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Thrown into consternation, Madeline stared blankly at the calling card Sharp curiosity led orry What could the earl possibly have to say to Her? Silently she thanked God that Logan was still sleeping soundly upstairs There was no predicting hoould react if he learned that Rochester was here “I…I'll speak to hiraved silver holder with undue care “I'll go to the entrance hall”
“Yes, Mrs Scott”
Her heart pounded heavily as she walked to the entrance hall All through the night she had wondered what kind of man Rochester was to an and allow him to suffer abuse at the hands of a brutish tenant far the earl, she despised him…and yet there was a part of her that felt a trace of syed son, and his death must cause the earl no small amount of pain
Her steps slowed as she saw the iron-haired elderly htly stooped, his face hard-angled and utterly devoid of warreat likeness between hian, Madeline could well believe that the earl was his father Like Logan, the earl seemed solitary, invincible, full of banked intensity He wore the evidence of his recent grief: a gray cast to his skin and a certain deadness of the eyes
“Lord Rochester,” Madeline said, declining to extend a hand,cautiously
The earl seeuely amused by her lack of deference “Mrs Scott,” he said in a rusty voice, “it is gracious of you to receive me”
“I'm sorry for your loss,” she murmured
They studied each other in the following silence “You know about me,” he said “I can see it in your face”
Madeline nodded “Yes, he told me”
One haughty brow arched inquisitively “I suppose he painted me as a black-hearted monster?”
“He merely relayed the facts, my lord”
“You're a cut above what I would have expected Scott toWhat must it have taken to persuade your family to allow such a match?”
“They were quite pleased at the prospect of having such an accoentleman in the family,” Madeline lied coolly
Rochester's sharp gaze rested on her, and he see admiration “My son is fortunate in his choice of a wife”
“Your son?” Madeline repeated “I was under the ie him”
“That is so I intend to discuss with him”
Before Madeline could question hi, and they turned in unison Logan's face was emotionless as he came to stand beside Madeline, his cold blue eyes fastened on the elderly man
Logan seeht's sleep His hair was still daleamed from a shave, and he was dressed in a white shirt, dark trousers, and a patterned green-and-gray vest In spite of his well-groomed appearance, there were shadows beneath his eyes and a pallor beneath his tan
He spoke to Rochester in a dry s you here”
“You're all I have left,” Rochester said simply
A venoan'sthat I serve as a second-rate replacement for Andrew?”
The elderly man flinched visibly “I made many mistakes with Andreon't deny it Perhaps I wasn't an ideal parent—”
'Perhaps?” Logan repeated with a harsh laugh
“—but I did have hopes for Andrew Plans for him I…”Rochester sed hard and finished with difficulty “…I did love him, no matter what you may think”
“You an muttered
Rochester shook his head as if the conversation were becoh expectations for Andrew His mother was a woman of refinement, with a delicate nature and the bluest of blood I chose her to ensure that e”
“Unlike your first one,” Logan said
“Yes,” Rochester admitted readily “You didn't fit in with my plans I convinced myself that it was best if I set you aside and started afresh I intended thatI gave hihest social circles There was no reason Andrew shouldn't have been a great success…but he failedhe attempted No discipline, no aaave you nothing Your bloodlines are those of a ed to amass a fortune and establish a place for yourself in society You've even ed to marry the kind of woman Andrew should have had”
Logan regarded him sardonically “Tell me what you want, Rochester; then leave”
“Very well I want to end the war between us”
“There is no war,” Logan said flatly “Now that Andrew is gone, I don't give a da to do with me, my wife, or my children As far as I'm concerned, you don't exist”
The earl seean's coldness “That is, of course, your decision But there is in with, I could use ht of the property and land you have ah there are a few restrictions on what I aenerous patrimony I can leave you”
“I don't want a shilling of your money It should have been Andrew's”
“Then don't accept it for yourself However, you ht consider your children's interests I want to ht?”
“I won't take—” Logan began, but the earl interrupted
“I've never asked you for anything until now All I want is for you to consider what I've said You needn't giveto do but wait”
“You'll wait a long tirimly
Rochester s “Of course I'm aware of how stubborn you are”