Page 62 of The Earl's Christmas Deal
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Lionel walked through the ground-floor corridors in a daze. There was a strange stillness across the house, as though the very walls were holding their breaths. It was the strangestChristmas he had ever experienced, and his heart ached for his friend.
If he had not been certain that his actions would have broken his cousin even further Lionel would already have approached Lord Fairfax to ask for Charlotte’s hand in marriage.
Seeing her caring nature had only doubled his feelings for her. Knowing she had sat beside Emilia’s bed all night, he had been unable to sleep, wishing he could go to her and show her some comfort.
Lost in thought, he continued down a side corridor, but his pace slowed as voices drifted toward him through the air. There would have been nothing remarkable in that except that they were the only jovial voices he had heard all day.
Suddenly aware of a door ajar ahead of him, Lionel felt the need to silence his footsteps as he moved closer, instinctively knowing that he was overhearing something private that he should not have been privy to.
“It is true; I have long believed we could make a great alliance.”
That was the duke’s voice. Lionel moved closer to the crack in the door.
“The Bellebrook estate has been mismanaged for many years.” Lionel froze as he heard Frederick’s voice. “My cousin is weak. When his late wife passed, he had fits so strong he was bedridden for weeks. He will not be able to survive another blow, I am sure of it. It is only a matter of time before I am named as heir, and then the names of Elderbridge and Bellebrook will be synonymous with one another.”
Lionel peered around the door, noting that both men held cigars in their hands and glasses of whisky. They clinked their glasses together.
“I am grateful to you for pointing out their attachment,” the duke said. “I had intended to secure the marriage in the New Year, but knowing Bentley’s preferences allowed me to see clearly how I should act.”
“It would have been an imprudent match. Emilia is young and foolish; her head may have been turned by my cousin, but it will not stay so now. She will provide you with the heir you need and secure your line. That is what matters, your Grace, and I would not have wished to see the chance slip by you.”
“Indeed, I am in your debt.”
“I had not expected the lady to fall ill, however.”Was that a hint of regret in Frederick’s voice?
“She will survive. Women always like to make a show of things to have the required effect, but she will come to heel when I tell her. She knows her duty, as does her father. She’s a timid thing, I have always thought so, scared of her own shadow. My preference would always have been to align myself to an untainted family—the Sternwood name is hardly the exalted position I would wish for the Elderbridges, but my options are limited.”
Lionel clenched his fists, his breathing laboured as he considered what he had just heard. He thought of Adam’s ashen face the night before and the alarm and pain in Emilia’s as the announcement had been made. He was now certain that Emilia had known nothing of what had occurred—this was a deal between gentlemen just as he had suspected. Lord Sternwood would have agreed with thematch outsidehis daughter’s wishes.
Lionel was furious.
He had never felt so angry or so betrayed, and byFrederickof all people. Lionel knew the chequered history that Adam had with the man. Frederick had always considered himself the victim in everything, believing that Adam should have givenhim moreof his fortune when his father died. As it was, Adam had gifted Frederick with almost five thousand pounds only two years before, and the man had frittered it all away in gambling hells all over London.
Lionel moved closer to the door, considering bursting into the room and accusing them in the midst of their heartless celebrations. But he stopped himself, taking a gentle step back.This is not my fight.
He had to find Adam.
As silently as he could, he turned back the way he had come and walked swiftly to the main part of the house, leaping up the stairs two at a time in his search for his cousin.
He burst through the door of Adam’s room to find Villiers carrying a trunk as though to head down to the carriage. Adam, dejected and pale, stood behind him with a black bag in one hand. He frowned at Lionel as he entered, concern flitting over his face.
“Is it Emilia?” he asked, moving to place the bag on the floor. Lionel’s hope surged; if his cousin was still concerned for her well-being, he had not allowed his disappointment to eclipse everything else just yet.
“Villiers, could you give us a moment?” Lionel asked respectfully. The faithful man lowered the trunk and left the room, closing the door with a smart click.
“What is it, Lionel?” Adam asked, his voice weary.
“There are games a foot, just as I thought.” Lionel stepped forward, fixing Adam with a long stare. “Frederick is behind this.”
Adam scoffed. “Of what are you speaking? He has forced the duke to propose, is that it?”
“He warned him.” Adam’s cynical smile died on his lips. “He must have discovered that you were betrothed to LadyEmilia in secret and told the duke so that he would propose before you had the chance to make it official.”
Adam stilled. “How do you know this?”
“I just heard them congratulating one another. Frederick spoke of you in terms so abhorrent I can hardly believe the man is of sound mind. He appears to believe that one more disappointment will have you withering away and leaving the estate to him as he has always wanted. At which point it appears he will align himself with the duke. Much good may it do him when he would have squandered your father’s fortune in months.”
