Page 50 of Seducing an Earl under the Mistletoe
“Yes.” Arthur smiled, raking his fingers through his hair. He felt he was ready. “I know what I must do next. Will you two be all right if I leave you here?”
“Of course,” Margot gushed, holding James’ hand. “I will never leave his side again. Never.”
Arthur was overjoyed that they had found their way to each other again, after everything. Now, it was his turn.
“Oh,” he suddenly remembered. “Before I leave…you said that you were watching us that day on the beach. Were there other instances of this?”
James nodded. “Maybe once or twice more, yes.”
“Just once or twice?” Arthur echoed.
“Yes. Why?” James wondered.
Arthur considered remaining silent about this, but he finally concluded that there had been enough secrets in this family. It was high time that everyone spoke the truth. And if need be, he would be the first one to do so.
“Well, I feel like someone’s been spying on me lately,” he admitted. “I’ve noticed someone in the garden.”
“My garden, too,” Margot added.
James shook his head, frowning. “I never entered the gardens, neither yours nor Margot’s. That would have been too risky.”
Arthur exchanged a meaningful glance with Margot. “So, it wasn’t you. That could mean only one thing…” he paused for a moment, allowing this thought to sink in. “There is someone else spying on me and Margot…but why?”
***
That afternoon, Arthur arrived at Saltdean House. There was no more time to waste. He had made a promise, and he intended to keep it. Catherine was waiting for him, and he would not make her wait a moment longer.
However, upon his arrival at Saltdean House, he could immediately sense that something was amiss. The butler opened the door, and Arthur politely asked to speak with Lord Saltdean. The butler fumbled for a moment, then ushered him into the main hallway.
“Wait here, if you please,” the butler informed him.
It was highly out of the ordinary, but Arthur didn’t mind. He figured, perhaps everyone had overslept because of his mother’s party the previous night. He stood in one place, calm and composed, reiterating a small speech in his mind. He was constantly smiling, feeling ecstatic. He was moments away from officially making Catherine his future wife.
Right then, he noticed Lord Saltdean descending the stairs. He had a solemn, grave look, and he was not particularly pleased to see Arthur.
“Good morning,” Arthur greeted him cordially.
“It won’t be,” Lord Saltdean snarled as he stepped on the last step and stood before Arthur, who could immediately sense that this would not go according to plan.
“Now, I know about your tryst with Cate. And you being here is actually a good thing, so I can tell you this in person.” He paused to come closer to Arthur and stare him dead in the face. “You must stay away from her. You two do not have my blessing for marriage because there are other plans in motion, which I cannot allow you to ruin.”
He turned around, but Arthur grabbed him by the arm. He made sure not to hurt the man, but his squeeze was grave enough to prove that he would not leave before he spoke his mind.
“You are wrong,” Arthur replied, trying to calm himself down.
At that moment, his name echoed throughout the house. “Arthur!”
He recognized Catherine’s voice immediately. “Catherine!?” he called back, but there was no reply this time. He turned his attention to Lord Saltdean once more, determined to force this man to see reason.
“There comes a time in our lives when the magnitude of our love can no longer be concealed. We’ve stumbled, we’ve made mistakes, but the truth remains: I love Catherine with a love that knows no bounds.”
As he spoke, the entire household huddled to hear his speech, Catherine’s siblings, the butler, the cook, the servants. But he didn’t mind the audience. Every eye was locked on him, captivated by the sincerity in his voice. He knew he had to continue because this was his last chance to win Catherine.
“There is no price too high, no rumor too terrible, that can deter me from my course. I swear it now, before all of you, that Catherine and I will marry. Our love is unbreakable, and no force on this Earth can sunder it.”
Tears welled up in the eyes of many, for they could feel the profound truth of Arthur’s words. But, just as hope began to unfurl its wings in the hearts of the gathered witnesses, a shadow fell upon the scene. Lord Thornton, resolute and unyielding, stepped forward from the staircase. He stopped by Lord Saltdean’s side.
“You must make a choice now, Lord Saltdean,” Lord Thornton spoke with a calculated tone of voice, assured of his victory. “One of us needs to leave this house. It is either me or Lord Rinder. The choice is yours.”
