Ruby meeting her dad. Would you have expected it to go like that?

There was a complete contrast between Ruby's maturity and Cecil's smarmy reticence. Perhaps his mother had sucked out any backbone he may have started out with. A lesser woman might have gone all postal on a man who had caused so much pain to their mother. It's almost as if she didn't want to waste any more energy on him than was necessary.
She recognized him as her biological father but that was it.

I was glad this was included as part of the story because I always wondered what happened with Cecil and if learned the truth. I think it closed the loop for Ruby and she could be happy with the person she had grown to be with no need for him. I found him despicable!

I didn't find him despicable so much as weak and uncaring. I was surprised that he remembered his brief fling with Evangeline that he wasn't overly shocked he had fathered a child.

Poor Evangeline! She suspected Cecil knew and just didn't care, and sure enough, that was the case. I can't imagine how betrayed I would have felt in her shoes.

Yes, I agree with all of the above. Cecil was despicable, weak and uncaring. Sounds like maybe he lived a (I hope) lonely life without much love in it, although he certainly had the creature comforts. But I am glad this was included - the handkerchief was mentioned so many times during the book that I thought Ruby might discover her father at some point.

Cecil was despicable, weak, uncaring, spoiled, you name it.
But I really thought that the fact that he had a daughter would change him. At least make him care about his own progeny's history and welfare. Too bad.

It was as I expected. I too was glad that he had a lonely, uncaring life. And I think illegitimate children were often denied, so that wasn't unexpected.....I don't think the fatherly side of men was something that was fostered in those times.

I thought it was exactly how it would go, perhaps better. I expected him to deny paternity altogether. Because he was weak and uncaring, he was not interested in anything but himself. I was surprised he offered the ring and surprised she didn’t accept it. I think only in novels would she have turned the ruby down.

Cecil seemed a lost soul, devoid of real character and fearful to upset the staus quo. That all came through in the meeting with Ruby. I wish he had been more interested in a relationship with Ruby but that wouldn't have fit his previously described character.
He is a lonely, uncaring man. Ruby held her ground with him.

I loved the way Ruby handled the meeting with her biological father, especially the final touch of leaving his pitiful coins behind. That said, I think the scene was perhaps a little too modern for the time of the story. It was certainly satisfying for the reader.

I agree with Alaskareader - I don't think illegitimate children were regarded with much respect, so the fact that he agreed to speak with her and offered her a token was pretty decent for that time period.

This event or meeting was post climactic, but I liked it being there. It showed his 'come-uppance'....an unhappy man who no longer had the power, virility or the stature of the landed gentry. Living alone in this huge, but shabby house with two old servants. no wife, family children...that was his legacy. So glad that she did not accept anything from him and left with her head held high.

I knew there had to be some connection to Ruby's father, but was surprised at how it went. He was clearly a very weak man and Ruby was wise to realize her life was just fine without him.

I was always waiting for Cecil to come and save Evangeline. So I thought he didn't know, but why wouldn't he hunt her down. That showed how shallow he was. It was satisfying to find he lived a dull, unloving life. Ruby was so much richer than he was, that was a blessing.

I agree with all the above...Cecil the spineless jellyfish. Ruby made me proud with her curt manor and chin held high. Brava!!!!

Also, I was so glad this was included in the book. Definitely something I needed closure on.

I wasn't sure how it would go. I was surprised at how Cecil ended up but not sorry. I was also surprised that Agnes was still with him. He didn't seem to care at all about Evangeline and there wasn't any real connection with Ruby. It provided closure for Ruby because she could see that she had a better life without him and many people who loved her and helped her survive her childhood. She had more opportunity in her life than she would have had with him. I was glad she rejected him but I don't think it had any impact on him.

It didn't really surprise me and I was glad that the scene was in there to give Ruby some kind of closures.

I did not have expectations of their meeting, however I really liked the way it ended up, appropriate...