Page 63 of The Earl's Christmas Deal
Adam took an urgent step forward. “You are sure of this?”
“I heard the duke thanking Frederick for informing him of your intentions. Frederick must have overheard some of your conversations with Emiliaor learned it some other way, but the reason for the hasty betrothal was to ensure you could not be aligned with her. It is all a plot by Frederick to get your title and align himself with a powerful man. The only thing the duke wants from this marriage is a male heir, he said that he would ‘bring Emilia Sterling to heel’.”
At those words, Adam’s expression changed, and for the first time in three years, Lionel saw the man who had been lost to him.
The grim determination on Adam’s face was all-consuming, and he marched from the room, nodding his head at Lionel for him to follow.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
The two men walked beside one another down the stairs, and without a word, they headed toward the billiard room. The stillness over everything felt just the same, but now the air was charged with tension.
Lionel jerked back in shock as Adam slammed his foot into the door of the billiard room, all the fight and the drive that had been missing returning to him in an instant.
Frederick, who was alone at the billiard table, still smoking his cigar with a second glass of whisky at his elbow, jumped back three feet and stared in wild confusion at Adam.
Adam could feel the energy pulsing through him. He was flooded with guilt once more, but this time none of it was for Anastasia—it was all for Emilia.
How could I have dismissed her? How could I have doubted her so entirely? I am a blaggard and a fool, and I will do everything in my power to make it up to her for the rest of my life.
“As you can see, Fred, I am still living,” he spat, bolstered by Lionel’s reassuring presence at his elbow. “Or had you hoped that I might have expired even in the few moments since you manipulated the duke’s hand into ruining me?”
Frederick’s mouth was hanging open like a fish. He stared at Adam, his gaze flicking between him and Lionel. Then, there was the sound of running footsteps, and Lord Sternwood loped into view, pausing as he took in the scene with a raised eyebrow.
Frederick backed away from the table, dropping the cue from his fingers and staring around like a caged animal.
“What the devil are you talking about?” he asked, but his voice was thin, his face pale.
“I am speaking of the conversation that Lord Spencer just heard between yourself and the duke. Do you deny it?”
Lord Sternwood came to stand beside Adam, his eyes sharp but wary.
“What… I have not…” Frederick asked. His gaze was flitting about the room frantically as though looking for an escape.
“I heard you,” Lionel said, his voice a dark promise of retribution. “You were congratulating one another on a job well done. You have manipulated the duke into securing his match with Lady Emilia Sterling in haste because you do not want Adam to remarry. You have been after his title for years, and believed another loss would destroy him.”
“No, I—” Frederick was spluttering wildly.
“I am told you think me weak,” Adam said. “I remember when Anastasia died, you were at the house almost daily, pretending to be sorry for my condition, when I knew in my heart you were there merely to rejoice in my decline.”
Frederick stuttered but could find no words to reply.
“My Lord,” Adam said, turning to Lord Sternwood. “The duke and my cousin have been conspiring to use your daughter as a pawn in their scheme. Mr Frederick wished to thwart myhonourableintentions towards your daughter so that he could ally himself with the Elderbridge name.”
“What is the meaning of this?”
The duke entered the room, looking like a carbon copy of Frederick at that moment. They could not have done more to confirm they were in cahoots, smoking the same cigars, drinking from the same glasses. Adam could not have planned it better if he tried.
“Do you deny it?” Adam demanded,feeling a wave of satisfaction that he could finally speak down to this odious man.
“Deny what?” Benedict roared, but as his gaze fell on Frederick, he paled.
“You brought forward your proposal after my cousin warned you that I had intentions of my own. You care nothing for the lady in question, only for your own future.”
Lord Sternwood was staring at Adam in consternation.
“Of what is he speaking?” Lord Sternwood asked, staring at Adam in bewilderment as Lionel stepped forward, pointing a finger at the duke.
“The Duke of Elderbridge and Mr Frederick were discussing their alliance. The duke spoke of your daughter as though she were a dog he could bring to heel. What was it you said?” Lionel asked, turning to the duke with suppressed fury. “That you would prefer a family that was ‘untainted’ but that your options were limited. The Sternwoods, after all, are far from theexalted statusof the Elderbridges.”
