Page 64 of The Wise Daughter
“No more avoiding me, Ravenglass. You and I have a debt to settle.”
Chapter 22
Blast Bilford’s wretched timing!Aaron was certain he would remember this offense until the day he died.
“A debt?” Nora sputtered from behind. “What sort of debt, Aaron?”
He looked between Nora and their troublesome newcomer. Regardless of those entrancing eyes of hers, silently pleading for an explanation, he couldn’t think of any he could quickly offer that would satisfy her curiosity without raising more alarm.
“Nothing like what you are imagining. I never gamble.”
Bilford smirked, a loud buzz on his lips that sent spittle to the wind. “That’s the most amusing thing I’ve heard today.” He scratched his cheek and looked around. Now that he had Aaron’s full attention, he no longer seemed in such a hurry to start a brawl. “Lovely spot here, Ravenglass. Perfect for a little dallying. Didn’t know you were that sort of fellow.”
“I’m not. This is my intended.” Aaron’s eyes narrowed as a thousand different thoughts whirred through his mind, at least half of which involved the many ways he could punish Bilford for interrupting his moment with Nora and the other half searching for ways to restore it.
“I saw your announcement in the papers. Unfortunately for you, my daughter also saw it. I’ll make you pay your debt to me, but she’ll make you pay for this.” Bilford chuckled and gestured toward Nora, making the hairs on Aaron’s neck stand.
“I have no reason to hold myself accountable to your daughter. You will show my intended the respect she deserves. In any event, I’m not inclined to interrupt my time with Miss Lacy to discuss our quarrels at the moment. Why don’t you return to the castle and speak with my steward?”
“Why don’t I?” Bilford laughed. “You think this is that simple? Honestly, it should be, but you’ve been ignoring the dozens of letters I’ve sent. Or did those foreign schools not teach you proper etiquette?”
Aaron’s stomach tightened, but on the outside, he forced himself to remain calm. He would not give Bilford the satisfaction of seeing him angered. “You forget yourself, Bilford. I’m the duke now.”
“Dukes pay their debts, don’t they? I won that wager in all fairness. You have to keep your end of the bargain.”
“Wager, Aaron?” Nora’s voice was small, but he could hear the dismay in it.
“He’s referring to a wager with my father. My father was in no state to make the promises you extracted from him, Bilford. Now leave us.”
Bilford turned red in the face, then started laughing. “You don’t want her to know, do you? She doesn’t know! This woman you’re calling your intended doesn’t know you’re engaged to my daughter!”
Even from a distance, Aaron could feel Nora tense in the curricle. “I’m not engaged to your daughter, Bilford.”
“Your father and I had an agreement. The only reason I’ve been patient with you thus far is because I know you don’t know all the terms. Your father didn’t want me to tell you, but he’s gone now. You won’t see reason, so I have no choice but to tell you everything.”
Aaron looked back at Nora. She only stared between him and Bilford. He could see in her face how much she wanted answers, and though he hated to take away from their time together, he thought it best to hear what Bilford was willing to say.
“Go on, Bilford. Tell me quickly what you believe I do not know.”
“The first thing you should know is that your father came to me when you racked up all that gambling debt a few years back. He was suffering from poor investments and was already paying a fortune to that school of yours.” Aaron already knew this. He didn’t need any reminders to make him feel more guilty. Bilford continued, “What you don’t know is that he came to me for help. Being the tender-hearted friend that I am, I loaned him money. One night, he came to me complaining of his troubles. I consoled him best I could.”
“Meaning you indulged his weakness for alcohol and cards.”
Bilford shrugged. “That isn’t what he complained about. Well, I listened to his woes, and I offered him a solution. If he won the next hand, I’d forgive the debt. If I won the hand, he would not only pay, but he would also arrange to make my little girl a duchess. You can guess who won.” Bilford’s sour chuckle grated on Aaron’s ears. “He died owing me, Ravenglass. Whatever you’ve told that lovely lady sitting next to you doesn’t matter. What matters is paying your debts and keeping your honor.”
The ground seemed to spin as Aaron’s mind reeled. He stepped very close to Bilford, lowering his voice. “You pressured my father while he was intoxicated.”
“It’s not my fault if a few drinks made him foxed. He still gave his word.”
“I will review the ledgers to see if what you say about loaning him money is true. You’ll receive that money back, not a penny more. I certainly won’t be marrying anyone because of your dishonorable wager. So stop spreading lies and return to your home.”
Bilford remained deathly quiet but stared like he would like nothing better than to strike Aaron’s nose. Icy calm, he replied, “This isn’t over, Your Grace.” The form of address sounded like an insult on his tongue. He gave an exaggerated bow and slithered away, glaring over his shoulder once before disappearing into the trees.
When Aaron returned to the curricle, Nora had her back to him and was hugging herself.
Blast Bilford!Blast, blast, blast!
“Nora–”
