Page 22 of Rescued from Betrayal
“To my room? You wouldn’t.”
The corner of his lips tipped up. “I would.”
She wanted to hurl something at his unrepentant face, but he spun and left too quickly for her to grasp anything other than the jewelry she already held.
Carefully, she placed the piece inside with the others. She glanced around at all the boxes and trunks, some full and some still waiting to be packed. It felt like a benediction on her life as she knew it. No longer would she be Melior, daughter of a future duke. From here on out, she would be Lady Nathaniel Stanford, wife of a baronet. A lowly baronet.
The irony was too much. “Oh how the mighty fall,” she muttered to herself.
Chapter 8
Nathaniel paced from one end of the parlor to the other. He had not gone about this at all as he ought.
It had taken three days to wrap his mind around what had happened, and still he could not fathom his good fortune… and bad luck. Tomorrow he would marry the most beautiful woman he had ever laid eyes on—one who hated him.
Perhaps hate was not the exact emotion, but it was far from the loving marriage he had envisioned for himself. She had not once spoken to him the last few days, even though he’d been to the house twice.
Of course he’d also not seen her on those visits. An oddity, really, for she always had visiting hours on Monday and Tuesday mornings. Yet she’d not been in her usual chair in the parlor, so he’d spoken with her father about the marriage contracts and mostly avoided making eye contact with her mother. Every time he glanced her way, the woman looked as if she’d like to murder him right on the spot.
Lady Kendall would probablyneverforgive him for saving her daughter. Then again, she’d only heard the half true story of the torn dress that Melior’s uncle had agreed should be put forward to the family. Most likely the woman considered him the crux of the problem.
Thanks to Eddie’s ingenuity, they’d been able to avoid Lady Kendall most of the time he’d spent at the house.
The parlor door opened and he spun to greet Melior.
Eddie stepped in, his blue eyes near mirrors of Melior’s. It was odd how many similarities the siblings had and yet he’d never once thought Eddie the least bit attractive. Then again, he had little experience judging male appeal.
His friend received plenty of feminine attention, however, so he must be pleasantly put together. And by extension he himself must be somewhat attractive, since they both shared similar athletic frames with broad shoulders from their hours of fencing. However, that was as far as their similarities extended.
Where Eddie’s hair was dark, Nathaniel’s was chocolatey in color. Their eye shade was completely different, and Eddie’s narrower jaw made him appear more youthful.
Eddie cleared his throat. “My sister will be down soon. She needs to finish up some packing.”
A sudden insecurity over his own looks made Eddie’s words seem like a direct indication of his own lack. “Cannot a maid do that?”
“I am sure one could, but Mel has found it the perfect excuse not to speak to anyone.”
So she was pouting. Gone were his insecurities as irritation flooded to replace it. He should have known. A pampered, self-absorbed woman like her probably did not feel gratitude as she ought for being saved from utter ruin. The knowledge tipped the scales. Marriage to Melior was definitely God’s curse. Most likelyleft over retribution for not returning home from the continent when his mother sent word of his father and sister’s illness.
Eddie sat in one of the large wingback chairs. “I told her if she’s not down in ten minutes I would send you up after her.”
“You what?”
“Oh, do not look so panicked. You are going to be married to her after all. It is not like it would be improper.”
“Might I remind you that we are notyetmarried. That makes it highly improper. We do not need any more rumors milling about Town.”
“I am not sure it could make things any worse. My mother’s fits of temper have been so loud people can hear them in the streets. Mel tried to stand up for herself that first night, but it was useless. Mother seems to think she did this out of spite to ruin us all.”
“You cannot be serious.”
“I am. I think my uncle’s upcoming marriage has finally sent Mother to bedlam. She was so set on us all having titles—”
“Melior willhavea title, although not the one she expected.”
“I know that, but you know my parents. They are like horses with blinders. They only see things above them.”
That was an apt metaphor. Nathaniel rubbed his hands against his trouser legs. Lord and Lady Kendall had never been welcoming to any of Eddie’s Harrow friends. John seemed the least distasteful to them as he held the highest title, but none of them could boast any relations higher than an earl.
