Page 61 of The Viscount's Code
“Don’t go,” she said, her words so soft that she wasn’t sure anyone would be able to hear her, but she hoped that Anthony could understand what she was trying to say, would read into her truest wish.
“I must,” he muttered, as he walked by her and to the door. She reached out, grasping his elbow, no longer caring about who might be watching them or what they might think.
“Please?” she whispered, looking at him, clutching his arm.
“What is this about?” her father interjected, his stare upon them obvious, but Hope no longer cared about what was expected of her, what would make everyone else happy. She refused to remove her gaze from Anthony, intent on him and him alone.
If he gave her any indication that he would commit himself to her, she would leave her father and turn her back on any warnings he might issue.
“Hope?” her father said, but she didn’t turn around, keeping her eyes firm on Anthony.
“Is there something going on here?” her father said, his bluster growing. “Hope Newfield, if you have an idea of tying yourself to this man, think again. I will not have our family name attached to theirs.”
“That is not for you to decide, Father,” she said, her heart tripping over the courage it took her to say such a thing. Anthony’s eyes widened slightly in surprise, and she waited for him to agree, to tell her that she was right, to take her in his arms – to do anything besides stand there, frozen in indecision.
“That is where you’re wrong,” her father continued, oblivious to her silent plea. “For while I may not be able to stop you from giving up your life to be with him, I will make sure that neither of you ever receives anything from your dowry and you will not be welcome in my home ever again. Do you understand me?”
Hope’s breath caught, as she finally turned to face him. “You would truly do that to me?”
“You would only be doing it to yourself,” he said coldly. “The choice is yours.”
Tears welled up in Hope’s eyes, but if that was the way her father was going to be, then he had made the decision for her. She turned to tell Anthony, but as she did, the library door slammed behind them so hard that she heard the keys of the piano in the adjoining room jingle.
He was gone – without giving her any chance at all.
CHAPTER24
“Where are you going?”
Hope had wrenched open the library door, following Anthony out, but Faith was close behind her, tugging at her arm as she questioned her.
“To speak to Anthony.”
“Why?”
“To tell him how I feel.”
“Hope.” She tugged so hard now that Hope had no choice but to whirl around and face her.
“What is it?”
“You cannot seriously be considering a future with him. Did you not hear all that Father just said?”
“Of course I did,” Hope responded incredulously. “That is the veryreasonI am making my choice. If Father is going to give me such an ultimatum, then he has made the decision easy for me.”
“But do you have an option with Lord Whitehall? He didn’t even stay to support you.”
“Yes, but—” Hope stopped. Faith was right. Why had he not stayed? Her father may have rejected him, but she certainly hadn’t. In fact, she thought she had made it obvious what she had wanted.
“Has he ever given you any inkling that he wants a future with you?”
Hope bit her lip. “He has said he cares for me.”
“That is not the same thing.”
Lifting her chin, Hope took a breath. “I believe that he thinks he has nothing to offer me until he proves that his father is innocent of the accusations against him,” she said. “Perhaps after that…”
“What if that never happens?” Faith persisted. “I’m sorry, Hope. I do not wish to be the one to point this out to you, but you need to be logical about this before you give up everything for a man who might not actually want you.”
