Travis only smiled in such a way that Brandy laughed. “Good luck,” she called as he left the kitchen.
For two days Regan managed to avoid Travis, or at least she was able to avoid another out-and-out argument. But no one could miss him physically. Jennifer seemed to think her father was her personal playmate, and the two of them never left each other’s sight. Travis even took over the task of washing his daughter’s long, snarled hair, and Regan was disgusted not to hear one screech of pain or protest from Jennifer. He took her riding and tree climbing, and she was impressed at her father’s agility. Jennifer showed him the whole town, announcing that he was her daddy and that she was going to go live with him and his horses.
Regan did her best to ignore Travis and his seduction of her daughter, as well as the countless questions from the townspeople.
Regan had not seen Farrell since the day Travis had arrived, and she was startled to realize, when he reappeared, that she had not thought of him in his two-day absence.
“May I speak to you privately?” he asked.
He looked tired and very dirty, as if he’d been traveling for days without sleep.
“Of course. Come to my office.” When they were inside the office, door closed, she turned to him. “You look as if you have something important to tell me.”
Collapsing into a chair, he looked up at her. “I have been all the way to Boston and back in two days.”
“It must have been urgent business,” she said, pouring him a drink. “I take it I and my father’s money are involved.”
“Yes, or at least your father’s will. There was a copy filed in an attorney’s office in Boston. I had it made and sent to America some time ago, just in case I did find you. I thought I was sure of one point in it, but I went to Boston to have it confirmed. I have here a letter,” he said, removing an envelope from his inside coat pocket.
Regan took it, held it for a moment. “Perhaps you could tell me what it says.”
“Your parents died when you were very young, and perhaps you don’t remember, but at that time your father’s brother was still alive. He was to be your guardian, and you did stay with him for a few months, but he died soon after your parents.”
“I remember only Uncle Jonathan.”
“Yes, he was the only other relation you had, so the executors of the will, your parents’ bank, put you into his care. They, of course, had no idea what sort of a man he was. At the time the will was written, your parents thought you would be safe with your father’s brother.”
“Farrell, please get to the point.”
“The point, my dear, is that you could not get married without your guardian’s permission. Perhaps they didn’t want you marrying a fortune hunter, or perhaps they didn’t want to see you go through the hell they did when they were cut off by her family without a penny.”
“Is that all? Surely there’s more to this,” she said.
“Regan, you don’t understand. You were married to Travis Stanford without your guardian’s written permission, and you were only seventeen.”
“Seventeen! No, I’d been eighteen for months.”
“In the letter is your actual date of birth. Your uncle tried to forge the date ahead so he could marry you off and get his money.”
Feeling a bit stunned, Regan leaned back against the desk. “You’re saying that my marriage to Travis isn’t valid, aren’t you?”
“Worthless. You were underage, a minor without your guardian’s consent. You are not, nor have you ever been, married to anyone, Miss Weston.”
“And Jennifer?”
“I’m sorry to say that she is illegitimate. Of course, if you were to marry again, the husband could adopt her.”
“I don’t think Travis would like someone else adopting his daughter,” she said quietly.
“To hell with Travis,” Farrell said, jumping up to stand before her. “I’ve waited for you for years. I’ve loved you for years. You can’t blame me for shying away from a seventeen-year-old child. Instinctively I must have sensed your tender years, and you can’t blame me for not wanting a child for a wife. At least I didn’t force you to my bed as that man who is Jennifer’s father did.”
He paused, taking her hand in his. “Marry me, Regan. I’ll make a good, faithful husband to you. Haven’t I loved you for many years already? And I’ll be a good father to Jennifer.”
“Please, Farrell,” she said, pulling away from him. “I must think about this. It’s come as a shock finding out I’ve lived in sin with a man for so many years. And this could hurt Jennifer badly.”
“That’s why—,” he began, but she put up her hand and cut him off.
“I need to be alone to think about this, and you,” she smiled, “need a bath and some rest.”