Page 78 of Nothing But a Rakehell
That did give his father a second’s pause. “She’s not a fool. She knows the rules. She’ll do nothing of the sort until she’s secured you an heir.”
He gave a disdainful laugh. “Oh, as if you’d have been so accepting, had my mother made you a cuckold?” He took a deep breath and reached for reason. “Listen, Father. I am not marrying anyone. But your thinking is clouded.”
He should stop now. Just go. But he found he could not leave without defending Glory.
“You are not making sense. Lady Glory is a virtuous girl. But even if their moral characters did cancel each other out, it still doesn’t wash. You’ll trade Lady Glory’s title and connections for a couple of thousand pounds? It doesn’t sound like you—or like a man so keenly interested in the heartiness of his bloodline.”
“Yes, well, that’s the main point, isn’t it? The family says that her withered leg resulted from an accident, but how do we know the truth of it? If she was born with that . . . anomaly . . . then they wouldn’t admit it, would they?”
Keswick’s temper roared to new heights. “That is utter nonsense. Her injury is nothing, but now you insult her honor and that of her entire family! I forbid you to spread such a vile rumor or speak so again! There has never been a hint of deception from Glory or her family.”
“Oh, truly? I don’t recall her sister being so forthcoming about the size of her inheritance, when she came out.”
“What heiress does crow about her fortune? Would you have her driving about in a coach of gold, tossing largesse to the crowds? I do not understand your thinking. Who could have put such a thing in your head?”
Oh, but he knew the answer already, and he saw it confirmed in his father’s shifting gaze. “She does have you spellbound, doesn’t she? You cannot listen to the Vernon chit. That virago will say anything to get what she wants.”
“Perhaps, but she could pass that spirit and determination on to your sons.”
Spirit and determination—he should have been talking about Glory. She had all that—and caring and a lovely, sweet nature that any man should be glad to have in his life. But it wouldn’t be him, so it didn’t bear thinking about.
“I’ll not be marrying either girl. If you admire the Vernon harpy, then have at her.”
“Nonsense. I’ve already been in talks with her father.”
Of course he had. Keswick’s eyes closed in despair.
“Believe me, I had to dance about a bit, explaining your reputation,”
“I wish I might have seen it, but you’ve wasted your time. I’ve already told you—I’ll never marry while you live. Did you believe I didn’t mean it? I won’t marry a woman I can’t respect and care for—and if I found such a creature, I assure you, I would never expose her to you.”
“Your responsibilities—”
“Yes! Let me at my responsibilities, why do you not, Father? Turn over the home estate, one of the farms in Ireland, or one of the shipping ventures you’ve invested in, why don’t you?”
His father’s face remained impassive and blank.
“That’s what I thought. You harp on about my responsibilities, but I cannot touch a parcel without your permission—and you won’t give it. You complain about my wild ways, but what else am I to do with myself? You set me on this road and I’m performing beautifully, am I not?”
“When you are ready—”
“Oh, I am ready! But I don’t want your damned earldom. You can hold it hostage until the end of time, as far as I’m concerned.”
His father’s eyes narrowed. “You think I don’t know what you are up to? I know. Your worn down little estate in Berkshire?Solas Ag Crithlonrú,” he snorted. “Sentimental twaddle.”
“Thriving and profitable,” Keswick corrected with extreme satisfaction. “And that is only the first of my blissfully lucrative projects.”
That caught the old man by surprise and Keswick happily turned the knife. “Oh, yes, Father. You can drive the earldom into the ground, if you wish. I’m well on my way to having an empire that will dwarf it.” He shook his head. “I don’t know why you would think I would ever do a single thing at your bidding. You’ve made my life a misery, stolen or destroyed everything or everyone I cared for.”
“It was all to toughen you up,” his father said roughly. “God, you were a sniveling little thing when you were small. But you learned, didn’t you? My lessons made you strong.”
“Oh, yes,” he answered. “I did learn.” The words sounded soft and deadly even to his own ears. “It worked. I’m tough. I’m independent. And now, I don’t need anyone, Father. Least of all you.”
His father’s fury coiled tightly behind his eyes. He looked like a snake, all tensed up with nowhere to strike. Well, it wouldn’t be at him. Keswick had cut the head off of this serpent—and now he knew it.
Mean as a snake, but stubborn as a badger. Even as he watched, his father collected himself. “This isn’t over,” he said, and walked out of the stable.
It was, for now. But there would be more battles, Keswick knew it. He paced, fuming. Unless he left. Now. This minute. He should draw the old bastard away from Glory and her family. He waited long enough to be sure his father would have made it to the house, then turned to follow.
