Page 71 of Without Pride and Prejudice

“I can help there,” Kingston offered from the seat he had taken in the corner of the small room.

I sat up, even though it hurt. “Really? How?”

“His Grace asked me to look into it. He believed something foul was at play, and he wasn’t wrong.”

“Do tell.” I was anxious to know.

Kingston recounted how he learned that Tony had been embezzling funds from his family’s plumbing business and that he was actually working at the park.

“Are you serious? Why come here?”

Kingston leaned forward with a hint of a smile on his handsome face. He was totally a Gerard Butler type. “From what I gather from speaking to his father, he’s running from his legal troubles, and he came here to convince His Grace to give him back the fee he’d paid for your honeymoon.”

“Does Fitz know any of this?”

“Yes, madam. The man had the audacity to visit him here and ask for the money.”

“I hope Fitz didn’t give it to him.”

“Of course he didn’t,” Kingston said. “But you should know that Tony’s father is most thankful to you. Had you not talkedto him about giving Tony more money, he might not have discovered his son’s betrayal until it was too late. He had taken your words into consideration and planned to give Tony a raise, which caused him to take a closer look at the books.”

“You mean Tony didn’t get fired because of me?”

“No, madam. Your actions saved their family business.”

“Huh.” I guess not everything I tried to fix ended in a disaster.

“I’m just relieved you didn’t end up with Tony,” Dad said. “He wasn’t and isn’t the right man for you.”

“Who is, then?” I asked before I thought it through.

“You know, I could do with a cup of tea.” Anna jumped up.

“I’ll join you.” Kingston stood.

“We’ll be back.” Anna waved. “And when we return, we’ll get you into some proper sleepwear.”

“Thank you both for coming, and for being my friends,” my voice hitched. I felt so loved, and so confused. Well, confused about my best friend—the man I knew I belonged with. But I couldn’t see a possible happy outcome.

“Miss Monroe,” Kingston said before they walked out the door. “I don’t know if His Grace would want me to say this, but I think you should know that he’s willing to renounce his title, if that is what you wish. I told him you wouldn’t want that. But as I said, I thought you should be aware.”

I turned to my dad and buried my head in his chest, tears streaming down my face. “He’s such an idiot,” I said half-heartedly. How dare he be so wonderful? Of course, I didn’t want him to renounce his title. I didn’t even know that was an option.

Dad chuckled. “He’s a good kid, that one. I’ve always thought so.” He paused before he added, “I hoped one day you two would figure out that you were the best kind of friends.”

“Oh, Dad. We can’t be. I embarrass him.”

Dad patted my back. “He told me what happened.”

“So you saw the picture in theDaily Mail?”

“I did. I thought you looked great. Your grams loved it. She said she’s going to print out a copy and put it on her fridge. She’s proud of you, as am I.”

I laughed and cringed. “Why would you be? I’m a laughingstock.”

Dad leaned away from me, his kind brown eyes lasering in on my own. “Let the world laugh. What do they know? That picture says you have a heart as big as Texas. You always have. And since when do you care so much about what people think of you?”

“Since it became international news and my best friend suggested I change everything about myself in order for us to be together,” I choked out.

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