Page 17 of The Duke's Last Dance
He forced himself to enter his father’s study. When he did so, Nicolas found himself feeling uneasy about everything. The last time his father had called him into the study like this, it was to tell him that he had two choices: either he could go into the Navy, or his father would disown him.
As much as he would have liked to tell his father to take his controlling attitude and get out of his life, he knew that being disowned would not do him any favors in getting around the rest of his life. So, Nicolas had gone into the Navy.
His father looked over at him as he entered. He was about to say something when a long, terrible cough erupted from his throat. Nicolas had to hold back a snicker; his father sounded like a dog, and not in a good way. It would not have taken much to make his father cough again, and he knew that a verbal lashing could set it off again.
“My dear boy…” His father started to say something, and then stopped. He cleared his throat a number of times, as if he was trying to hold back another coughing fit. “You are the sole heir, and as such, you are set to inherit the Ashwood fortune, and the title of Duke.”
His father’s words did not surprise Nicolas. He had long ago realized that he would be the sole heir to the Ashwood fortune and title, but he could not help the sense of dread in his stomach. This was the same kind of tactic his father had used to tell him he could either be disowned or join the Navy.
“You are to pursue a courtship this Season, and it is to be with Lady Alexia Balfour,” his father continued.
That was the stunning part to Nicolas. How could his father believe that he could control who he was to love? Who he was to court?
He tried to say something more, but his father stopped him.
“When you have become more acquainted with her, you will marry her. She is the daughter of a powerful duke, Nicolas, and what’s more, if you fail to go through with this marriage, you risk losing your inheritance.” His father smirked at him.
Even in his dying moments, when everyone was sure his father was getting ready to pass along to the next life, his father was doing everything in his power to make sure Nicolas followed a road that was anything but what Nicolas wanted. He could not be expected to go through with this, especially now that his heart was set on courting Lady Catherine.
“Well? Say something,” his father encouraged him to say something.
“And why Lady Alexia, Father?” Nicolas tried to stop the tone from sounding as though he was questioning the motives, but the words did that for him.
His father glared at him before speaking again.
“She is a lady, and more so than anyone else in this town. I have spent many months arranging this meeting between you and Lady Alexia, Nicolas. Do not mess it up,” his father said. His eyes narrowed on the final sentence. “You have a propensity for listening to your heart, and I intend to break you of that. A proper man listens to reason and rational thought, not the feelings of his heart.”
“Father… I do not know what to say,” Nicolas said. He wanted to say so many things to his father – tell him that he could not control his life like this anymore, and that he was a grown man, he had been away in the Navy, he had learned how to take care of himself – but he knew that in his father’s state, it would be useless.
Allowing his father to believe that he was speechless would probably be the best thing right now.
“You are excused, Nicolas,” his father stated. “Take time to prepare yourself for meeting Lady Alexia. I expect you to be cordial when she comes for this meeting.”
“Do you know when it will be, Father?” As much as Nicolas wanted to tell his father off, he was not willing to face the consequences. Not when his father was so sickly and pale.
“I do not know yet, but as soon as I know, I will make sure you know,” his father replied. “Now, go. I need rest.”
“Yes, Father.” With that, Nicolas left the study.
As he walked down the hall, another realization hit him. His father was willing to do anything to keep him from his childhood sweetheart. That had been part of the reason he had sent Nicolas off to the Navy, and it was the reason he was being forced to court Lady Alexia.
Nicolas did not recall ever meeting this woman before, and he hoped that – for the sake of trying to figure out what to do – she was at least tolerable. There were many women of noble birth that were too prim, proper, and spoiled for his tastes. He sincerely hoped that Lady Alexia was not any of those, but in particular, spoiled.
Spoiled women were the hardest to please, and he knew that she would not be happy with him if she was spoiled by her parents. He would not spoil Lady Alexia as he would have spoiled Lady Catherine.
The thought of having to marry anyone except Lady Catherine made his blood run hot, making his face red and his cheeks quite hot.
To calm down, he decided to go on a walk. There was nothing more he could do about it right now, and he decided that it would be worthless to try. If he made any decisions while worked up like this, he would only be proving his father right.
Perhaps that was the best thing to do right now: calm down and take it slow.
Ashwood Manor sat on the edge of Town proper, and it was not that hard to get into town from the drive. Since his aim was to clear his head and not necessarily appear proper anywhere, he did not mind that the walk was technically a mile to Town.
It would be a good way to clear his head.
He started towards town, taking in a deep breath of the fresh air. There was nothing better to clear a head that had nothing to calm down than fresh air. It was not necessarily the freshest air with all the smog and smoke from the chimneys, but he did not care.
He was out of the house, and that was what mattered most to him right now.
