“—This was what father wished for you. A life that will give you security and safety. At least Lord Wessex is young and handsome. I am sure with time you will learn to appreciate all of this.”
“There is no ‘with time’, Lord Bentley,” Ash cut in, his voice firm. “The betrothal is off.”
Felix’s features tightened, and he turned to Ash. “What has my sister done? I assure you after I discuss with her, she will make her apologies and nothing of the like will happen again.”
Well, that was just completely unfair. “I did nothing wrong, Felix. Why do you assume it is my fault?”
He lifted abrow, his expression sayingseriously?So, she stuck her tongue out at him.
“Perhaps that right there is why. You just stuck your tongue out at me. Let me guess, you did something to scare Lord Wessex off. Covered his pillow with flour or dipped his comb in ink or stuffed his boots with manure or cut rather unfortunately placed holes in his breeches.”
“Those were things I did as achild,Felix. Plus, you deserved every one of them.” And quite honestly, Colborn did, too.
Ash blinked at the two of them. “Lady Felicity is telling the truth…” Ash started slowly, still staring at them with a semblance of alarm.
Shite. Revealing these things wasn’t the best way to convince him to spend the rest of his life with her. Granted, she was fairly certain he knew mostly the true her that resided inside the facade she had carefully constructed for society. And he liked that woman, she thought.
No, doubts. Not now. Shoo.
“At first, I may have felt the same as you, my lord,” Ash continued. “That her concerns could easily be addressed by me speaking with my son. However, when my son arrived here, his treatment of your sister was deplorable. I have never been more ashamed of my son, nor of myself, for I am the one who raised him. I accept full responsibility for his actions.”
Her brother stiffened, his gaze darting between Ash and Felicity. “What happened?”
Felicity looked away. Felix would overreact if he knew. The pattern of her armchair was quite beautiful.
“Felicity…?” Felix said slowly.
She picked at the fabric. Such beautiful swirls of dark green and cream.
“What in the bloody hell happened?”
She winced at the threat simmering in Felix’s tone. Felix did not tolerate slights to his family. Ever. And how Colborn had behaved… It would strike a raw nerve, reminding Felix of old wounds. She needed to rein him in and get through this with as little details as possible.
Ash went to speak, but Felicity cut him off. “It is nothing, Felix. Are details truly required? The betrothal is off, and I won’t be marrying Lord Wessex. That is the end of it.”
Felix turned to her, and all of a sudden, she was moving as he slid her chair to face him. He gripped her hands and spoke low, “Flick, what happened? Did he hurt you? A broken betrothal is not nearly enough if he hurt you.” His gaze locked on Ash’s. “I will see him at dawn if he touched my sister in any way against her will.”
Bloody hell. This conversation was getting out of hand. She loved her brother, and she knew he truly loved and cared for her—despite his frustrating habit ofnot listening to her—but at the moment, he needed to tone that love down a bit.
“No one is seeing anyone at dawn. The Duke has handled his son. Lord Wessex was rude to me, that is all.” That might be underplaying it slightly. But Felix didn’t need to know that.
Felix scoffed.Curse it.He saw right through that.
Ash cut in, “My son was less than a gentleman with your sister and made advances on her she did not wish for. Though he eventually stopped, his behavior was inexcusable. I intervened and ended the betrothal immediately. He is nowhere near fit to be a husband any time soon; that is clear.”
Felicity glanced at Felix. His face was turning an alarming shade of red, but he appeared to be trying to hold himself in check.
“See, nothing to worry your little heart over, Felix. All will be well.” She smiled brightly.
Felix growled.
Oh, dear.
She stared beseechingly at her brother. “Please, Felix. It has been handled.”
“Believe me, Lord Bentley, my son will pay for his actions,” Ash added. “And I assure you, we will end this betrothal with the utmost tact so that there are no blemishes to Lady Felicity’s reputation. It will fall solely on my and my son’s shoulders. We want in no way for this to impede on her making a respectable match.”
Her smile melted away.Making a what now?Felicity’s heart grew cold. Damn that imbecile. She didn’t want to make a respectable match with some random gentleman.
