His father was already seated at the table, sipping his coffee and reading one of several newspapers that were delivered to Alexander each day. “Good morning, Father.”
“Morning.” He lowered the newspaper and stared at Alexander.
Oh, drat.
How had the news about this morning’s fiasco spread so quickly? And what exactly was the rumor being spread?
Alexander calmly loaded up his plate with eggs, kippers, sausage, and something unappetizingly gray that looked like someone’s boiled sock. Well, maybe he would leave that aside.
He then took a seat beside his father. “Is there a reason you are still gawking at me?”
“You know very well my reason.”
Alexander arched an eyebrow. “Actually, I have no idea. Would you be so kind as to spell it out?”
“Why were you at the vicarage this morning? And what possible reason did you have for taking Miss Ruskin in your arms?”
CHAPTER 9
“WHO SAID MISSRuskin was in my arms?” Alexander realized this was going to be a very long day.
“Wasn’t she? Do you dare deny it?” His father shot him a castigating scowl. “Alexander, you may be heedless of your own decorum, but think of the poor girl. You will ruin her reputation if you are not careful. Then what will you do? You certainly cannot marry her.”
“I can marry whomever I please.”
“That is where you are wrong. I am still Earl of Trent and all you have is the courtesy title that I, in my good nature, have given you. I may not be able to stop you from inheriting my title or the entailed properties, but I have full control of the unentailed assets and I am not prohibited from mortgaging the entailed estates to the hilt. I assure you, I will cut you out to the greatest extent possible if you continue with your arrogant attitude.”
“Do not threaten me, Father. I have been through war, deprivation, and aching loss. I know what it means to be a proper husband, father, and friend. As thecourtesyViscount Ardley, I also know what the villagers under my protection need, and protecting them is what I will do whenever the situation calls for it. As for Miss Ruskin, she was only in my arms because she had worked herself into exhaustion and was about to trip over her kitchen stool. I caught her before she hit her head on the hard floor. That is all. She is a good girl and quite innocent. That should have been obvious to you.”
“It was. I have no quarrel with her. But she is a vicar’s daughter.”
“And an incredibly talented cook.”
“That is even worse. You cannot marry a cook.”
He leaned forward and met his father’s gaze head on. “Let me assure you, if her reputation is besmirched in any way, I shall step up and marry her. So do not think to spread gossip about her, or it will blow up in your face.”
“Alexander!”
“You ought to go home, Father. Leave now. Before this argument gets any worse.”
“Of all the effrontery!”
“Whose? Yours or mine?” Alexander sighed and shook his head. “We both need to calm down. I am holding my house party. You are still invited, even if you happen to be irksome at the moment. I will meet those three diamonds I have painstakingly selected and intend to spend time getting to know each of them. So why are we arguing?”
He wanted badly to defuse this situation, but neither was he about to stand down from a confrontation if his stubborn father did not let up.
“Fine, no more arguments. Let us just enjoy the day. I will leave tomorrow.”
“Does this mean you will join me at the fair instead of sitting here and sulking?”
“Earls do not sulk.” He set aside his newspaper and rose. “Shall we walk down there now?”
“As you wish. The villagers are merely setting up. The fair won’t start before eleven.”
“And Miss Ruskin? Will she be there beforehand?”
“I hope not. I’ve admonished her to get some rest or she will never make it through the afternoon. No chance she will last into the evening. She stayed up all night preparing her dough mixture for all the ladies in the village to use for their baked treats. On top of that, she made her own tarts.”
