Page 14 of Married to the Rake

Chloe nodded. “She died, did she not?”

“Yes, very young and very quickly. It was quite sad.”

“What does that have to do with the Waverleys?”

“Your father married her to save her from the Waverleys. She was pressed into marriage to George and she did not want it one bit. So your father married her instead.” Her mother smiled. “Believe it or not, your father was quite the soft character back then. And Waverley has always been an arrogant man. It is no wonder Julia chose your father over him. But, of course, it gave the Waverleys something else to be angry with us about.” Her mother sighed. ”The worst thing is, your father was looking to repair the relationship back then. They were going to discuss the selling of the land and ensuring no one argued over it ever again. But when your father did the right thing, all civility vanished.”

Chloe blinked and blinked again. Her father had his moments but the story did ring true. She recalled the times when she was a little girl, when he had kissed her grazed knee better or taken her to the library and read to her. Though this argument was making him grumpier with age, she could imagine him coming to the rescue of a woman when he was younger.

Which meant the ongoing argument was all George Waverley’s fault, and not her father’s. She drew in a long breath. But did that change matters? Did she not still want to put an end to this nonsense? She was not at all sure. Particularly when she was following Mr. Brook Waverley’s lead. She had always known him to be a rogue but if his father was so bitter and vile as to try to force a woman into marriage…force her father to play rescuer, well…what sort of son would he produce?

Chloe left her mother to finish penning the reply and retreated to the library. At least there, she could think. Should she continue on with her deal with Mr. Waverley? Should she even trust him? There were so many reasons not to but, well, he had seemed so genuine. She snorted to herself as she shut the library door. She was willing to wager every woman who had fallen for his charms thought him genuine.

“Boo!”

Chloe screamed and whirled to find her brother Freddie tucked at the side of the door.

“At last. I thought you were going to take forever.”

She scowled at him and pressed a hand to her racing heart. “Are you trying to kill me?”

He shook his head, vigorously, sending red curls bouncing. He grinned. “No, but it would have been funny if you had fainted.” He sauntered over to their father’s armchair and sat in it, his legs sprawled over one arm.

“What are you doing in here, anyway?”

“I’m meant to be reading Latin but it’s the dullest thing on earth.”

Chloe could not argue with that. She plucked up the book from the study desk and leafed through it. “I read this one when I was younger. Do you want me to help?”

“I would rather you throw it in the fire.” He lounged back on the chair.

She glanced at the empty fire. “I do not think that would do much good. But you must study.” She dragged over another chair and sat at the table, patting the seat. “Come, if we do it together it will go much more quickly.”

“Fine.” Freddie stood and walked as slowly as possible before flinging himself down onto the chair. She laughed to herself. When Freddie had been born, she thought it the most awful thing. She didn’t want a baby around and with him being a boy, she was certain he would get all the attention. Of course, her parents were happy to finally have another baby and for it to be a boy but it had turned out to be rather fun having a sibling so much younger than herself. It made quite a nice distraction from the trivialities of being an adult woman.

“Papa said if I finished my work, I could ride with him to the border.”

“Why would you want to do that?”

“To see if those blasted Waverleys have moved it again.” Freddie curled a fist in a manner that reminded her too much of her father.

“Those ‘blasted Waverleys’ are our neighbors,” she said gently.

Freddie lifted both shoulders. “That does not mean they are good people. That is what Papa says.”

“Papa…should not say that.” Chloe took Freddie’s shoulder, forcing him to face her. “One day, this shall be yours…”

Freddie rolled his eyes. “I know, I know.”

“No, what I mean is, so shall that disagreement? Do you really wish to spend all your time checking borders and fighting with your neighbors?”

He nibbled on a fingernail, speaking around it, “I don’t know.” He removed his finger from his mouth. “But what can I do about it?”

Chloe pressed her lips together. Nothing, most likely. At least not yet. But she could. For the sake of her brother and her father, she would have to put her faith in Mr. Waverley. Though, she would guard herself most fiercely against any of his charms. Not that she would expect him to try to use them on her but it would not do to let her guard down, no matter what.

“Right, let us get to work,” she declared, flipping open the book. A little Latin would certainly distract her from the conundrum that was Mr. Waverley.

Hopefully.

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