Page 37 of Courting the Earl
Lord Appleby stood and shook his hand. “Good, good. I’m glad you came straightaway. I’m afraid I have distressing news for you. But fear not, all is not lost.”
He could feel Eleanor’s eyes on him, but he kept his gaze fixed firmly on her uncle. He was so close to gaining his freedom. If Lord Appleby even suspected Geoffrey was taken with his niece, he could very well hide her away. Eleanor was under his protection after all.
Lord Appleby settled into his chair and waved him toward the other armchair. His gaze darted to Eleanor, and he saw she was staring at her hands again. He noticed then that they were gripped so tightly her knuckles were white.
He was struck with a premonition of doom. He wasn’t going to be happy about the outcome of today’s meeting.
“I came as soon as I got your message,” he said. “You said it was very important.”
Appleby nodded, steepling his fingers on his belly. “As you know, Lydia wanted to experience a full season unencumbered by any announcement of the betrothal agreement between the two of you. As a result, an unfortunate situation has arisen. I’m afraid that she’s developed feelings for Lord Stanley. The man called today to ask for permission to marry her.”
Geoffrey held back his grin of satisfaction. He’d been overreacting. Eleanor was here probably because Lydia had asked her to intercede on this matter. He’d begun to worry for no reason.
“I understand, and you already know my feelings on the matter. I don’t want to force your daughter into an unhappy union when she cares for another. And Lord Stanley will one day be a marquess. You can hope for no better match for your daughter.”
“Just so,” Appleby said, his smile sympathetic. It was clear the man thought he was imparting disappointing news. “But there is still the matter of the property I sold to your father and the agreement we had in place.”
Warning bells began to clang in his brain. “I don’t know all the details, but I was recently made aware of the sale. But you should know that Stanley will one day possess vast holdings. Your daughter won’t want for anything after they wed.”
Lord Appleby’s mouth tightened with displeasure. “It’s a matter of honor. I sold those properties to your father with the express understanding that they would one day return to my family through marriage.”
A frisson of alarm raced down his spine. “Are you telling me that you didn’t accept Stanley’s suit?”
“No, I did. Lydia will one day be the Marchioness of Pelton. But I am loath to lose those properties.”
“I understand. I’ll speak to my solicitor about reversing the sale. We can begin the process of returning those properties to you immediately.”
Appleby scowled. “No, no, I don’t want them back. That will leave more for my grasping cousin and his son to inherit.”
Geoffrey said nothing as he examined the man. He could feel Eleanor’s gaze on him again, but he didn’t look at her. He wasn’t going to like what came next.
“Did you examine the details of the agreement?”
Geoffrey nodded. “Of course. You need to understand that my father only told me about the betrothal on his deathbed. I feared he wasn’t in his right mind at that point. I know he’d always hoped for a match between our families and thought that in the end he’d imagined a betrothal agreement that hadn’t actually been signed. He was in a state of high fever when he told me.”
Appleby shook his head. “I’m sorry to hear that. He was a good friend.”
Geoffrey inclined his head but said nothing as he waited for the man to explain his cryptic comment.
“At any rate, the agreement does say that you were to marry my daughter.”
Geoffrey nodded. “And you have just told me that you’ve accepted Lord Stanley’s suit. And since the betrothal can be broken if both parties agree, I don’t foresee any issues.”
Appleby leaned forward in his seat. “I have a better idea, one that should suit both parties, as you say. I know you didn’t wish to marry Lydia, although I can’t imagine why. But the lands can remain in the family if you agree to marry my niece, Eleanor.”
Geoffrey turned to look at her, but she was staring at her entwined fingers. Why wouldn’t she look at him?
“I don’t understand. There was nothing in the betrothal agreement about Miss Pearson.”
Appleby shook his head. “I don’t want the properties back. There is a clause in the sales contract that states if you don’t marry Lydia, you are to marry my niece. I won’t force Lydia to marry one man when she cares for another, but I do want that land to remain within my family.” His jaw tightened. “Family that doesn’t include my cousin, who will inherit my title and all the entailed properties.”
Geoffrey’s mind blanked for several moments, and then images began to play over in his thoughts. The way Eleanor had approached him, telling him that she wished to engage in an affair with him. The way she’d so sweetly given up her innocence. Had she told her uncle what happened that afternoon between them?
No, he thought. Of course she hadn’t. Appleby wouldn’t be speaking to him in such civil tones if she had. He’d be demanding that Geoffrey do the honorable thing and marry his niece.
So Eleanor had kept their tryst to herself. But had she known about her uncle’s plans when she’d approached him? Had she hoped that if they made love, he’d agree to marry her when her uncle spoke to him on the matter?
He rose to his feet, anger beginning to fill him. He’d been betrayed yet again. Manipulated into fulfilling Appleby’s plans.
