Read Indulgence 2: One Glimpse for Free Online

servants. He had thought the question innocent enough, what with Sophie being present, but Lily’s lips tightened and she nodded her reply.
    She asked him about the wedding and the breakfast, and conversation moved along the dull, polite lines that one reserved for strangers and the presence of children, but something in her manner told him that she was not feeling nearly as light as she was trying to sound.
    “Sophie, sweetheart, run along upstairs and bring down your doll,” he said, smiling. “Did you get the little dress for her that matches your new one?”
    “I did, Papa. It’s so pretty, but she’s not dressed in it right now.”
    “Then you had better dress her too. A little lady can’t come downstairs unless properly dressed, you know,” he said, nodding seriously.
    “Silly! She’s just a doll; she doesn’t have to dress the right way like real ladies.” She hopped down from the sofa and twirled around. “But my dress is pretty, so I’ll put her in her dress too and then we’ll both be pretty.”
    “Excellent idea,” he seconded. “Run on.”
    “All right. Don’t leave before I come back, Papa.” She reached the door, struggled with it until the housekeeper took charge, then disappeared.
    The tension dropped from his shoulders, and he sank back into the sofa. “I must say, Lil, she is my angel, but I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to being called Papa.”
    “I know,” she said, her smile somewhat sad. “But you know that I will never be able to thank you enough for allowing it.”
    “Lil…” He sighed, shaking his head.
    “I know, I know.” She forced a watery smile. “You believe you are the one who owes me the thanks.”
    It was true. He did owe her thanks, almost every day of his life. Were it not for her, her kind nature, her loyalty, and her willingness to play a role for which she was entirely unsuited, there was no telling where he would be today. Perhaps dead. Perhaps all the fear and self-depravation would have led him to put a pistol in his mouth years ago.
    Relax, old boy. “So you did go to the flower market this morning?” he ventured.
    “Oh. Yes.” She was nervous again.
    “Did something happen?” He leaned forward. “You know I told you if any man dares to insult you or approach you because of our relationship, that you were to tell me immediately.”
    “Oh, no. No, nothing like that.” She shook her head, working a few blonde strands loose from the simple knot at the back. “I saw my sister today.”
    John frowned. He knew what was coming.
    Lily’s chin startled to wobble. “I know she saw me. She looked right at me, but…” She couldn’t say any more and twisted in her chair to retrieve a handkerchief from the side table.
    “Lil,” he said gently, reaching for her hand, “she cut you?”
    “Yes.” She sobbed. “Looked right at me and then just brushed past. She m-moved her skirts like she didn’t want to touch me for being so filthy.”
    He rose from his seat and knelt before her, holding her trembling hand between his own. This was not the first time she had been given the cut direct from a member of her family on the rare occasion when they were seen in London. He was glad he had not been there, for despite his ingrained upbringing to be ever courteous to the gentler sex, he would have struggled not to give that bitch a piece of his mind right there on the street.
    “I know I have said this before, but be thankful they cast you off. Such heartless people don’t deserve someone like you in their family.”
    It was true. The day his traveling coach had pulled in to the Horse & Hoof outside Bath had been the same day Lily had seen how heartless and base her own family truly was. He had spotted her standing next to a post in the inn yard, two satchels at her feet and two lines of tears cutting the dust on her face. He had learned later that the reason she had been standing in the yard waiting for the scheduled arrival of the mail coach was