Page 37 of Avoiding the Merry Viscount
He caught Elias’s gaze and waved him over to join. Elias moved to join them, wrapping his arms around Jenny and Grace to join in the family hug.
“This was the best Christmas gift I think we could have received,” their father said. “I hope you know how much I love you all.”
There was a flurry of ‘I love yous’ all around the room and a few more hugs before they all released each other.
“What did Mama say to make you laugh, Papa?” Grace asked.
“That is something that is just for me and your mama,” their father said, and Elias noticed a light blush reach his father’s cheeks.
Elias could only assume what words might cause such a reaction. When he was a younger lad, it would have been quite gross to acknowledge the passion between his parents in that way, but as a grown man who was ready to take his own wife, he was glad that his parents had experienced an unwavering passion and desire for each other.
“We better rejoin our guests,” Papa said.
Diana ushered her sisters out of the room, but Elias held back. “Father, might I speak with you?”
“Always, my boy,” his father said. “Although I suppose you haven’t been a boy for quite some time.”
Elias gave him a soft smile. “I wish to ask for Lydia…I mean, Miss Cary’s hand.”
His father clasped his shoulder. “I had a feeling she would be theone for you, son. She is delightful. Are you marrying her merely because you find her attractive, or have you given over to the notion of marrying for love?”
“I love her, Father.” Elias sighed, realizing that once he’d spoken the words aloud, he wasn’t so afraid of doing so repeatedly.
“I’m so proud of you, son,” his father said, pulling him into a tight hug. “You deserve to experience a life with true love. I look forward to calling Miss Cary a daughter.”
Elias pulled back from his father with a deep frown etched on his face. “If she will accept me. I made a bit of a mess of things.”
“Go to her, son. Tell her how you feel, and I am sure all will be well. And don’t be too proud to grovel. I know from experience that women enjoy such things.”
Elias would get down on his knees and beg at her feet if that was what it took. “I will speak to her now. Even if she is in her chamber. This cannot wait.”
His father laughed. “I look forward to announcing the betrothal tonight at dinner.”
Elias rolled his eyes at his father, but deep down, his heart danced with joy that his father was proud of his choice. He hurried out of the room and glanced around the drawing room to see if Lydia was among the guests who had congregated.
Checking a few other places, there was no sight of her, so he ran up the stairs and turned down the wing where her chamber was. He knocked lightly on the door and thought he heard movement on the other side of the door.
“Lydia,” he said in a loud whisper. “It’s me. Let me in, please.”
There was a noise that sounded like a scuffle, and he tried the knob to find it locked.
“Lydia,” he called again. “Please open the door.”
Something that sounded like muffled cries reached his ears. Then he heard someone say, “Quiet.”
Elias hurried to the door next to hers and ran his hand along the door frame, seeking one of the skeleton keys they kept nearby in case of emergencies. Once he had it in his hand, he rushed back to her door and let himself into the room.
When he saw the scene in the room, rage exploded from within him.
Durham had Lydia’s arms pinned behind her back and a knife to her throat. He had tied a cravat around her head and into her mouth, holding her mouth open to gag her.
Durham smirked at him and tears streamed down Lydia’s face as she focused her gaze on Elias. “Well, look who has shown up to interrupt our fun.”
Chapter Twelve
Lydia
Lydia had triedto overpower Clint when he entered her chamber, but he had put the knife to her throat, and she’d known she had to bide her time until she could find the right opportunity to get away from him. She only hoped she could do so before he did unspeakable things to her. Given that he had already threatened her he would do so.
