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“Because your father’s last letter to me said you would be doing so at the start of the Season.”

“Is that all he said?” Tobias wondered if she knew about his father’s marriage requirement.

Her still-dark brows arched. “Yes, why?”

“No reason. I’m pleased to see you, Grandmother.” And shocked. She rarely came to town, and he was flattered she’d want to come check on him. Even if it was strange.

She hadn’t even come to London when her son had become gravely ill. But it had been December, the absolute worst time to travel. Instead of visiting, she’d sent a letter every day, and in return, his father had his secretary draft a response every three days. Because he was a jackass like that.

“How are things with your ward? Is she amenable? Attractive? Betrothed yet?”

“Not really, yes, and no.” His honesty about Fiona surprised him. “Marriage is not high on her list of priorities.”

“What balderdash. Isn’t she nearly on the shelf?”

“She’ll be twenty-two next week.”

“Then yes, she’s almost past the point of marriageability.”

“Why? How is it that I am twenty-eight, and no one says I’m ineligible for marriage?”

His grandmother stared at him, her blue-gray eyes the color of frost. “You can’t really be that obtuse. You’re an earl . And a wealthy one at that.”

“What I mean is, why is she—or any other young lady—suddenly unmarriageable? It’s not as if they’ve done something to lower their worth.” He hated the way that sounded, once again equating them with a product.

“Haven’t they? If they haven’t found a husband in the first year or perhaps two of being out, there must be a deficit. I suppose your ward can be excused.” Her lip curled again. “Because she hasn’t had a Season yet.”

“She’s attracted at least one suitor,” Tobias noted. That did not include him, because he wasn’t a suitor. He was merely the man who’d taken advantage of her.

“Then there is absolutely no reason for her to be unwed,” the dowager said firmly. “Give her an ultimatum.”

Tobias bit his lip to keep from laughing. “I, er, somewhat tried that. Miss Wingate has suffered some…challenges in adjusting from country life.”

“Your father should have seen that coming. I told him not to give her a Season, but he was adamant.” Her shoulders twitched, and her features displayed such a sharp expression of distaste that Tobias’s curiosity was pricked.

“What do you know of Miss Wingate? I don’t understand why Father made such a commitment to her. He could have settled a modest dowry on her and left it up to her cousin to see that she was wed.”

The dowager sat straighter, her interest clearly piqued. “She has a cousin?”

“She resided in a cottage on his estate.”

She emitted a thoroughly unladylike sound of derision.

“That makes absolutely no sense. Your father was a fool not to let him handle the matter. Instead, he’s made her your problem.

I am sorry for the way he’s treated you, Deane.

” She pursed her lips again. “Overton, rather. This will take some getting used to.”

“It won’t bother me at all if you continue to call me Deane.” He smiled. “I prefer that, in fact.”

“That is unsurprising given the estrangement between you and your father. But you mustn’t take any of it to heart.

You couldn’t be more different from him, what with his scandalous tendencies.

” Her gaze softened but only slightly. “You would have no idea of those, however, since you are not aware of the reasons for his… commitment to Miss Wingate.”

His father had “scandalous tendencies” and that made him different from Tobias who also possessed…

scandalous tendencies? Oh no—had his father carried on a liaison with Fiona’s mother?

Was she his half-sister? Perhaps the “friendship” with Fiona’s father had been a ruse.

Tobias’s blood went cold. “Was he having an affair?” He barely forced the words out.

“Since Oxford.” Again, her lips pursed. “At least he was skilled at keeping it hidden. I don’t think anyone ever knew about his vile sins against nature.”

Since Oxford. Had Fiona’s mother been a maid there? Wait. Vile sins against nature…

Tobias froze. “Who was he having an affair with?”

“That Wingate miscreant! They met at school. The only reason I know about it is because I saw them once.” A shudder passed over her once more, and she pressed her hands to her cheeks.

“They carried on an affair all those years?” So many things made sense all of a sudden, including the cold relationship between his father and Tobias’s mother.

To her credit, she’d never denigrated him to Tobias.

She’d only said that he wasn’t capable of loving her, and she accepted that, especially since she had Tobias to love and love her in return.

It was after learning this that Tobias had vowed to love his wife.

Which would be impossible if he adhered to his father’s requirements.

Perhaps that had been the man’s goal—to ensure that Tobias wouldn’t have time to fall in love.

“Yes,” his grandmother responded. “Your father traveled to Shropshire a few times a year. On occasion, Wingate came to Deane Hall, but I put a stop to that when you grew old enough to converse with visitors.”

Tobias thought back and tried to recall male visitors but couldn’t. Much of the ire he felt toward his father lessened as he tried to imagine the life he’d been forced to lead. He was still angry, however, for the hurt he’d caused Tobias’s mother.

Swallowing, Tobias looked to his grandmother. While she seemed disgusted by her son’s behavior, Tobias only wanted to understand it. “Did he love Wingate?”

His grandmother froze for a moment, her lips parted as her eyes seemed to stare at nothing. At length, she said, “I hadn’t considered that.” She blinked and focused on Tobias. “Could that have been true?”

“I hope so,” Tobias said softly, feeling as though he was finally glimpsing his true father. “Where you see vile, sinful behavior, I see a man who was trying to find happiness in a world that wouldn’t accept that which would make him so.”

“I hadn’t considered that he might have loved Wingate.” She frowned, but it seemed to be directed inwardly. “Still, that doesn’t excuse his treatment of your mother. She deserved better and so did you.”

A sudden burst of love expanded in his chest. “I appreciate you saying that. I was sad that my parents didn’t seem to love each other.”

