significant. One doesn’t summon Bow Street on
domestic matters. Unless you can find something else, I cannot do anything to
undo the duke’s engagement to my sister.”
Frustration
mounted, and if there had ever been a moment where he felt useless, now was the
occasion. They needed more evidence, anything that would rouse the suspicion of
the magistrate.
“Listen,
we’ve known each other since Oxford, and our friendship has been tested in many
ways over this last year. I will not have you ride home alone and drink out of
anger. Come stay with me at the manor. I am sure after a good nights slumber,
we can find another way.”
“What
would your bride think of me intruding upon your abode at this ungodly hour?”
Avonlea asked.
“Hardly
anything. Hopefully by the time we slip in, the entire house, including the twins,
will be sound asleep.”
Thirty
minutes later, he followed Nathaniel in through the entrance to find his wife
napping on the dais in the hallway. When they entered, she woke with a start.
“Good grief, I had not meant to fall asleep out here.”
The
earl turned away, wanting to avoid embarrassing her in the manner she dressed.
“What
are you doing down here, my love?”
“Emily
arrived a short while ago. Quite exasperated, too. The poor dear, I fear, is
falling prey to your mother’s machinations. I am not quite sure she should be
marrying the duke, Nathaniel.”
The marquess sighed. “Avonlea, please make yourself comfortable
in my parlor. I will join you soon.”
Charles
meandered off in the direction of the parlor, quietly contemplating the marchioness’s
proclamation. Thank goodness, he was not the only one who could see past the
duke’s influence.
Moments
later, Nathaniel joined him by the fireplace, stoked the fire burning out, and
went to pour them some port. “You have to understand, Avonlea. I simply cannot
put an end to this nonsense without considering how it will ruin Emily’s chance
of being marriageable. Think for a moment, if you will, if we were to end this
engagement. Name one reputable gent who would offer for my sister. They’d all
think she was defective in some manner, and I will not have her name tainted.”
He
took the glass Nathaniel passed him and watched the deep, rich tones of purple
swirl by the light of the flames. “I am not saying you have to ruin her in the
process. We could simply make him go away. To be frank, if you ask me, I think
he proposed the match because of her dowry.”
“While
that may be true, it still does not mean I have the right to ruin her
reputation. I was true when I said I will stop this marriage from being
pursued, but only when we have more to go on. This isn’t some conspiracy theory
we are working on for head of state, either. We are talking about bringing down
a member of the peerage. There will be consequences to our meddling. And I, for
one, will not risk the reputation of my children and wife.”
The
earl knew all to well what this could do to their
family. Peace had only just returned to their lives. And what he was proposing
would disrupt things once again. “I would never ask you to do such a thing, and
I can see now that I should have never returned here.”
“Nonsense.
Henry will see you to the guest wing. I am sure by morning we will all be in
better spirits.”
One can only hope.
* * * *
Emily tossed and turned for what seemed an
eternity. Hearing Lord Avonlea’s voice in the darkness roused her from slumber
each and every time she closed her eyes. Tonight’s turn of events certainly
left a bad impression of what her pending nuptials to the duke would bring.
Even if she confided in her mama of how lewd he was, the woman would never
believe her.
She had never dreamed of the day she would marry,
much less to a duke. His grace, while he was not entirely attractive, had a
charming air about him. Perhaps it was his wealth, or maybe his confidence,
that attracted others into his circle. She would hate to
domestic matters. Unless you can find something else, I cannot do anything to
undo the duke’s engagement to my sister.”
Frustration
mounted, and if there had ever been a moment where he felt useless, now was the
occasion. They needed more evidence, anything that would rouse the suspicion of
the magistrate.
“Listen,
we’ve known each other since Oxford, and our friendship has been tested in many
ways over this last year. I will not have you ride home alone and drink out of
anger. Come stay with me at the manor. I am sure after a good nights slumber,
we can find another way.”
“What
would your bride think of me intruding upon your abode at this ungodly hour?”
Avonlea asked.
“Hardly
anything. Hopefully by the time we slip in, the entire house, including the twins,
will be sound asleep.”
Thirty
minutes later, he followed Nathaniel in through the entrance to find his wife
napping on the dais in the hallway. When they entered, she woke with a start.
“Good grief, I had not meant to fall asleep out here.”
The
earl turned away, wanting to avoid embarrassing her in the manner she dressed.
“What
are you doing down here, my love?”
“Emily
arrived a short while ago. Quite exasperated, too. The poor dear, I fear, is
falling prey to your mother’s machinations. I am not quite sure she should be
marrying the duke, Nathaniel.”
The marquess sighed. “Avonlea, please make yourself comfortable
in my parlor. I will join you soon.”
Charles
meandered off in the direction of the parlor, quietly contemplating the marchioness’s
proclamation. Thank goodness, he was not the only one who could see past the
duke’s influence.
Moments
later, Nathaniel joined him by the fireplace, stoked the fire burning out, and
went to pour them some port. “You have to understand, Avonlea. I simply cannot
put an end to this nonsense without considering how it will ruin Emily’s chance
of being marriageable. Think for a moment, if you will, if we were to end this
engagement. Name one reputable gent who would offer for my sister. They’d all
think she was defective in some manner, and I will not have her name tainted.”
He
took the glass Nathaniel passed him and watched the deep, rich tones of purple
swirl by the light of the flames. “I am not saying you have to ruin her in the
process. We could simply make him go away. To be frank, if you ask me, I think
he proposed the match because of her dowry.”
“While
that may be true, it still does not mean I have the right to ruin her
reputation. I was true when I said I will stop this marriage from being
pursued, but only when we have more to go on. This isn’t some conspiracy theory
we are working on for head of state, either. We are talking about bringing down
a member of the peerage. There will be consequences to our meddling. And I, for
one, will not risk the reputation of my children and wife.”
The
earl knew all to well what this could do to their
family. Peace had only just returned to their lives. And what he was proposing
would disrupt things once again. “I would never ask you to do such a thing, and
I can see now that I should have never returned here.”
“Nonsense.
Henry will see you to the guest wing. I am sure by morning we will all be in
better spirits.”
One can only hope.
* * * *
Emily tossed and turned for what seemed an
eternity. Hearing Lord Avonlea’s voice in the darkness roused her from slumber
each and every time she closed her eyes. Tonight’s turn of events certainly
left a bad impression of what her pending nuptials to the duke would bring.
Even if she confided in her mama of how lewd he was, the woman would never
believe her.
She had never dreamed of the day she would marry,
much less to a duke. His grace, while he was not entirely attractive, had a
charming air about him. Perhaps it was his wealth, or maybe his confidence,
that attracted others into his circle. She would hate to
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