Page 88 of Sinful Scottish Laird
He laughed. “Not the king. But I have been to call on Bishop Craig this morning.”
Daisy froze.So soon?They’d scarcely set foot in London, and he’d already gone to Bishop Craig? “I beg your pardon?” she said, her voice betraying her panic.
Robert arched a brow. “Darling, you must realize that word of your return—in my company—will spread quickly. I took the liberty of telling the bishop of our journey and...our understanding.”
Daisy’s belly clenched. She caught the back of the settee before she collapsed, as she felt her knees might give way. “You shouldn’t have done that,” she said. “You shouldn’t have, Robert.”
He blinked. He laughed nervously. “Of course I should have. One does not share a voyage with a gentleman unless one has an understanding. And if she didn’t have one before, she certainly has one when she returns to London.”
“I shared a voyage with my family and with your protection—that isnotan understanding. If it were so, I’d be affianced to Sir Nevis now.”
Robert slowly put his tricorne aside. “Then allow me to offer my apology,” he said carefully, treating her as if she were a crazed woman. “Would you like to know the bishop’s response?”
She looked at him warily.
Robert smiled. “He was impressed with my connections and my letters of recommendation.”
“Your letters of recommendation,” she repeated, not understanding.
“Of course I have them—a man of my standing must come armed to offer marriage to a woman of your standing. I presented a letter from Admiral Kensing and Lord Woodhouse.”
“Lord Woodhouse? Is that not the estate where your father resides as vicar?”
Robert nodded.
“You received these letters today?” she asked, trying to make sense of how he’d managed to procure them so quickly.
“No, darling. I received these letters before I embarked for Scotland.”
“Before,” she repeated.
Robert’s smiling expression changed. He rubbed his forehead as if he was trying to work out a difficult puzzle. “I don’t think you understand, Daisy. Before I could speak to you, before I could even entertain the idea ofofferingfor you, I had to make sure I would not be denied. I thought you would appreciate the lengths to which I went to give us a happy future.”
Daisy pressed her hands to her face a moment, disbelieving the lengths he’d gone to. He was either entirely too presumptuous to call on the bishop without her knowledge, or he had knit together his plan to put his hands on her fortune. Whatever the reason, she couldn’t prolong this any further. “I wish you hadn’t done so, Robert. You presume too much.”
His hopeful smile faltered. He folded his arms. “If you have something to say to me, then please do say it.”
She gathered her courage. “I don’t... I don’t have the same feelings for you that I once did,” she said simply.
Robert did not seem particularly surprised. In fact, he shrugged as if that were a trifling matter. “I am aware that your esteem lies with someone else. It has been obvious.”
Stunned, she waited for him to say more. When he didn’t, she asked, “Does that not change your opinion?”
He smiled a little and shook his head. “Quite obviously, I would prefer if you held the same regard for me. And if my offer for your hand was to be made solely on the basis of compatibility and esteem, then perhaps I should be offended. But an offer for your hand has more to do with your son, does it not?”
Daisy gaped at him. Quite clearly he didn’t feel the same about her as he once had, either. “It has as much to do with me as it does my son. My feelings must be considered.”
Robert laughed softly, and Daisy’s blood turned cold. He moved toward her, a smug bit of a smile on his face. When he reached her, he touched her earring, then let his hand drop to her shoulder. “Lady Chatwick, if you believe that you will hie off and marry your Highland thief, you are mistaken. The bishop would never allow it. CertainlyIwill not allow it. I know where the worst of the free traders are. I know an admiral who would be much delighted to have the information. If you do not accept my offer, he will have the whereabouts of Mackenzie within a fortnight. Your...infatuation...will be brought up on charges of free trading and made to pay the price. If I were you, I would think carefully before you refuse me.”
Daisy glared at him, her heart racing with fury. She saw Robert for what he was now, and very clearly at that. “Howdareyou,” she said, her voice shaking with anger. “It is none of your concern whom I marry, and if you think your threats will persuade me to act differently, you are very much mistaken.”
His expression turned darker, and he frowned at her as if she were an unruly child. “Is there a better alternative for you? Will you marry someone you scarcely know? Or will you pine away for a bloodyScot?”
“I won’t marry someone I don’t love,” she said. “And I don’t love you, Robert. Please go.”
Robert snorted. “You are as naive as you ever were, Daisy. You will not marry forlove—you will marry for advantage. Perhaps the bishop might put some sense into your head,” he said and walked across the room, preparing to take his leave. “By the by,” he said, pausing at the door. “You might want to know that I have made the bishop aware you might be a bit reluctant, due to your blatant and misguided admiration of a Scot free trader.” He threw open the door and went out, slamming the door behind him.
Daisy trembled with rage as she slowly sank onto the settee, trying to catch her breath. She felt heartsick and furious. She didn’t care who Bishop Craig would recommend to her now. She didn’t care, but she would never marry Robert. He would never touch her fortune.
