Page 54 of Under the Seductive Ladys Charm
Lord Stanhope protested, “After the couple of days that I have had I should be allowed to drink all I want.”
“I do not care what sort of day you have had. You have no right to speak of such things. You have the audacity to ask for my sister’s hand in marriage and then turn around and talk of another’s lady’s virtues to me?” Graham clenched his teeth. He was trying his best to push the anger he felt down. It would do little good to take it out on the man, and no doubt only make things worse.
Lord Stanhope raised his arms, which wavered as he did so due to the drink he had imbibed. “Now, now, Lord Easterly, I did not mean to get you wound up. I fear the drink has got to me, but I would never insult your sister.”
Graham eyed the man with disbelief. “Is that so? Then what do you calling talking of Miss Browne in such a manner?”
Lord Stanhope sighed and waved his hand at Graham as if dismissing his anger. “Come off it, man. Have you never had a mistress?” Lord Stanhope’s laughter rose as he watched Graham’s face. “See, I can tell by your face that you need to loosen up.”
Graham had heard all he could stand. He slammed his hand on the desk as he rose. “No, Lord Stanhope, I have never had a mistress, nor will I ever. The utter disregard you have shown here today proves one thing to me. You are not worthy of my sister. I will never consent for you to marry her. Do I make myself clear?”
Lord Stanhope was already rising, his hands held out as if to ward off Graham’s words. “I did not mean what I said. I was jesting.”
“That is not the sort of thing a gentleman jests about, Lord Stanhope,” Graham went over to the door. “Please leave.”
Lord Stanhope stood, slightly wobbling but firmly planted. “You cannot kick me out. Do you know who I am?”
“I am beginning to see who you are, Lord Stanhope,” Graham growled as he gave the cord by the door a yank.
A moment passed before Victor arrived. “What is it you need a hand with, Sir?” Graham waved his hand at the drunken gentleman in front of his desk. “Oh, I see.”
Lord Stanhope moved backward as Graham grabbed his arm. “Unhand me at once!”
“I will gladly unhand you if you walk out of the door as a proper gentleman would,” Graham said with honesty.
Lord Stanhope sputtered, “You cannot kick me out. My brother is an earl!”
“But you are not,” Graham reminded him, and he bodily hauled the young man toward the door.
Victor picked up the slack and grabbed Lord Stanhope’s other arm. They escorted him, protesting the whole way, down the hallway. Maids peered around corners and eyed them with concern. One of the lads from the stable came and Graham gladly handed over the drunken young dandy.
He followed them to the door. The two men shoved Lord Stanhope out and the man stumbled but managed to keep his footing down the steps. The young man spun around and growled, “You cannot treat me this way!”
“I did,” Graham assured him. “And I will do worse if you ever show your face here again.”
Lord Stanhope looked from Graham to the two men with him and left in a huff toward his carriage. Graham was certain that he had not heard the last of that particular dandy. Victor and the stable lad left with Graham’s hearty thanks.
Edward arrived just as Lord Stanhope was driving off. “Missed all the fun, eh?”
“It would appear so,” Graham said with a smile. “Never fear. I think he shall be back.”
Edward rubbed his hands together. “If he does dare step foot on the property the lads and I will be more than happy to make sure he does not make it to the door.”
“I would consider that a kindness indeed.” Graham patted Edward on the back. “For now, let us hope things are quiet and that my sister did not witness her beau being thrown out like the bathwater.”
*
Charlotte did not like the idea of going to Berwick Manor, but she felt she had to, so with Mrs. Wilson’s permission she borrowed their horse and left early in the morning to see Lord Easterly. She mused that at least she would not have to deal with the children for a while.
The ride was a fair one, but not as bad as trying to ride to London, and she would be back at the vicarage by the end of the day. She simply wished she could stamp down her nervousness. She had only spoken to Lord Easterly briefly since they had left the inn, and now she was going to tell him that his sister’s beloved was a scoundrel and rogue. This was not the conversation she had hoped to be having with the man.
The sound of a carriage made Charlotte stop. She saw the carriage with Lord Stanhope go by, but fortunately he did not see her. She whispered, “I hope I am not too late.
Once the carriage was well past, she urged her horse on. As she entered the estate, one of the stable boys ran over to her and took the horse’s reins. “Miss, good to see you well,” he said with a grin.
Charlotte smiled as she accepted his hand to aid her in dismounting. “Is Lord Easterly in?”
“I should say so,” the lad said with a laugh. Charlotte did not catch the joke, but she smiled politely. “He’s inside. Go right on in.”
