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She looked up at him, her eyes uncommonly serious “I would like you to come in,” she said

It was a simple stateave her a nod, and together they walked up the steps The rest of the Bridgertons had dispersed, so they entered the now-e roo area, and then she shut it All the way

Gareth lifted his brows in question In soe

“I used to think,” Hyacinth said after athat would have made my life better was a father”

He said nothing

“Whenever I was angry withby the door, “or with one of my brothers or sisters, I used to think—If only I had a father Everything would be perfect, and he would surely take my side” She looked up, and her lips were curved in an endearingly lopsided smile “He wouldn’t have done, of course, since I’ave reat comfort to think it”

Gareth still said nothing All he could do was stand there and ierton Picture hihter And he couldn’t respond, because it was too painful to think that she’d had all that and still wanted more

“I’ve always been jealous of people with fathers,” she said, “but no longer”

He turned sharply, his eyes snapping to hers She returned his gaze with equal directness, and he realized he couldn’t look away Not shouldn’t—couldn’t

“It’s better to have no father at all than to have one such as yours, Gareth,” she said quietly “I’m so sorry”

And that was his undoing Here was this girl who had everything—at least everything he thought he’d ever wanted—and somehow she still understood

“I havewistfully “Or at least the memories others have told to ood man He would have loved me if he’d lived He would have loved me without reservations and without conditions”

Her lips wobbled into an expression he had never seen on her before A little bit quirky, an awful lot self-deprecating It was entirely unlike Hyacinth, and for that reason co

“And I know,” she said, letting out a short, staccato breath, the sort one did when one couldn’t quite believe what one was saying, “that it’s often rather hard work to love me”

And suddenly Gareth realized that sos one si able to explain the her, all he could think was—No