Page 38 of Enamored with a Brooding Earl
“Iwillhave you, Temperance,” he finished, his voice low and thick with wickedness. “I must.”
“But why?” she whispered, tears beginning to fall to her cheeks. “Why must you do such a thing? What is it about me that forces such schemes?”
Lord Barlington waved a hand, half turning away from her. “Oh, it is not you, Lady Temperance,” he said, with a snort of evident derision. “I have every intention of setting you aside, to have you live in a private quarter of the house for I certainly have no desire to look upon your countenance every day! Though there will have to be the heir produced, of course. That is a requirement. But I also require your dowry and the income that you will bring to this marriage.” He tilted his head at her. “That is all.”
Temperance closed her eyes and shuddered violently. She could barely breathe, her heart racing, her mind screaming at her to find an answer, to find a way of escape.
She could find none.
“I will go and tell your father that we are reconciled and will marry within the month,” she heard Lord Barlington say, his voice sounding both very near and very distant, both at the same time. “I do warn you now, Temperance. If you dare say a word of this to anyone, if you dare tell Lord Calverton of my threats, they will come down upon every single person you care for without hesitation. Lives will be ruined. Your nieces and nephews will have no reputation to speak of. Can you live with that?”
The door opened and closed and Temperance dropped her head, her shoulders rounding as she broke into sobs. What was she to do? She could find no way of escape, no way to break free from Lord Barlington’s grip.
But what of Lord Calverton?her heart wailed.What of what you feel for him? What of the affection you have within your heart?
That made her heart tear all over again and, blindly, she made her way back to the couch, sitting down heavily and, her shoulders shaking, gave in to her grief.
“Temperance?”
She did not look up.
“Temperance! Goodness, whatever has happened?”
An arm went around her shoulders, her aunt’s voice murmuring words of comfort but Temperance heard nothing other than the tremulous beating of her heart, feeling nothing but the pain of her world shattering all over again.
Chapter Twenty-Two
“Your Grace. Thank you for seeing me.” James inclined his head as the Duke of Danfield nodded. “I presume you know why I have come to speak with you?”
“I do, though I must tell you that something has transpired.” Without saying anything more, the Duke of Danfield handed James a glass with brandy in it, a suggestion, mayhap, that James would require such sustenance soon enough.
“I see.” James took the seat to which the Duke gestured and, his stomach beginning to churn suddenly, looked back at the Duke in question. He did not understand what could have gone wrong. It had only been two days since the ball and, given that Lady Temperance had already agreed to his courtship – and had, no doubt, spoken to her father about it – he did not understand why there would be anything of concern. “Please, what it is?”
The Duke of Danfield shook his head and sighed, looking away from James. “Two days ago, Lord Calverton, I had my daughter coming to speak with me about you. She told me that you had expressed an interest in courting her and that she would very much like to accept you.”
James smiled, remembering that wonderful moment. “Yes, it was at the ball. I know that I should have spoken to you beforehand but – ”
“No, no, do not concern yourself with that.” The Duke’s frown lingered as he sat forward, looking at James with sharp eyes. “My daughter was nothing but delighted, Lord Calverton. I gave her my consent, telling her that I was truly thrilled to hear of your desire and she practically danced out of the room.”
James’ smile grew wider. “I am very glad to hear it, Your Grace.”
“However,” the Duke continued, seeming not to hear James, “yesterday, I was informed that Lord Barlington’s proposal to my daughter has been accepted.”
All of his breath left his body in one moment. James could barely take a breath, everything in him growing suddenly cold.
“I do not know what to make of it, if I am truthful,” the Duke continued, quietly. “Lord Calverton, I am mayhap speaking a littleout of turn but given that you seem to care for my daughter, I shall tell you honestly. There is something about this that does not seem right to me.”
James, blinking, threw back his brandy and let the heat of it steal away some of the cold in his chest. He could not quite take in everything the Duke was saying, struggling to comprehend all that was being told to him.
“My daughter has been white faced and sorrowful ever since I was informed of this engagement.” The Duke leaned forward in his chair, his eyes fixed to James. “I do not believe that she has accepted him willingly and though I have asked her about it, she simply says that it is just as she wants.”
“I cannot believe that,” James replied, hoarsely. “Iwill notbelieve it.”
“Good.” The Duke slapped his knee, making James start in surprise at the noise. “Mayhap she will speak with you.”
“Do you know where she might be?” James asked, a sudden desperation coursing through him. “I must see her. I must speak with her, I do not understand why… ” Dropping his head forward, he pushed his fingers through his hair. “I do not understand.”
The Duke let out a long breath. “It is most grievous a thing for me to see. My wife – ” He stopped short as James looked up, his eyes a little rounded. With another sigh, he continued. “My wife has long been insistent that the Marquess of Barlington is the best choice for our daughter. She was not particularly pleased to hear thatyouhad decided to pursue Temperance, nor that Temperance had been eager to accept!”
