The Gentleman of Holly Street by Lotte R. James

Author:Lotte R. James
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2022-09-07T13:47:43+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

Make it right. That became Freddie’s mantra, as Mary was undeniably correct. Come what may, diverging paths or not, he wouldn’t see things end with Mena this way—no matter how much easier that might be.

A clean break.

Only, it wouldn’t be. It would be a break which festered and ultimately killed; at least for him. Perhaps for her too. His idiocy, his cuts, would likely make it so; at the very least.

The danger over their heads still loomed. Freddie knew that. His uncle had waited twenty-nine years for vengeance—he wouldn’t just relent. However, with the men he’d hired at his back, Freddie felt confident, if not to let down his guard, to at least trust that they would keep a watchful eye. Besides, he had a feeling his uncle would wait—let him remain on tenterhooks for a time. Let the fear and anticipation build. He might’ve feared a greater scheme altogether, but events so far led him to believe his uncle had discovered him only recently, and hadn’t had time to put something far worse into place. If his uncle had even been capable of such; he was a mean, spiteful man, but not someone ever capable of seeing larger possibilities. A schemer, not a planner.

Bastard either way.

Yes. Both of them were.

In any case, Freddie knew he had some time to attempt and mend what he’d shattered. How... Well now, that was the question, wasn’t it?

Though an apology was obviously in order—he was still working through precisely what and how to say it all—he also knew words would not be enough. If anything could ever be enough. This...grovelling demanded action. It demanded he demonstrate, prove, that not only was he sorrier than words could ever express, but that he was immensely proud. That he did, and would always, support Mena, in any way she’d let him. That his hurt was not merely from her deception, surprise, but at himself. For having imposed a policy of separation. A limit on intimacy and sharing. That he’d been so blind, so as not to see he’d been holding her back; or rather, that he’d not even paid enough attention to see that she was already moving on. He couldn’t quite relinquish the policies on separation and intimacy, he couldn’t reveal all he felt, but perhaps, he could...relax it.

It was all well and good to come to such conclusions, it was entirely another to put it into action. The day after meeting Mary, Freddie managed to track down Susie, and after a rather long speech demonstrating his contrition, he convinced her to help him. Somewhat warily, she laid out Mena’s plans for Christmas, and together they devised ways he could be useful—without stepping on Mena’s toes, and without being discovered. Which led to some rather comical moments, as it was quite a challenge considering Mena spent half of the remaining days until Christmas Eve at Nichols House. There were some rapid retreats under tables, and quick dissimulations behind other persons.

However, she did save him from having to avoid her at Holly Street, as she did that herself.

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