Page 18 of The Misfortunate Miss Farthington
There was a clattering sound and hushed voices, along with a servant’s louder tone. “What’er you doing skulking about in the hallway, Lady Daphne?”
Richard met Tessa’s father’s stare evenly. Finally, the old man’s lips twitched. “And you’re certain I cannot convince you to shower all this attention on my niece Daphne instead?”
Richard swallowed a laugh of relief. He was gaining ground, he could feel it.
“A pretty girl, no doubt about it, but she seems to have a knack for causing trouble.” The older man glanced at the door with a rueful shake of his head. “I always thought she was such a quiet girl. I don’t know what’s become of her.”
Another noise from the other side of the closed door had her uncle huffing in exasperation before turning his attention back to Richard. “Yes, well, I see your point, I suppose.” His expression grew grave. “But I do hope you understand my meaning as well.”
“Of course, I—” Richard came to a stop at the other man’s level stare.
“I want my daughter to be happy,” he continued. “Of course I do. But it’s up to me to look after her best interests. And much as my daughter is well educated and exudes a polished demeanor, she is no worldly young lady, Mr. Grant.”
“No, of course not—”
“You wish her to be happy, that much is clear. And it’s…admirable.” The older man nodded, crossing his arms on the table. “I cannot fault you for having feelings for my daughter, and it pleases me that you care so for her best interest.” His gaze narrowed and his voice dropped. “And it’s to that aspect of you that I appeal right now.”
Richard frowned in confusion. “I do not follow, my lord.”
“You know as well as I do that young ladies don’t know what they want.”
Richard stiffened but before he could protest, the older man held up a hand.
“Oh, I know all about your efforts to bring equality to the sexes with their learning and whatnot.” He waved a dismissive hand. “I won’t argue with all that. But you were young once, I imagine, and so you must know that young people in general are blasted fools when it comes to knowing what is best for them. That’s why parents guide them.”
Richard shifted uncomfortably. He couldn’t argue with a father’s right to parent his child. But she wasn’t a child.
As if reading his thoughts, the older man nodded. “She’s not in her youth any longer, but my Tessa has lived a sheltered life. Even when she had a hint of scandal to contend with, she had a place where she could hide away until it passed.”
“I wouldn’t say she was hiding,” he muttered.
But her father continued as if he hadn’t interrupted. “She might think affection and shared interests are enough to start a life, but she’s never known hardship.”
“I am not so very impoverished, my lord,” he felt compelled to point out. “I can provide for a family—”
“But can you give a gently bred lady the comforts she deserves? The quality of life she’s been raised to expect?”
“I…”No. The answer was no and they both knew it. He had a modest income, but he’d never have a fortune to his name.
Her father leaned back in his chair, an air of regret in his demeanor tempering his resolute tone. “I won’t stop you from seeing her. But I won’t stop my wife from her matchmaking either.”
“My lord—”
“My wife is convinced this Earl of Yardley fellow has an interest in my daughter. He’s a younger man, and agoodman, by all accounts. Not to mention, a match to an earl would ensure my daughter’s wellbeing for the remainder of her life. Not to mention my grandchildren.”
“Yes, but—”
He held up a hand. “Now, I’m not saying I’ll force Tessa to marry this Yardley fellow, but I won’t condone any talk of anything more serious than friendship between you and Tessa until my daughter has had a chance to see what else life has to offer.”
“What else life has to offer…or who else?” he shot back.
The viscount’s smile was wry. “It’s the best I can offer, Mr. Grant.”
Richard nodded. Protests caught in his throat and that anger he’d been battling began to wane. Wariness stole its place, writhing in his innards like a serpent waiting to strike.
He wished he could argue with her father, but some part of him—the logical, intelligent part of his brain that was able to function despite this overwhelming desire to hold Tessa in his arms…
That voice was whispering,he has a point, and you know it.
