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deceived him.”
    “But that is not true.” Calista felt a
lump in her throat. Having been loved and protected by both her parents, and
then by Evelyn, she could hardly comprehend a father treating his wife and son
so badly.
    The Colonel smiled sadly. “No, I am sure
it is not. From the time she married till she left at seventeen, my mother was
seldom in anyone’s company but my father’s. He made sure of that, so that his
cruelty would not be discovered. But I would still not have her name sullied.
Mud, as you know, Miss Haywood, sticks. I do not mind for myself. I have made
my own fortune, and distinguished myself as a soldier. If I were thrown out of
society because that society believed me to be illegitimate, I would survive.
The hypocrisy that exists is astounding. The only commandment of the nobility
is ‘thou shalt not be found out’.   I do not care if my father does
disown me publicly as well as privately. But I will not stand by and let anyone
cast aspersions on my mother’s character. Not after all she suffered at his
hands.”
    “I am so sorry for both your suffering,”
said Calista, as a tear slipped from her eye. She had an image of an eager
young man, hoping that his father would accept him, despite everything. It must
have hurt the Colonel far more than he pretended.
    “I cannot say I suffered. My mother made
sure of that by taking me to a safe haven where I was loved and nurtured.”
    “It must have hurt deeply when your
father disowned you.”
    “Do not imbue me with a sensitivity I do
not have, Miss Haywood. I can honestly say I hate my father, and am just as
happy to disown him.” Despite his words, Calista believed he was telling a lie.
She could not blame him. It was no doubt a way of protecting himself against
the pain of his father’s behaviour.
    “I believe your five minutes are up,”
said Lady Bedlington from the door. She smiled kindly at Calista, who curtseyed
and went to leave the room. As Calista turned into the corridor, out of the
corner of her eye she saw Lady Bedlington move across the room and put her hand
on the colonel’s arm in a touching gesture, murmuring something in sympathetic
tones that Calista did not quite hear.
    Calista only wished that she had the
courage to touch him in the same way. She would have done anything to take away
his pain.
    “What on earth did the Colonel want with
you?” said Blanche when Calista arrived at their sitting room.
    “He is renovating his house and asked my
opinion on some things,” said Calista. She wished she did not have to deal with
Blanche of all people. She felt moved by the colonel’s story and wanted to be
alone to think about it. To think about him.
    “Your opinion? Oh well, I am sure that
is his way of trying to include you. Just like his insistence you go to
Almacks. I think he feels sorry for you. Do not think he will marry you,
Calista. You are far too unimportant for a man like the colonel.”
    “Blanche,” said Calista, her temper
rising. “Do you ever get tired of the sound of your own voice?” She brushed
past Evelyn, ignoring the fact that her step-mother reached out for her, and
went into her room, slamming the door after her.
    She heard Blanche’s muffled tones
through the door. “Mama, how could you let her speak to me in such a way? And
me about to become a duchess.”
    Calista lay on her bed in the darkened
room, thinking of all she had been told. She realized how lucky she had been,
to be raised first by two parents who loved each other dearly, with a gentle
father and loving mother, and then to have Evelyn as a step-mother. Admittedly
Blanche could be a problem, but even she did not behave violently towards
Calista.
    After half an hour, the door opened a
little. “Calista…” It was Evelyn. “May I come in, dearest?”
    “Yes, of course.”
    Evelyn shut the door and came to sit on
the edge of Calista’s bed. “Blanche’s words have hurt more than ever, have they
not?”
    “No, I do not