Page 107 of The Forbidden Lord
Jordan crossed his arms over his chest. “So this is what we shall do. We’ll circulate an amended story of this travesty. Emily, concerned for her friend Sophie, agreed willingly to masquerade in order to find the blackguard who’d tried to elope with your daughter. It was a noble endeavor, but doomed to failure because I knew Emily’s true identity from the first.”
When Lord Nesfield looked startled, Jordan flashed him a wicked smile. “You didn’t realize that, did you? In any case, our tale will say that I decided to help her and so did Ian. In the process, she and I fell in love. But when she discovered it was her own cousin, a man of some means, who’d run off with Sophie, she threw herself on your mercy, and you, being the generous and fatherly man that you are, decided to accept her cousin as Sophie’s husband, and to add 200 pounds to Mr. Fairchild’s annual stipend.”
“You can’t expect me—” Lord Nesfield began.
“Never mind that,” Papa broke in. “I don’t want to deal with this wretch ever again.”
Jordan shrugged. “That’s easily fixed. Mr. Fairchild left your parish because of a more than generous offer from his new son-in-law.”
“No one will believe any of this … this fairy tale,” Lord Nesfield croaked.
“You’re right,” Jordan retorted. “But it doesn’t matter. They’ll speculate about the real story, and it’ll be the topic of conversation for weeks to come, but with so many lofty personages involved, they can hardly find fault with any one person for participating in the masquerade. Besides, it was for a good cause and ended happily, with two sets of lovers united.”
His tone grew sarcastic. “And since everyone behaved well, a few minor deceits can be overlooked. My wife and Lady Dundee will be seen as noble defenders of young lovers, and your daughter will be lauded for her dedication to love. We shall neglect to mention, of course, that her new husband is a barrister. I only regret thatyouwill come off looking like a saint.”
Lord Nesfield summoned up a bit of his old fire. “If you think I shall support this tale of yours merely so Miss Fairchild can keep her reputation intact?—”
“Be careful, Randolph,” Lady Dundee warned. “If your name is dragged through the mud, then mine will be as well, and I refuse to be a joke at dinner parties.”
Jordan raised an eyebrow. “Well, Nesfield? Shall we all walk away from this relatively unscathed, with only an amusing tale to note its passing? That’s better than you deserve. But since anything else will result in harm to Emily—and I willnothave her harmed any further by you—it seems the only choice.”
Lord Nesfield visibly recoiled from Jordan’s veiled threat. He glanced at the people arrayed against him, one his own sister and two with respectable titles and fortunes. It suddenly seemed to dawn on him that bucking such an alliance would lead to disaster only forhim.
“All right,” he growled. “But the five of you can continue the farce without me.Iam going to Scotland. There is still a chance I can stop my daughter from ruining her life.” With that, the marquess stamped out of the room, calling for his carriage.
“Enjoy your trip,” Jordan said in a menacing undertone.
Emily shivered. She had the distinct impression that Jordan would find some way to make Nesfield pay for what he’d done. She wouldn’t want to be in the marquess’s shoes just now.
Jordan surprised her by then turning to her father. “Can you support my tale, Mr. Fairchild? I know how much you disapprove of lying.”
“I fully intend to tell the truth,” Papa answered. When Jordan looked alarmed, he added, “But that’s easily enough done. I know nothing of all this but a lot of hearsay. Who am I to say what did or didn’t happen while my daughter was in London?”
Her father cast Jordan a speculative glance. “First, however, I’d like to hear more about it from you and my daughter. You have now mentioned marriage to her several times, yet until a few minutes ago, I didn’t even know you knew her.”
At Jordan’s frown, her father said quickly, “Don’t misunderstand me. I’m most grateful for your interference today. I couldn’t have handled Lord Nesfield nearly so well alone.” He clasped Emily close. “Nonetheless, I find myself bewildered—and a bit disturbed—by your interest in my daughter.”
“It’s not such a strange thing,” Jordan stated. “I first met her at the Drydens’ ball in Derbyshire. Then, while she was here in London, we were much thrown into each other’s company.” His voice softened. “And I fell in love with her.”
There was that word again. Love. It was one thing to pretend in front of Lord Nesfield, but he didn’t have to keep it up with Papa. “Jordan, there’s no need to?—”
He cut her off before she could say “lie.” “The only trouble is, I’ve proposed to her, and she hasn’t yet accepted me.”
She couldn’t believe it. The Earl of Blackmore looked as awkward and uncertain as any man who’d come to propose marriage a second time and wasn’t quite sure of his reception.
He glanced at Lady Dundee and Ian, who were beaming their encouragement. Then he eyed her father nervously. “I know this is asking a great deal, sir, but might you give your daughter and me a few minutes alone? Afterward, I will be much better able to answer your questions.”
When her father hesitated, she squeezed his waist. “Please, Papa?”
“As you wish,” he grumbled, “but only a very few minutes.” He released her and started to walk off, then paused to fix Jordan with a concerned look. “I think you should know, however, that while my daughter was packing to come here yesterday, a neighbor in Willow Crossing came to tell me of seeing a very important-looking carriage drive away from my house. Emily told me that a friend had brought her home, but now I wonder?—”
“As I said,” Jordan remarked with a touch of his old arrogance, “I will be happy to answer all your questions later.”
Her father nodded, clearly reminded of the vast difference in their stations. Jordan might be a young man desirous of his daughter’s hand in marriage, but he was also the famous Earl of Blackmore, and years of ingrained behavior would make it difficult to alter her father’s awareness of that.
Lady Dundee and Ian thankfully took her father’s exit as their cue to withdraw as well. When she and Jordan were completely alone, he approached her with uncertain steps.
“Emily, I meant every word I said to your father. I’ve been in a state of absolute terror the past two days, thinking you might not marry me. The thought of losing you makes my stomach churn and my blood falter. I love you. There, I’ve said it. And I mean it, too. Now please, put me out of my misery and agree to marry me.”
