“I shouldn’t need to repeat things,” Grandfather said, irascibly. “Especially when it’s good news. Your new countess is chosen.”
“No. Grandfather, listen.” Nicholas spoke swiftly. His words were sharp and angry, even in his own ears, and just a little scared. “You’re not allowed to do that. You’re not my guardian. I have legal majority. I...”
“Stop!” Grandfather said. He didn’t shout, but Nicholas froze.
“Grandfather...”
“Nicholas. Stop trying to defy me. I have arranged it. Do not argue with me on this matter. It is arranged.” His voice was hard.
Nicholas shook his head. “It can’t be.” His heart was thudding. He couldn’t let Grandfather do it. “You don’t have...”
“Nicholas, please,” Grandfather said, his voice hard and unsympathetic. “You are eight-and-twenty. You can’t expect me to wait around forever. I want to see my heirs. And you will do as I request. You will, or I will disinherit you.”
“What?” Nicholas gaped. His grandfather had never threatened him. His father had made sure in his testament that he had Blackburne, the townhouse where he lived. He had his courtesy title and the allowance that Father had left him. Could Grandfather really take that away?
“Don’t think to try my temper, boy.” Grandfather scowled. “I was commanding men when you were not yet born.”
“Grandfather,” Nicholas said, feeling his spine tense. “You have no legal right to do this. I will speak with...” He was about to say that he would consult with Mr. Brookley, his London attorney, but Grandfather spoke loudly, silencing him.
“Nicholas, I can disinherit you. I am the earl and I hold the titles you will one day obtain. All of them, even the viscountcy, are mine. I wish for you to do this thing and you will do it. You will smile and visit Baron Rothendale tonight and you will make them think well of us both. You will.”
“Tonight? I...what?” He demanded. Terror held his spine rigid. Heights and waterfalls and other things that scared manyother men had little effect on him. But meeting new people—women in particular—was terrifying to him. The heights or cataracts were minor in comparison. They could only hurt his body, but the snide comments and horrified stares cut at his soul.
“I spoke to the baron, and he agreed with me that we should meet at dinner,” Grandfather explained, with unexpected patience in his tone. “Allow the girl to meet you. It’s only polite, I suppose.” Grandfather frowned. “Besides, then you’ll see she’s not all that bad.”
“It’s not...” Nicholas gaped. “I don’t care what shelookslike! It’s not about what she looks like. It’s about my life!” He protested. “This is my decision. I...”
“Silence.” Grandfather demanded. His voice was loud and brooked no argument. “You could have made a decision years ago, and you did not. You wasted your time studying history at Cambridge when you could have been advancing in society. Now you want me to sit and waste my own time while you fritter away the next few years as well? Not likely.”
Nicholas just stared. He endured his grandfather’s tyranny in other matters, simply because he had respect for the old fellow and didn’t wish to upset him. But this—threats, and meddling in areas of Nicholas’ life where nobody should think to meddle? This was too far.
“I know you will come around to it,” his grandfather said lightly, as if he’d invited Nicholas to a boring event. “You’ll come along to dinner tonight and have a fine time and then it’ll be settled.”
“No, Grandfather,” Nicholas muttered.
“You’ll come with me,” his grandfather repeated. “And you’ll find that you’re pleased with my decision. She’s respectable, good-mannered and has an excellent dowry. What more could anyone wish for? You’ll be pleased.” He tilted his head thoughtfully and looked at him as though Nicholas would have to be a fool not to see things as he did.
Nicholas breathed in. He needed to rein in his anger. How could his grandfather not think of the fact that he needed more than money and refinement? He needed someone who would be able to look past his disfigurement, or at worst ignore it and not tease him or be repelled by him. There were precious few such women. Money! Manners! What use were those in comparison to care and kindness?
“I will meet her,” Nicholas said after a long moment. “But I assure you, I will not be thankful for your decision.”
Grandfather made a huffing noise but seemed pleased.
Nicholas stood up, excusing himself and marching to the door. He hurried down the hallway to the front door, donned hat and coat, then opened the door and shut it behind him, standing on the front terrace. He stared out at the road and the rainy weather. He couldn’t really see any of it; it was just a blur before his wide, unfocused eyes. He was in shock.
He had to do something. He could not allow Grandfather to sell his life for the price of a few good connections and an inheritance. He had to do something. He just had to think of how he could resolve it. He had to do something soon. He only hadone day to combat the decision.
Chapter 6
“...and I still don’t know if I should stay here,” Bernadette whispered to Viola tensely. She glanced around, nervous of being heard. They sat in the drawing-room at Rothendale House, the door half-shut, the fire burning low. Viola had visited as she promised to, and it was impossible to conceal her news.
“I can’t believe it,” Viola repeated. She’d said the same thing at least half a dozen times since Bernadette told the story. “I still think there must be a way of remedying it. It just isn’t possible.”
Bernadette shook her head. “I don’t think there is,” she said quietly. “Father won’t change it. He said so. He was quite harsh.”
“But it’s so strange,” Viola murmured. “Someone you haven’t even seen! Someone whose name you’ve never even heard before.” She shook her head, her big dark eyes round in disbelief.
Bernadette nodded. “It is strange. But it truly is as I have said.” She let out a breath. She couldn’t quite recall the name of the viscount—Burnham or Barnbrook or something. She had been too deeply shocked to be able to recall it accurately. She’d told Viola all that she recalled, and Viola declared she’d never heard of the gentleman either.
