Page 46 of Her Rogue to Ruin
Then his gut clenched at the signs that she’d been crying. He wanted to go to her, hold her, comfort her, and take away whatever had upset her so. Then his gaze swung to Lady Mary, and he found that the young lady was smiling at him.
“The condition is shared mutually, I see,” she said cryptically. Then she turned and ushered Portia in to stand beside her.
They…knew each other?
“Father, I do not wish to marry Lord Pemberton,” Lady Mary stated in a strong, strident tone. “And judging by your countenance, he doesn’t wish to carry through with the silly agreement you signed on my behalf either.”
Edgeworth pointed a finger at his daughter. “You’ve no choice in this matter, miss.”
“Why not?” Portia asked, drawing Edgeworth’s wrathful gaze her way.
“I beg your pardon. Who are you?” Edgeworth demanded.
“Lady Portia Hastings. And I can repeat my question if you like.”
“This matter does not concern you,LadyHastings.” Edgeworth grumbled. “If you had any manners, you’d leave this room and let us conduct this matter in private.”
“This is my bloody house,” Phin shouted. “You don’t tell anyone to go anywhere.”
Edgeworth clenched his jaw but could offer up no retort in the face of facts.
Portia took a step closer to the glowering man. “You respect Lord Pemberton’s claim on this estate, but not your daughter’s claim on her own future.”
Edgeworth stared down at Portia and turned half a dozen shades of red.
“I want to be a doctor, Father.” Lady Mary shook her head. “No, that’s not right. Iwillbe. And Lord Pemberton can marry a lady of his choosing.” Lady Mary tipped a look Portia’s way, and Phin knew that, somehow, the two had divulged a great deal to each other this morning.
“Take the money, Edgeworth. Give your daughter the freedom to choose her own future,” Phin urged.
“How much are you giving him?” Portia’s blunt question caused every gaze to swing her way.
“A fortune,” Phin’s mother said on a long sigh.
“Well, I think some of it should be set aside for Lady Mary.” Portia turned her full attention on the lady. “To pay for medical school and support her through her studies. Independence can be expensive.” She smiled and Lady Mary gave her an answering grin.
“Can we do that?” Lady Mary looked at Phin and then his mother as she asked the question.
“Yes,” Phin told her. “I’d be happy to.”
“This is an outrage!” Edgeworth bellowed. “Have you forgotten my rights?” He stomped closer to Phin. “Have you forgottenyourduty entirely, man?”
“No woman has a duty to marry as her family chooses,” Portia said in a solemn tone. “We are each entitled to our own desires, to know our own mind, to be respected as rational creatures who do not require men to decide our futures for us.”
“Bah, modern women will be the end of all good society.” Edgeworth growled the words, but his shoulders had slumped, his breathing had grown uneven, and he looked all but defeated. He swung back to Phin. “Whatever you give my daughter, I still expect my double fee as offered.”
“Done,” Phin agreed. Anything to get the odious man and his antiquated notions out of his home. Out of his life.
“Come, Mary, we’re leaving.”
Phin’s mother approached Lady Mary. “You’re welcome to stay, and we’ll see that you get home when you’re ready.”
“No,” Lady Mary said, “I’d like to get back. I have to prepare for medical school, after all.” At that, she cast a bright smile Portia’s way.
Once the Howards departed, Phin and Portia and his mother all let out a communal sigh of relief.
Phin’s mother set her gaze on each of them for a moment in turn. “I suspect you two have much to discuss. Plans to make. I’ll see you both at dinner.”
“Are you all right?” Phin asked Portia once they were alone.
