The Formidable Earl (Diamonds in the Rough #6) - Sophie Barnes Page 0,114

Simon that he was not the sort to be trifled with. Ignoring the unease that always crept through him when he was in Coventry’s presence, Simon stuck out his hand.

“I’m eager to learn what you wish to discuss.” Coventry glanced at Simon’s hand only briefly before he took it. His handshake was solid and full of powerful authority. “Please have a seat.”

Simon claimed one of the leather chairs facing the duke’s. A wide desk stood between them, adding some distance. Perhaps he should have brought Ida with him for support. She had offered to accompany him, which would have been lovely if it weren’t for the fact that he needed to do this alone. This was his dragon to slay. It was past time he manned up and did it.

A maid entered with a tray containing a coffee pot, two cups, milk, sugar, and a plate of biscuits. She arranged everything on Coventry’s desk, served the men, and left. The door closed with a muted click.

“I’ve come to apologize to you for the way in which I handled things nine years ago,” Simon said. He’d decided it was best to get the words out as quickly as possible. Get it over with. “Knowing Jack as I did, I should have realized he would run from obligation. And as head of the family, I’ve always felt responsible for how he behaved. Your sister was denied the respectable union she deserved, and you weren’t given the chance to defend her honor.”

Coventry’s eyebrows drew together. Leaning back in his chair with his elbows on the armrests, he steepled his fingers in front of his mouth and stared back at Simon. An awful amount of time passed before he responded. “I was furious with both of you when I discovered what happened. In fact, I’m not sure I’ve been so enraged before. Or since.”

The back of Simon’s neck pricked as if a blanket of needles was being pressed down against his skin. “I’m sorry.”

Coventry inclined his head – the only indication he’d heard the apology. He picked up his cup and drank some coffee. “I’ve also had time to think. With greater clarity during the years that followed than I was capable of at the time the event took place. While your coming here is long overdue, I cannot help but wonder if things didn’t turn out for the best.”

Simon gaped at him. “You cannot possibly believe that.”

“Consider the following.” Coventry set his cup aside. His eyes had grown thoughtful. “Melanie died, so if your brother had married her, he would have had to raise Jeremy, and frankly, I don’t think that would have worked out well at all.”

“You’re probably right about that.” Jack had certainly lacked the maturity required to raise a child, especially one who required special attention. “But as Melanie’s brother, you should have been allowed the duel you wanted.”

“Again, we ought to consider the past with the wisdom we’ve since acquired. Had I met Mr. Jack Nugent on the dueling field, I would have killed him, no doubt about it. Which would have made me a murderer – a crime for which I could have been executed. And then who would have cared for Jeremy with both his father and me dead?”

“I would have done so.”

“Are you sure about that?” The question wasn’t asked with anything besides the demand for deep introspective.

“If you recall, I did reach out to you once.”

Coventry’s eyes grew solemn. “I should have responded. It was petty of me not to do so.”

“Your sister was dead. You had an infant to raise and a scandal to cover up. If anything, I ought to have made more of an effort. But the fact is, I was young and unprepared for the enormity of what happened. Frankly, I lacked the experience required to deal with the situation.”

“And now?”

Simon glanced at his coffee. He hadn’t drunk any of it. Perhaps he’d feel more inclined to do so once this subject of conversation had been exhausted. “I’m older now, more aware of my responsibilities, and far more ready to take them on, no matter the obstacles in my path.”

The edge of Coventry’s mouth lifted. “Go on.”

“I’d like to do better,” Simon told him directly. “If you permit, it would please me a great deal to be more involved in Jeremy’s life. But if you don’t wish it, I completely understand.”

“I think every child deserves as much family as they can get, though you cannot be his uncle since that would