Bewitching The Recluse [BOOK 2 of Price Family Saga]

29. Chapter (The Old Admirer On The Scene)

Fair Warning: this chapter is rather long = 5.6k words. Have fun!

The month gracefully transitioned into July, its passage swift and unnoticed. During this time, Bella found solace in the exhilarating horse rides, relishing the moments when young Teddy was in the capable care of Bethany. Bella's relations with the maid were still soured, particularly since the incident with Paul in the stable, leading to an unpleasant confrontation with the Marquess. Bethany, misguided in her conviction, believed that Bella was the provocateur in her affair with Paul, a notion Bella chose not to contest, sensing that any effort to explain herself would be futile. Travis' dire response further solidified the household's perception that, as a governess, she held a loftier status, leading to a growing distance between her and the rest, except for Lafferty, who was privy to her true identity.

The diminished contact with other faces did not trouble Bella; the solitude, in fact, suited her. Yet, a sense of joy filled her when she added Captain Hayes to the familiar faces of Teddy and Lafferty. Their rendezvous, discreetly held, provided moments of engaging conversation about London, society, his war experiences, and, not least, shared kisses. Despite occasional pangs of guilt and a feeling of betrayal toward Travis, she continued to embrace Christian with fervour, ultimately suppressing any internal conflicts. She held a steadfast belief that, with the passage of time, all emotions she harboured for that devil would fade away, and her heart would be claimed by the man who persistently demonstrated his worth to her.

The captain, a true gentleman, never imposed himself as he did during the soirée, and it was evident he relished their time together, cherishing their limited intimacy as a delightful enhancement to their shared moments.

Since Marquess St. Arcey had to depart for Reading and subsequently London after their disagreeable encounter in his study, Bella found herself at liberty to reflect upon her present circumstances without the intrusion of his presence and words. The revelations of the past month still weighed upon her spirits, but upon settling her emotions, she acknowledged that the Marquess was a man with a history. Judging him for it would be akin to someone judging her for the past infatuation with him. Nevertheless, she couldn't dispel the sense of injustice and lingering jealousy that he had allowed such a vile woman as Miranda Gilchrist into his life. To compound matters, he had sired a child with her! While it wasn't uncommon for bastards to be born under the veil of secrecy during this era, it remained a circumstance she couldn't easily reconcile with if it was her own.

He has descended to the level of men I consider rogues unworthy of attention, she ruminated. And I am mad to even contemplate whether I could ever forgive him. He never desired me, and if there were even a tiny hope that he changed his mind, it would surely be for my form and nothing else... and he would make me with a bastard first, never marrying me – oh, yes, that would surely bring him great pleasure, she pondered bitterly, all despite her heart's protests. Notwithstanding, this profound bitterness felt strangely alien to her essence, yet she persisted in crushing her own heart and conscience, driven by the singular intention of burying and erasing the painful memories along with their perpetrator.