Page 42 of A Landscape of Love

“Father backhanded me,” Alex said, wincing as she dabbed at his split lip. “But it was worth it,” he added, with more courage than she had credited him.

“You were very brave,” she said, kissing his cheek and regarding him fondly.

“What now, Fidelia?” he asked, concern in his eyes. “You can’t marry Malmsey. If he’s a friend of Richmond’s, he’s obviously vile and I’ve heard stories about him, and—”

“I’ve no intention of doing so,” Fidelia said crisply. “Mr De Beauvoir is even now looking for Ambrose. Your nephew,” she added with a smile, as Alex looked perplexed.

“He knows?” Alex asked indignantly.

“He guessed,” Fidelia said. “I don’t know how, except that he seems to know things about me I hardly know myself. He’s… He’s very perceptive.”

“You love him,” Alex replied, proving Hart wasn’t the only perspicacious male in her life.

She shrugged, her lips quirking. “That’s neither here nor there, Alex, but he is a good man, and one who has promised to help me. I believe he can get me away from Hardacre and reunite me with my son, but… but then I shall be lost to you, Alex. The duke won’t let you have anything to do with me after that, for I shall be disgraced. There will be the most appalling scandal.”

“Not if Hartley marries you,” Alex said, with all the naïve assurance of a boy who has seen nothing of the world.

Even so, Fidelia’s heart leapt at his words, and she was forced to scold herself severely and tell that ridiculous organ not to be so foolish.

“Now, why ever would he do such a thing?” Fidelia demanded of her brother. “Be reasonable, Alex. He doesn’t love me, and he hardly knows me. This isn’t a fairy story, he isn’t a prince, and I am certainly no princess.”

“But you’re the daughter of a duke, and besides, I think he likes you. I’ve seen the way he looks at you,” he added mutinously, folding his arms.

Despite the desire to demand to know exactly how Mr De Beauvoir looked at her, Fidelia stuck to the point. “I am the disgraced daughter of a duke with an illegitimate son. Mr De Beauvoir is a businessman with ambitions to make an illustrious name for himself. He’s not fool enough to saddle himself with such a wife, no matter how kindly he thinks of me.”

“Well, I think he’d be lucky to have you, baby or no,” Alex said, scowling so furiously Fidelia could not help kissing his cheek again.

“Thank you, love. You’ve no idea what that means to me.”

Alex returned a sheepish smile and leaned into her. “You will be all right, Lia?”

“I will,” she promised, though she did not know if that was true.

“And no one can keep me from seeing you, either, not even the duke,” he added, obstinate to the last.

Fidelia smiled, knowing all too well there were plenty of ways the duke could enforce such a decree, but holding her tongue. Alex had been through enough for one day.

“And,” he said, his courage rising, “I’ll help you get away from here and that disgusting devil Malmsey, too.”

“What a fine young man you have become,” Fidelia said admiringly. “I am so proud of you.”

Alex blushed, but she saw the words sink in. He straightened, growing almost visibly taller. Hart had played his part in that burgeoning confidence, in setting an example of what a man could and should be. It was not difficult to see the difference between Hart and the duke, and Alex was no fool, young as he was. Perhaps the duke had centuries of breeding behind him, but it was clear to Fidelia which of the two men was worthy of the title ‘gentleman,’ and she did not doubt that Alex could see it too.

Chapter 12

Dear Mother and Father,

I had hoped to call on you whilst I was in town this past week, but circumstances have forced me to return to Hardacre Hall before I could do so. I regret this, for there is much to explain to you, and of such a delicate nature I cannot do so in a letter.

Over the coming days I fear there will be a scandal, and one which I will be at the centre of. I pray you will forgive me and believe me when I tell you I have done nothing you would be ashamed of me for. It is a matter of honour and the lady in a situation I cannot turn my back on. I hope for the moment that will suffice until such time I can explain myself in person.

I am truly sorry for any disagreeable scenes which I do not doubt will arise in the weeks to follow. I will do my best to make it up to you both.

Your affectionate son,

Hart.

―Excerpt of a letter from Mr Hartley De Beauvoir to his parents, Mr and Mrs Inigo and Minerva De Beauvoir.