The Heiress - Lynsay Sands [49]
“How sad,” Suzette said softly. “It must have been hard.”
“Yes, my mother had it very hard for a long time there. She suffered horribly for her love of my father.”
“It was a willing sacrifice,” Suzette said quietly, and then added, “But I meant you. It must have been hard for you too.”
Daniel’s eyes widened, but he shook his head. “As a child I didn’t understand that we were poor or lived any different than anyone else, and then I was away at school and that certainly wasn’t hard. I had a warm bed, more plentiful meals than I’d ever before experienced and good friends. Richard was the best of them.”
“I thought you said you were not friends with Richard,” Suzette reminded him, her eyes growing narrow.
Daniel stiffened, hesitated, and then said carefully, “We were the best of friends as children. But I am certainly not friends with the man who has been the Earl of Radnor since the fire that burned down his townhouse.”
Suzette relaxed a little and then sighed. “So the death of his twin really did affect him?”
Daniel hesitated again. He really didn’t want to lie to Suzette about this, and had actually managed not to so far in this conversation by speaking very carefully. Finally, he said, “The fire in the townhouse and George’s death both changed everything. However, now the Earl of Radnor is his old self and a man I am proud to call friend.”
“Hmm,” Suzette muttered, not looking fully convinced. She turned back to the chest and changed the subject, saying, “Your mother sounds an interesting woman.”
“I suppose she is,” he said thoughtfully. Daniel had never really considered it much, he’d just loved her as a son should love the woman who had sacrificed so much for him. But he acknowledged her traits, saying, “She’s strong, smart, and charming. And she didn’t allow her circumstances to make her bitter. While the loss of Father struck her hard, she said every day of sorrow since was worth those few precious years they had together.”
Suzette released a little sigh into the chest. “She must have truly loved him.”
“Hmm,” Daniel murmured, but he was now wondering why he’d told her all that. Even Richard didn’t know so much about him and his family.
“So your mother’s family never forgave her?” Suzette asked suddenly, distracting him. “They didn’t welcome her back on your father’s death?”
“No.” Daniel’s mouth tightened, but he admitted, “My mother’s mother apparently sent us food and money and such, whatever she could sneak out to us through her maid. However, she died while I was still in school and her husband, my grandfather,” he added with disgust. “Apparently he is a bitter old bastard and has never relented.”
“Perhaps he will someday,” Suzette said quietly.
“I wouldn’t care if he did. It’s too late now,” Daniel said firmly. While the man could have eased his daughter’s troubles had he tried years ago, he hadn’t, and now Daniel had. He didn’t need or want anything from the coldhearted old fool.
Suzette heaved a sigh into the chest. “So much sorrow and struggle. In comparison, I had an ideal childhood. While my mother died shortly after Lisa was born, I never went without, and grew up with lots of fresh air, lots of love and laughter and with my loving sisters and a doting father.”
“Who has managed to work his way into a position where you are forced to marry to save your family from ruin,” Daniel pointed out dryly. “For some, sorrow comes young and for others later. Life evens out in the end.”
When she glanced over her shoulder in confusion, he pointed out, “I had my sorrow and struggles while young, while yours are happening now at the end of an idyllic childhood. Frankly, I’d rather have the young sorrow. I was a child, and didn’t miss much. This must all be a terrible shock for you, however. I doubt you grew up imagining being forced to marry to save the family.”
“No more than you probably did as a child,” she said quietly.
Daniel remained silent. He wasn’t being forced to marry for money,