Page 47 of The Marchioness of his Desire
“The position you find yourself in, for this is not my doing. I have my own troubles, though I know now that Rebecca surely still loves me, else she would have eloped,” Nicholas replied.
He had no loyalty to the Earl, no reason to take his side or offer a defense. But it was Rebecca that he cared for, and Nicholas knew that Edward would not rest from his wicked ploy until such time as his debt might be paid. But what now to do? And how did the countess fit into all of this? Could she too be a ploy, planted by Edward for his own gain? These thoughts and others rushed through Nicholas’ mind, and he paced up and down the room, swilling the brandy in his glass and pondering what the earl had just revealed.
“I presume it was a large sum that he paid you?” Nicholas asked, and the earl nodded.
“Enough to pay my debts and leave me with remaining funds to live as I am accustomed,” he replied.
“But you have refused to repay him?” Nicholas continued.
“For now, but he continues to breathe all manner of threats against me, against us all. He hates you for stealing the woman he loved.”
“And why did you allow me to marry her? Surely you knew of this already, and that Edward Johnson would not rest until he had his way?” Nicholas said, furrowing his brow.
None of it seemed to make sense, and he was confused as to why Edward should have allowed the marriage to take place without claiming his prize.
“I could not stop Rebecca. Until you arrived on the scene it was an easy business, but the scandal between the two of you was enough to force my hand. I was convinced that you were an unsuitable husband, and that soon she would have cause to leave you. Well, it seems that I was wrong,” he said, and Nicholas shook his head.
“You have behaved in the most abysmal manner, sir. I should throw you out and have nothing to do with you, if it were not for Rebecca and my love for her. I suppose you have come to tell me this by way of guilt, or is it the debt itself you wish to have settled?”
“Edward is determined to have Rebecca, whether I agree to it or not. He is quite mad, you know. Madly in love with her as he always has been. It is a dangerous obsession, and one I fear the outcome of,” the earl said, shaking his hand as he finished the last of his brandy and sighed.
“And what am I supposed to do about it?” Nicholas replied, his anger flaring.
It seemed that yet another problem had been laid at his door, something more to ponder over and contemplate, another threat to the happiness he longed for.
“Wait and see what his next move is, I suppose,” the earl said, and Nicholas gave an exasperated groan.
“I must wait for the countess and now for the naval officer. I have spent enough time waiting for the woman I wished only to marry and be happy with. Will this never end?”
The earl rose from his chair, shrugged his shoulders, and set down his empty glass on the desk. He looked Nicholas up and down as though pondering the decision he had made to inform him of this newest foil to his happiness.
“The answer will no doubt be soon revealed, Nicholas, for I doubt Edward Johnson will resist the chance to make another move. At least you are now better prepared for it, though I remain out of pocket” he said, and nodding, he left the room.
Nicholas slumped back into a chair, desperate for a resolution to this unfortunate turn of events. There was no doubt in his mind that Edward was behind the arrival of the countess. Surely, he had paid her a handsome sum to act as foil, hoping that it would be enough to make Rebecca choose to leave. But what Edward had not counted upon was Rebecca’s love, even in the midst of uncertainty.
With that thought, Nicholas rose to his feet and straightened himself out, adjusting his cravat in the mirror and smoothing back his hair. Now was the time to be bold, for there was much at stake, not least both of their happiness. He would speak with Rebecca that very moment and explain everything. He had no care for her uncle’s financial dealings, nor would he bail him out for the sake of being rid of Edward. No, he would bide his time and seek to expose Edward for his underhandedness. Only then would the scandal of what he had done be revealed, and surely it would be enough to send him fleeing from the tonfor good.
Chapter Twenty
Nicholas could hear the sounds of Laura practicing the pianoforte coming from the drawing room. She really was a most accomplished player, and he paused in the hallway for a moment, listening as Rebecca gave her instruction.
“Try it again, but this time, keep your left hand poised, that way you can strike the note at just the right moment,” she was saying as Nicholas entered the room.
Both sisters looked up in surprise, and Rebecca turned away as if intent upon continuing her charade of silence against him. Laura stopped playing, giving Nicholas a weak smile as she rose from the instrument and curtsied.
“I will go to the nursery, Rebecca,” she said.
“No, you need not leave,” Rebecca began, but Nicholas stepped forward.
“Rebecca please, I must speak with you about your uncle’s visit; he came with most enlightening news,” Nicholas said, and now he had Rebecca’s attention.
“Very well, I shall join you for luncheon. Laura, run along now,” she said, and Laura left the room, leaving Nicholas and Rebecca alone.
A silence fell as Rebecca waited for him to speak, and Nicholas sought the words he needed, unable at first to articulate his feelings. He loved her so very much, and now he knew that she had stayed on account of her love and fidelity toward him.
“Might we take a walk in the park together? I fear that the walls in this house have ears, and that we might be so easily overheard,” he said, offering her his arm.
She nodded, rising from her place by the pianoforte and gliding past him without a glance. Mrs. Thrip met them in the hallway, and soon, Rebecca had donned bonnet and gloves, taking up a parasol, for it was a warm and sunny day. She refused Nicholas’ arm, instead leading the way down the steps and across to the park, which had so often been the scene of many happy walks together.
