Page 44 of Enamored with a Brooding Earl
“Are you quite all right?” Lord Thurston hurried over to him, his hand going to James’ shoulder. “The Duke is coming momentarily. He too is furious.”
James nodded, coming to a stop. “I cannot believe the cruel words which came from his lips.”
“He does not care for anyone aside from himself, it seems. To threaten the lady so is… repugnant.”
“He will not be permitted to do such a thing.”
James turned just as the Duke of Danfield came to join them; the dim lantern light illuminating his features a little and letting James see just how furious the man was.
“No wonder Temperance was too afraid to tell me what he had said,” the Duke continued, rubbing one hand over his face. “From what Lord Barlington said, it seems that he threatened someone if she did not do as he asked.”
“He threatened to ruin everyone she cares for, including her sisters, Lord and Lady Thurston, my mother and myself” James told him, seeing how the shadow on the Duke’s face grew ever stronger. “She was afraid to even speak of what he had said, for I believe his threats were very severe indeed.”
The Duke closed his eyes, his breathing harsh. “The scoundrel! How dare he think that he can force my daughter’s hand – and all because he wants her dowry? He has brought his own poverty upon himself and yet he thinks thatshemust be the one to rescue him from it? He does not care one iota for her and seems more than happy to leave her to suffer for the rest of her days at his hand.” The Duke’s gaze fell to James. “I know you will not let that happen, Lord Calverton.”
It took James a moment to realize what the Duke was asking him. A slight swell of joy lifted his heart, only for a frown to settle across his feature. “What if Lady Temperance is not ready to consider matrimony?”
“Speak with her,” the Duke encouraged. “I will have a Special License procured in only a few days’ time. It will mean I must travel to London but that is of no difficulty to me.”
“But what of Lord Barlington? Even if Lord Calverton weds your daughter, he will still have his threats. He will still carry them out, I am sure of it.”
James quickly shook his head. “Not if we act quickly. If thetonknows of Lord Barlington’s impoverished state then he will be rejected there entirely. Recall that this is precisely what he does not want! I am sure that is part of the reason he did not make his way to London, for he wants to hide the truth of his situation. But if word was to spread of what he has done and the sort of gentleman he has become, then he would not be able to lift his head up in society.”
“And no-one would believe a word that he says thereafter,” Lord Thurston finished, as James nodded.
“It sounds like we have a plan, gentlemen, for during my visit to London for the license, I will be able to say a good many things about Lord Barlington,” the Duke said, clapping one hand on James’ shoulder and the other onto Lord Thurston’s. “Thanks to you both, my daughter is safe.”
James managed a small smile. “And so she shall always be, Your Grace. I assure you of that.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
“Temperance?”
Hearing Lord Calverton’s voice, Temperance turned at once and then hurried across the room towards him, her paint smeared hands outstretched. “Lord Calverton. Is there any hope?” She took in his expression, seeing the smudges of tiredness around his eyes, the seriousness etched into his face though, once his hands were holding hers tightly, and he smiled.
Instantly, relief flooded through Temperance as she took in his expression. “There is hope?”
“Yes, there is,” he told her, quietly. “My dear Temperance, your father, Lord Thurston and I found ourselves in company with Lord Barlington last evening, though he was too much in his cups to recognise us. He said a great deal – words that I will not bring myself to repeat here – but it was enough. Your father understands everything now, as do Lord Thurston and myself.” His fingers tightened on hers again. “Would you truly have given up your freedom – your life – for me?”
She nodded. “I could not have you injured,” she answered, her voice a little hoarse. “I wanted to do nothing other than protect you. To protectallof you.”
“But you would have lost so much,” he said, looking straight down at her, his eyes searching hers. “You would have given up your whole life.”
With a small, soft smile, Temperance pressed her fingers through his. “It would have been worth it to know that everyone I cared for, everyone I loved, was safe.”
Lord Calverton’s eyebrows lifted a little and Temperance’s heart leapt, realizing what it was she had said. Did she love Lord Calverton? Yes, she cared for him and certainly, the affection within her heart had grown significantly these last few days… but did that mean she loved him?
“You do really care for me, do you not?” he asked, his voice filled with a tenderness which made her blush.
“Yes,” she answered, not willing to hold the truth back from him. “Yes, I do.”
Lord Calverton let out a long, slow breath though he smiled at her thereafter, making her realize that he was very glad indeed to hear those words from her lips.
“You cannot know how glad I am to hear that,” he murmured, quietly. “Lady Temperance, there is something that I must ask you. You see, once your father, Lord Thurston and I stood outside together, your father suggested that there was only one way to make certain that Lord Barlington could never force your hand in such a way again. It is a suggestion which may come as something of a surprise to you, but I can assure you that my own heart is more than contented with the idea.”
A flickering frown went across Temperance’s forehead. “What do you mean?”
Lord Calverton looked away, licking his lips. “Well,” he began, slowly, turning his gaze back towards her, “if we were to… and that is not to say that I do notwantto, for the truth is, I want this very much and I know that it is rather sudden but all the same, I – ” He came to a sudden stop, his lips bunching as he gazed back at her. “Temperance,” he said, his voice now steady. “I want to marry you.”
