Page 34 of Wild Lily
Dear Elanna, without any candidates. “She’s seen the current lot. Danced with them all. Found no one who appealed.”
“There must be someone. An Irishman? A baron, a knight. Or a Frenchman with enough land left to feed himself? What of your friend, the prince, Remy?”
“Elanna likes him. Nothing more.”
“He must have cousins.”
“No one I’d recommend to her,” Julian told him. “But then—”
“What?”
“I have funds. Savings.”
“What?”His father scoffed. “Twenty thousand?”
Julian was shocked his father came so near the mark.“Twenty-two. How do you know?”
“Shall we say, my friends are useful?”
“And unethical to chat about a fellow’s worth.”
“To your father? Not so. I hear what you win at the tables. I also know what you spend at your tailors. I had to find out when I saw no bills for you. And yes, I know you’ve often declared that you’d save Elanna from the marriage mart with your winnings. Good of you. But she must stand on her own. Time is nigh. She must marry.”
“And you won’t give out the sum of her dowry. Say you will not.”
“And kill her chances? I’d lie and declare the sum is grand.”
Julian was aghast. “No! She’ll have every roué from here to Vienna at our door.”
“If she can find a man whom she admires, who’s worthy of her esteem, I’ll gladly hand her to him. Money, title or not.”
Once more, Julian was amazed at his father. If the man had a foul temper, if he berated his wife with joyous vengeance, if he liked his brandy, if he was a feckless manager of the estates, if he had no ingenious methods to improve the crops, he did love his daughter. He did wish her happiness. If when all was said and done, he did not see the error in lying about her wealth to protect her from fortune hunters or charlatans.
“Which means we come to you,” the man said matter-of-factly, drumming his fingers on the desk.
Julian blinked, the change in topic a shock. He took a moment to guard himself.
Of course, the old man would come round to him.
“I wish to discuss your own marriage prospects.”
“I have none.”
“You must.”
Julian took a deep breath. “I’ve told you before I will not be pressed.”
“You were always difficult,” his father muttered.
“On this issue, especially.”
“I don’t see why. You’ve always known you must marry.”
“Do the begetting, eh?”
“If you find a comely gel, the experience of begetting is not ghastly. And if rumor serves up truth about your prowess, well you know it, too.”
I won’t marry for money.“I won’t marry for advantage.”
