Page 45 of In Compromise with the Earl
“He wants the Duke’s money,” she uttered gravely. “Sadly, he will be disappointed.”
“And lastly, again, I cannot stress this more, you must truly follow through with this marriage,” Lady Pandora said. “I need you to speak with each other, and I mean do speak with each other. Do not overlook any issue, as small as it might be, and be honest with each other. Nothing will work if you are not forthright.”
Oddly, Aphrodite began to feel nervous. Would Oswald understand her reluctance in going to theton’s affairs, balls and the like? Would he empathize with knowing that she kept few friends? When he saw her father, would he realize why she was disgusted with men like him, the Duke included?
Would he tell her his secrets about his late wife? Would he tell her about the tricks she had played against him? Would he defend her from his family if need be?
The questions kept coming and she realized, they had to have some direct discussions about these issues. “I understand,” Aphrodite said. “May I send a message to my father this morning? I will not be looking forward to the meeting tonight, but what’s done is done.”
“Yes,” Lady Pandora said, “and you too, My Lord.”
“Thank you,” Oswald said quietly.
“Please, have breakfast,” Lady Pandora pointed to the spread. “I will be back in an hour.”
When she left, Aphrodite made her tea. “I shouldn’t have been surprised that your mother would want a woman who is not so sociable, but will she take me as I am? I don’t play coy games, nor do I shy away from tackling hard issues. I am not one to sit around and let things run over my head.”
“I think…” Oswald mused, “there might be some aspects of you she will like and others she will not understand.”
“You mean, parts she will hate,” Aphrodite grimaced.
“No,” he set his cup aside and reached out to hold her suddenly clammy hands. “Misunderstand, like your love for riding, or not mincing words. She might not understand how you draw attention without asking for it, and she might not see why you like books instead of dresses, or solitude instead of being under attention, but she will get accustomed to you.”
Unable to stomach more than a slice of buttered bread and some fruit, Aphrodite made another cup of tea. “If my father does come to see me tonight—”
“I would not be anywhere else,” Oswald said directly.
“Thank you,” Aphrodite said genuinely. “Now, are you ready to go and bear the brunt of people who, I can assure you, already have half the facts wrong?”
“I would not have it any other way,” Oswald laughed.
* * *
That evening, as Aphrodite came to the drawing room where her father had been admitted, it suddenly struck her how much she had prevented herself from experiencing life. She had been living each moment trying to distance herself from her father’s actions, while somehow trying to live up to his expectations, with little regard for the desires that lived in her heart.
Her father wanted her to marry Jameson, it had been evident in his every word whenever the three had crossed paths. Fierce emotions tumbled through her as she stepped into the room. Her father, standing by a window, was dressed smartly in tan trousers and jacket, a dark-blue waistcoat and a white shirt. His cravat was expertly tied, and a beaver hat perched upon the head of his cane with an odd sort of elegance.
I want more from life, Father, more than you want from me. And I am willing to pursue it.But I shan’t be foolish,especially when it comes to a gentleman with a certain crooked smile and a sensually slanted mouth.
“What were you thinking?” William said emptily. He turned and thumped his cane. “I told you to bond with Duke Strathmore, only to hear that you have contrived to marry this…” his eyes traced Oswald, “Earl.”
“Lord Kingsley,” Oswald bowed his head. “I would imagine that you would have preferred to see His Grace—”
“Clearly,” the Viscount said stiffly.
“But he was not enough for Aphrodite,” Oswald finished.
“And you are?” William’s lips lifted. “I know who you are, Tennesley, I know what stock you come from, and you are hardly the bloodline I want for my child.”
“He is not cattle, Father,” Aphrodite said. “You cannot grade him as you would a bull. Duke Strathmore is a petty, weak, selfish man who only cares about his money and trying to prove himself the leader of the pack and flaunt me in front of his friends. I am not an ornament for his amusement and no mountains of pounds will cater to that.”
“So, you chose the second choice,” William scoffed.
“I will not sell my soul to have what you think is best for me,” Aphrodite said. “If you want to have any connection with His Grace, then be free to enter any business contracts with him, but I will not be a part of it. I am not a bargaining card, or a prize steed to barter with.”
His brow lifted, uncannily like Aphrodite did in situations that stunned her. “If you are willing to throw your life and future away for a man that could not control his wife, be free to do so. I will be looking forward to you turning up back on my doorstep in the next three months. I will be watching you, Tennesley.”
The Viscount left the room, with a curt nod and Aphrodite made it to a chair, where she sat heavily. Framing her face with both hands she sucked in a breath and rubbed her eyes. Oswald stood silently by her side and waited for her to speak.
