Page 10 of Forever Her Bachelor

“Your mother married for love,” her aunt whispered.

“She did.” A smile graced Pippa’s face at the mention of her parents. They truly loved each other, defying everyone and everything to be together, and they had been happy. “Did you?” Her voice was gentle, wondering if perhaps there was a time when her aunt and uncle had been like her parents, young and in love.

“I was infatuated with him. When I first met your uncle, he was charming, funny, and handsome. It grew into a one-sided love. Then we were married, and it changed, especially whenyour grandfather had a separate settlement for me and the girls.” She twirled the simple gold band on her finger. “I remember the first time he struck me. I thought surely it would never happen again, but I was wrong.”

Pippa ignored the pang of jealousy she felt over the fact that her grandfather had provided for her aunt and cousins. She had met the man once after her mother’s death, and even then he ignored her as if she was of no consequence.

Pippa was riveted by her aunt’s story. She had never seen a loving touch or embrace between her aunt and uncle, only coldness and disdain.

“I heard of his mistress’s death …” Her aunt trailed off before continuing. “Then I saw him after all these years, and I thought it would be different. He would surely treat me kinder, the way a loving husband treated a wife.” She looked into Pippa’s eyes. “The way your father treated your mother. Sadly, that was not to be the case this time. It was the same as always. After thirty years of marriage, I still had hope that it would’ve changed. You must think me very foolish.”

Her aunt was more like a mother to her. After all, she had spent more years with her aunt than with her own mother. There were many thoughts roaming through her mind, but none were that the woman in front of her was foolish. Besides, Pippa herself had once foolishly loved someone who hadn’t been kind to her in the end. Who was she to judge anyone?

“I think you are very brave and wonderful.” Pippa gave her aunt’s hand one last squeeze before she stood, holding Newt to her chest.

Her aunt stood, giving Pippa a small, hesitant smile that scorched Pippa to the bones. It had been foolish not to wonder what type of man she was agreeing to marry, but looking into her aunt’s kind but sad eyes had Pippa questioning her decision. She had wanted to save her aunt from the monster she had married,but in doing so, Pippa had given herself over to one, and now, there was no escape.

CHAPTER 4

Dear Kitten,

Today I saw a cat that looked very much like Hydrogen. For a moment, I thought she had left your side and came to visit me at school. But then I saw the cat’s tail was missing the signature white tip. It was then I knew she was still by your side as I would be if I were there.

Your friend,

Chauncey (The Assistant)

Sitting in his deceased solicitor’s office, St. Clara watched the eldest son, David Carson, try to organize himself. With the sudden death of the elder Carson, whom St. Clara had affectionately calledSkeletonbecause of his long, tall frame and pale skin, the younger Carson now found himself in charge of an extensive business.

“Please forgive me, Your Grace. I am slowly finding my way around my father’s accounts,” Carson rushed the words out as he shuffled papers around his desk, sweating nervously.

“I do hope there are no other surprises.” St. Clara cleared his throat, trying to control his anger at finding out he had to marry in order to receive his inheritance. That he was only recently informed about the clause did not fall on the younger Carson. The older Carson, Skeleton, had never cared for St. Clara, so it was no surprise that he conveniently forgot to mention that there was a stipulation in the inheritance. One that had to be met by his next birthday or he would lose everything.

“No, there will not be any more surprises. I have familiarized myself with all my father’s paperwork and correspondence regarding your family.” Carson straightened an enormous pile of papers on his desk. “In fact, once you marry, the funds from your inheritance will replenish the coffers.”

St. Clara groaned at the mention of his lack of funds. His father had squandered most of their funds, leaving St. Clara with nearly empty coffers. He had spent the years since his father’s death trying to regain the funds, but with his own proclivities, it was nearly impossible.

Carson took hold of two large folders, passing them to St. Clara. “Here is everything between your father and mine.”

St. Clara held the folders, flipping through one, his gaze scanning paper after paper but not finding anything of use. A list of properties, most which had been sold off to settle their debts after his father’s death. Ledgers, a list of tenants at Archer Castle, the ducal seat that he had not visited since he was a boy. Deciding that there was nothing of value in the old papers, he lazily turned to the next set of papers, stopping when a name caught his attention.

Michael Price.

Pippa’s father’s name jumped off the parchment along with a barrage of questions. St. Clara only knew the name from stories Pippa would tell him when they were younger. Taking out thepaper, he read it in shock, finding information on both of Pippa’s parents and their life until their death.

Sifting through the papers, he found notes to an investigator along with payment receipts. “Do you have any indication why my father had the Price family investigated?” he asked the young solicitor.

All his breath left him, his body suddenly shaking. Memories of his father’s objection to him and Pippa’s friendship and their later engagement returned to St. Clara as suddenly as a storm.

“I do not, but there are several documents on the Price family, including missives between our fathers concerning you and the young Miss Price. As well as a payment from your father to Sir Wayford?—”

“Payment? What payment to Sir Wayford?” St. Clara sat up straighter, confusion clouding his mind.

That made no sense at all. His father could not stomach Sir Wayford. Why in bloody hell would he send the man a payment?

Carson shifted uncomfortably in his chair, eyes roaming around the room. “I believe it was for a rather sizable sum, but I’m uncertain what the amount was for.”

St. Clara flipped through paper after paper until he came upon a small stack of receipts. On the top was a transaction made out to Sir Wayford in the amount of five thousand pounds.