“You have a romantic nature, just like your grandfather. He and I were fortunate to be a love match.”

Tobias barely remembered his grandfather. The man had died when Tobias was six. “You think I’m a romantic?”

She looked at him as if he had a third eye in the middle of his forehead. “Aren’t you?”

Tobias laughed with great warmth. This had to be the most remarkable conversation he’d ever had with his grandmother.

“I do believe you’re correct that your father must have loved that man,” she said.

Tobias agreed. “It now makes sense why Miss Wingate was so important to him. She was the daughter of his love, and as such, was like a daughter to my father.” The association made him quickly add, “But she has no relation to me.”

“Of course not.”

He exhaled with relief. If Fiona had been his sister… God, it didn’t bear thinking about any more than he already had. He’d spend a great deal of time erasing that thought from his mind.

“I’m surprised he had so little interaction with her,” Tobias said. “Like me, she had no clue as to why my father took such a vested interest in her future. We assumed our fathers had a close friendship and nothing more.”

“Do you plan to share this information with her?” The dowager wrinkled her nose. “Warn her that she must keep it secret.”

“I must tell her. She will want to know.” He could never keep this from Fiona, and not just because he’d already stupidly kept other things from her. Although on that score, he’d learned his lesson. Too late, however.

Tobias studied his grandmother for a moment. “Did you really come to inquire about my marriage, or was it to tell me about my father and Wingate?”

She waved her hand again. “I suppose I also wanted to meet your ward and offer assistance.” That didn’t answer his question, but he didn’t think she was going to. “I should not have declined to help you before. I was angry at your father for making you deal with her.”

“I haven’t really minded.” He had at first, of course, and had even told Fiona that. Inwardly wincing, he made a mental note to apologize for that again. He’d been an enormous ass.

“Haven’t you? It sounds as if she’s a disaster—refusing to marry and struggling to fit in.”

“She fits in fine, actually. She’s become quite close with Lady Cassandra Westbrook.”

“Your ward counts the Duke of Evesham’s daughter as a friend? Is this the same chit who fell down in front of the queen?” the dowager asked incredulously.

Tobias eyed her with curiosity. “You’ve been paying attention.”

She huffed. “I receive the newspapers from town. Which is how I also know you have been misbehaving. Are you still up to your antics and evading the parson’s trap?”

“Actually, I was hoping to marry. I’ve just been…distracted.” Wholly. Irreparably. Wonderfully.

“By that troublesome ward. It’s good that I’m here. I’ll take over managing the chit, and I’ll toss her back to the countryside if I must. I can’t imagine?—”

Tobias pinched the bridge of his nose. “Please stop. She’s not troublesome, and you’re not tossing her anywhere. She’s quite lovely, actually. She’s smart, charming, never fails to make me laugh, and she possesses a unique perspective that none of the other ladies in town has demonstrated.”

The dowager gaped at him. “Good heavens, Deane, you sound as though you’re in love with her.”

A queasy, giddy feeling swept over him. Yes , he was in love with her.

That’s why he wanted to marry her. Not because he was desperate to shag her—though he was that too.

And not because he wanted to keep Horethorne—though that was, as he’d said, an added benefit.

The primary reason he wanted her for his wife—the only reason that mattered—was that he loved her.

He couldn’t imagine her leaving. Just the notion of his grandmother “tossing her back to the countryside” made him want to vault out of his chair, rush to Fiona’s chamber, and beg her to stay.

Except he’d already proposed— badly , he now realized. Had she refused him because of the inadequacy of his proposal, or did she not feel the same? Was he heading straight for another Priscilla situation where he would be thrust aside, his heart broken?

He couldn’t compare Fiona to Priscilla. He’d thought he was in love two years ago, but that was nothing compared to what he felt now. Just the thought of seeing Fiona made his chest compress and then grow light with anticipation.

“I can tell from your silence that you have realized you do.” The dowager exhaled with what sounded like resignation. “What do you plan to do about it then?”

“I’m not certain yet, but we’re attending an assembly tonight. I’d invite you to come along, but you’re probably too tired.”

“I am, but I want to meet this chi—this young lady—before you go. I shall require a respite for a couple of hours. Then she will present herself to me here.”

Tobias wished he had time to prepare Fiona, but he was already late for Westminster. “I’ll inform Carrin, but now I must go.” He stood and went to take her hand, giving her a light squeeze. “Thank you for coming. I am glad to know the truth. I think perhaps I understand my father a little better.”

“I don’t see how that’s possible, but I’m pleased for you.” She smiled up at him. “You’re a good boy.”

With a soft chuckle, Tobias released her hand and left.

On his way out, he told Carrin about the scheduled meeting between Fiona and his grandmother.

“You may wish to ensure Miss Lancaster and Mrs. Tucket are present. Miss Wingate could use the support.” He winked at the butler before striding outside to his waiting coach.

As he leaned back against the squab and the vehicle began moving, he considered his grandmother’s question: what was he going to do about being in love with Fiona?

First and foremost, he needed to stop behaving like a self-involved ass. To do that, he had to stop thinking of himself and his predicament.

He also needed to convince her that he didn’t want to marry her because of his father’s will. And to do that, he could think of only one thing that would matter. Something that had always been a tangible reminder of the only love he’d never known.

But he realized now that love was more than a house.

His mother—and her love—were a part of him, as was his father.

Tobias felt the incessant pull to please him, and it wasn’t entirely due to the trap he’d diabolically laid.

The anger he’d long felt toward his father evaporated.

Tobias didn’t want it anymore. Nor would he cling to Horethorne.

He would choose love.