Ludford are spreading rumours that she is a woman of no character and a thief to boot. I won’t ask that of him.”
“I am sure he will find a way to make it all right with his family. We just need to have faith in him.”
Bridget knew that Mrs. Smith was right. She was hurt because she felt that Lord John didn’t trust her, but at the same time, she didn’t know that she had faith that he could set matters right. She knew that her lack of trust stemmed from a more deep-seated fear that she just wasn’t worth all the trouble.
He may have spouted poetry and professed his affections for her, but she could only expect the man to take his admiration so far. Asking him to go this far on account of someone such as herself just didn’t seem possible.
“No matter the outcome when he returns, I can at least do this little part to undo any damage I have caused in Lord John’s life. His family may fault him for being fooled by the likes of me, but they won’t rob him of his dreams. I can at least do that small thing in return for all that he has done for me over the last year. A lesser man wouldn’t have allowed me to stay on with Betsy, certainly not sacrificed their own personal desires to appease my love for her. I can do this for Lord John in return for all he has done for me. It will be the least I can do to help him and Betsy have the start to a happy life,” Bridget said, holding tight to the letter.
Chapter 30
Lord John pushed his steed to gallop faster. He knew he was taking a great risk. The animal had been forced to the brink for the last several hours. He could feel the perspiration of the beast beneath him, but he still pushed it harder on.
He had spent the last three weeks continuously on the move from one end of the country to the next. Now he had completed all he had set out to do and needed to return home to his waiting family.
He had barely taken a moment's rest these last weeks as he had set all the matters in order. Now that he was done, he was prepared to face his brother one final time if it came to that. He had written to the duke five days earlier, explaining all he had accomplished. He knew the note would not be received well.
It was only yesterday he had received a response at the inn in Liverpool that he was staying while he finished the affairs that had set him on a wild ride back to London. The duke insisted that if Lord John wanted to settle the matter as stated in his letter, he had better be present on the previously appointed day in London to finish the bet.
He knew that this was just yet another final tactic of his brother. He was a man of his word, but he would ever do whatever he could to find a loophole in it. The duke had explained as they had agreed to settle the bet on that day, and at a specified location, it was only under those conditions could Lord John expect to win.
It was still early in the morning as he rode hard towards the city. Mist tangled around the horse's flanks, angry to be beaten aside by their furious pace. He knew by the time his beast finally halted in front of the townhouse all would be awake and beginning to start their day.
He itched to see the woman he had left behind. All those weeks gone from Betsy and Bridget, his heart had ached to return to them. He had kept himself from doing so until all the matters had been righted one final time.
Tramping into the house, he paid little heed to the flecks of mud falling from his boots and coat as he called out to his family.
“Bridget, Betsy?” he bellowed.
He hesitated at the base of the stairs, listening to see if they were above. Not hearing a sound, he made his way down the hall and to the breakfast room.
Only finding the maid inside cleaning the remains of the meal, he immediately left in search of his family elsewhere. Lord John was sure it gave the maid quite a start to see him suddenly burst in and out and in such a