Page 64 of The Earl's Christmas Deal
Adam turned to the duke. The man was gaping at Lionel in horror, and Lord Sternwood, who until that point had been a mask of confusion, turned to him, his face mottled with red blotches of anger.
“Ibegyour pardon, Duke; what did you say of my family?”
The duke shook his head. “I did not mean—”
“You called my daughtertainted?” he stepped forward, rage pulsing from him in waves. “I have spoken to you at length of her disgrace. You were one of the few voices of reason. You even knew the Blackmoors and are on intimate terms with Lord Julian. Youknewshe had done nothing, behaved exactly as she should. That was the only reason I allowed you anywhere near her.”
Adam was taken aback by Emilia’s father's passion. He presented himself as rather withdrawn, only wishing to secure Emilia a good marriage, as many fathers did. But the person standing before him now was vibrating with indignation, his eyes sparking with fury as he glared at the duke.
“I will take the degradation of our alliance out of your hands,your Grace,”Thomas Sterling snarled.“If you wish to find yourself a woman who isuntainted, you can find her in the halls of the society you so bitterly crave.”
The duke stuttered a blustering apology, but Lord Sternwood would not hear it, turning his back on the man in disgust. After a moment of paralysis, the duke retreated from the room, the cigar falling from his fingers as he did so.
Adam turned to confront Frederick for a second time, but the man had escaped through the rear doors while they were distracted by the duke, and Lionel swore loudly and set off in pursuit of him. That left Adam alone with Thomas Sterling, who was still puce with anger, but his expression sharpened as he looked back at Adam.
Adam bowed.
“My Lord, I have not been entirely honest with you myself,” Adam said quickly. “I suppose you may wonder about my involvement—why I would careabout the duke’s intentions for your daughter.”
“I would,” Lord Sternwood said slowly, “if I had not witnessed you together over the last few days.”
The astute expression on the man’s face made Adam hesitate and as Lord Sternwood’s shoulders relaxed Adam straightened his own, determined to begin to make amends—starting here.
“My Lord, I love your daughter,” he said earnestly. “It is not something I ever expected to happen, but it is true. From the first moment I stepped into this house, I knew that my lifewas going to change forever. She is everything to me, and I have been a fool to doubt her. I believe I can make her happy. I ask you most solemnly for her hand in marriage. I will spend my life trying to deserve her.”
Thomas Sterling’s face was a picture of surprise and amazement, but eventually, he smiled, his eyes twinkling.
“The duke was not what I wanted for Emilia, not in himself, but I wanted to secure her future. I have had many sleepless nights since the scandal about how she will live. Elderbridge presented a decent option but I will not deny I am glad she is free of him.” Thomas gave Adam a long stare, and he fought to hold it. “You are a good man, my Lord. I have seen as much with the way you treat those around you and the friends you keep. I would be honoured to align the name of Bellebrook with Sternwood—but I will not make the same mistake twice. If Emilia agrees, you have my blessing, not before.”
Adam shook his hand, and just as he did so, they both heard the distant sound of a pianoforte. Adam’s spine stiffened at the familiar notes, and Lord Sternwood smiled.
“That can be only one member of my household,” he breathed a sigh of relief. “Go to her. I believe you have a question for my daughter.”
Adam walked out of the room as quickly as he could, a strange echo of the first afternoon he had spent in the house overcoming him. He had not known when he walked down this very corridor that his life would change forever.
He waited outside the room, listening to the familiar notes playing, and closed his eyes, letting them wash over him for a moment.
Slipping inside, he watched Emilia’s fingers move across the keys. The tune was mournful and sad, and her expression was the same. Adam was desperate to make her smile again, deeply ashamed of himself for having assumed the worst of her.
“Emilia,” he said softly, and she snatched her fingers from the keys, turning to him. There were shadows beneath her eyes, and her cheeks were blotched with tears.
He walked up to her quickly and lowered to his knees beside the piano stool. She drew in a sharp breath, staring down at him in amazement as he dared to take her hands in his and stared up at her, trying to convey in a single look all the love and sorrow he felt.
“Lord Bellebrook,” she said, her eyes looking to the door behind him, trying to tug her hand free from his grip.
“Adam,” he replied, and her gaze fell on his once more. “I would prefer you to call me Adam.”
“I cannot!” she said, trying to pull her hands free again as fresh tears began to fall. “
“Emilia, listen to me; it is all over.” She frowned down at him, letting out a long breath. “My cousin Frederick told the duke of my intentions toward you, no doubt having observed us together in recent days. He used that information to force the duke’s hand to thwart any chance of me remarrying. He has always been desperate to inherit my fortune, and if I married again, his chance of that would be gone forever.”
“But my father—” she said helplessly.
“Lord Spencer overheard them speaking of you. The duke was callous in his description, calling you tainted following the scandal. Your father heard of it and has called off the engagement.”
Emilia stood up, swayed on her feet, and sat down again, staring down at him in astonishment. The rush of pure relief that she felt was almost overwhelming and she clasped Adam’s hands more tightly.
“He has called off the engagement to the duke?” she asked, her voice small and desperate.
