks,” he said hoarsely.

“But I’m a much better husband,” Nye said cheerfully.

Mina leaned forward at this point. “What was the unpalatable truth you spoke of before, Jeremy?” she asked quietly. “The real reason you proposed marriage to Emmeline.”

“That I love her,” he admitted. “That I have always loved her, even when I was cruel and thoughtless and made her life a misery. That she’s the only person I ever truly wanted at my side.”

“Then you need to show her that’s how you feel,” Mina said earnestly. “If you can’t speak of it, then you need to demonstrate this to her, in ways other than words. Be considerate of her fears, of her dreams, of her likes and dislikes. Be patient, and she will learn that she can put her trust in you. These things take time, and in the meantime, instead of spoiling her with material things, think of ways you can make her new life easier.”

“Such as?”

“Oh, a hundred ways, I daresay. Be kind to that little friend of hers, Miss Pinson,” she suggested. “It’s plain she values her highly.”

Jeremy nodded, but he had already been kind to Hannah Pinson, hadn’t he? A little voice whispered in his ear that all he had really done was try to isolate Emmeline from her one true friend. He shifted uncomfortably in his seat.

“I don’t just mean to take her shopping, or on excursions or day trips, Jeremy,” his sister stressed. “You need to make her feel an important part of your everyday life. That’s what Nye did for me.”