Page 38 of Forbidden Duke
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Blackwell stared at the wreck of a car that drove off the estate with Donna inside. His heart nearly stopped. The past five minutes replayed like a horrible nightmare. The worst part was realizing that Donna had left without listening to hisexplanation.
His gut knotted. They’d talked about trust and now he’d have to spend his life making up for another man’s mistakes—if they went through with theceremony.
He went back inside the house and saw Chelsea tucking in her shirt. His entire body felt cold as he said, “Chelsea, I’ll be speaking to your father about thisstunt.”
Her lips pouted and she seemed like she was a toddler instead of an adult. “He won’t believeyou.”
The last person he could ever marry was Chelsea—the woman was devious and calculating. Remington left his grandmother’s sick room and walked toward them in the sitting room—the door was wideopen.
Blackwell lifted his chin, looking at Remington while talking to Chelsea. “He’s not getting a dime more from me. Now, I have togo.”
Remington tapped him on the back. “Lord Bright is coming over to see my grandmother now. It would be best if we could clear up any and all business as a group,Blackwell.”
Tingles went down his spine, but Remington was right. It was best to wash his hands of this and move on. With luck, Donna would realize that she’d reacted and made a mistake and wait for him at Woodbridge Hall. “Are you going to ask for Chelseanow?”
He couldn’t let that happen without telling his friend how conniving she was and that she’d thrown him for a loop with that stunt inthere.
Remington shook his head. “Absolutely not. My contract is forCassidy.”
Chelsea’s lips parted in shock. “My sister? Are you serious? She’sawful.”
Remington crossed his arms. “And she’s about to be Lady Sky as she’s already agreed. Your family needs the money,clearly.”
At least they both understood what was happening with the Brightfamily.
Chelsea crossed her arms and stared at them both like they were evil. “What happened right here cannot be discussed with anyone else, ever. I need to marryfast.”
“You don’t get to dictate terms after trying to destroy my engagement,” Blackwell said, but Remington tapped him on the arm, getting hisattention.
A knock sounded at the front door and Remington opened it before his servantarrived.
Remington ushered Lord Paston into the sitting room and Chelsea’s tears began to fall. “Father! These men are notnobles.”
Her tears did not affect him at all. Blackwell adjusted his collar. “Lord Paston. Please send your daughter home. We have business todiscuss.”
Lord Bright hugged his youngest daughter. “Where isCassidy?”
Chelsea even spoke like a child. “She went to work already, Daddy. Lord Sky wishes to marry her but she doesn’t wantto.”
Lord Paston looked past him and toward Remington. “I will speak to Cassidy about your proposal this evening Lord Sky. Chelsea, please go home now. I’m here to speak to Gigi and His Grace, the Duke ofOakley.”
She hugged her waist and said, “But-”
“Go.” Her father repeated and opened the door forher.
Chelsea walked like she was a little girl about to throw a tantrum. Her father closed the door behind her the moment she crossed the threshold. He then took off his gray driving cap. “First, Lord Sky, what is this about marryingCassidy?”
Remington folded his hands in front of him and bowed. “It’s my grandmother’s dyingwish.”
“I understand. I’ve hoped one day Cassidy would stop working and accept her position as a lady. She’ll be more agreeable once her mother and I speak to her.” Lord Paston spoke like it was afact.
Donna might ask Cassidy to move in with them if she thought for a moment she’d been coerced. Donna was very clearly American in her thinking, and part of him understood why. At least his own mother gave him a choice on who tomarry.
Right now, Blackwell needed to be clear. He widened his stance. “I am withdrawing my contract for Chelsea’s hand, Lord Bright. Your daughter did not take the newswell.”
The older man’s eyes softened. “Was that why she wascrying?”
