Page 78 of An Orphan for the Broken Duke

Rhys did not want to rest his future on false hope. And he did not want to continue to live in the past as if doing so might somehow save his future. He had done that already, and this was the result.

What Rhys needed was to move on and accept his past mistakes for what they were. And while he knew that he could not fix them, what he could do was make up for them.

His sister’s child was likely dead, but that did not mean that Rhys had to give up. Down the hall, fast asleep, safe and sound, was a child who needed Rhys, just as he needed her. He could not change the past, but he could save his future. He could help someone who needed it, and not because he thought it would make him feel better, but because it was the right thing to do.

It was time to move on. It was time to accept his faults for what they were so that one day they might not come to define him.

Not for him. Not for Violet. Not even for Eleanor. But for Lucy. She was who he had to do this for… she was who mattered.

“I am sure.” Rhys pushed away his glass of brandy. “Thank you for bringing this to my attention, Mr. Marrow, but that will be all.”

Mr. Marrow frowned at him, looked as if he might argue, but bowed and ducked from the room.

Once he was gone, Rhys stood up and started to pace.

All was not lost in his world. He was not so far gone that he might never recover. He was a father now. Lucy needed him as he needed her, and regardless of who he was once and what he might have done, it was time that he did right by her. It was time that he showed her and himself that he could love.

As to how he might do that? Truly, he had no idea. But for once, that did not scare him. For once, the unknown excited Rhys, and that was how he knew it was the right thing to do.

Rhys woke up early the following morning. He did so on purpose, determined to make the day count. More than that, he was determined to prove to himself that he was better than he had always believed.

As soon as he was awake, he threw on a robe and hurried towards the nursery. Lucy would be waking up soon, and he wanted to be there when she did.

The nursery was blessedly silent when Rhys appeared outside the door. The morning light had started to spread through the room, but it was yet to reach the cot. He was more nervous than he wanted to be, damn scared, in fact. That a three-year-old could bring such feelings out in him… remember, she is likely just as scared. If not, more so.

He crept silently into the room, ignoring the beating of his heart and the trembling of his legs. He reached the cot and slowly, carefully, peered over its barricade.

Lucy lay fast asleep inside.

She was curled into a tight ball, but she looked at peace. There was a small smile on her face, and he could only imagine the pleasant dreams that she must be having. They were dreams that Rhys did not want to see end, just as he wanted that smile to be found throughout the day. She deserved as much.

He waited patiently until she stirred.

And when her eyes slowly opened, Rhys was sure to smile upon her with what he hoped she would read as kindness and love and affection.

“Good morning,” he said in a whisper.

Her eyes widened as if in fear and she looked about. “Violet…”

“She is not here,” Rhys sighed.

Her face scrunched into a pout and he knew that she was getting ready to burst into tears.

“But I am here, Lucy,” he said to her, keeping his voice soft. Rhys did not know how much she might understand, but he had to assume that his tone would be recognized. “And I will always be here. I need you to know that.”

Her face was still scrunched into a tight ball but there were no tears, yet.

“Violet is… she is away, for now. But she loves you, Lucy. As I do. And no matter what happens, that will not change. All I want is to be here for you, and there is nothing you can do that will change that. Do you understand?”

She said nothing and while her face was still scrunched into a ball, Rhys could have sworn he saw recognition and understanding pass behind her eyes.

“Now, I am thinking it is time to eat.” He held his smile as he looked at her. “Are you hungry?”

She nodded hesitantly, as if even she was unsure.

He laughed gently. “Would you like to join me?”

Again, she nodded and her scrunched face started to relax. And then, as if she was finally starting to accept Rhys, she sat up and she held out her arms for him to pick her up.