“After her!”
Theo forced himself to stop and take a breath. Lady Beatrice was innocent. She deserved an explanation.
“I’m sorry.” He turned to face her so that she could see the honesty in his eyes. “This is not what I meant to happen, or how I hoped to share the news.”
“It’strue?” Lady Beatrice’s face was lined with disbelief. “You meant to throw me over for her?”
“You and I have no contract,” Theo reminded her. “That is why you wrote to me for the first time, is it not? To encourage an official arrangement. I’m afraid I must disappoint you on this score. I will not be offering for your hand. Nor should you want it.”
“Of course I want it.” Lady Beatrice crossed her arms. “I don’t mind if you keep a mistress or if we remain strangers after the wedding. I’m to be your marchioness. Combining our families is more important than personal feelings we may or may not have about the match.”
“Is it?” Theo asked softly. “You should mind very much if your husband wishes to remain a stranger after the wedding. Duty is important, but not more so than love. Find a man who makes you happy, Lady Beatrice, and marryhim.”
Lady Beatrice gestured at the narrow road winding toward the castle. “Sheis what makes you happy? What about your reputation?”
“My reputation is meaningless,” he replied, “if I fail to fight for what truly matters.”
For years, Theo’s preoccupation with conforming to expected behavior had ruled his life. But Virginia had never been interested in marrying a future marquess. She had wanted to wed Theo, the man. From the moment they’d met, she’d accepted him exactly as he was. All she ever wanted was for him to do the same.
“What about your father?” Lady Beatrice burst out. “If you do this, he will never forgive you.”
“If that’s true,” Theo said, “so be it.”
He did not need his father’s consent to decide what sort of life he wanted to live. In the choice between Virginia and the rest of Society… Theo chose Virginia.
“Swinton,” he called.
Swinton materialized at once. “Yes, Mr. T?”
Happiness was right up that hill. “Please summon my coach.”
“The sleigh is blocking the way, sir.” A ghost of a smile touched the edges of the butler’s mouth. “And it would be faster.”
“Fine,” Theo growled. “Ready the sleigh.”
“Thewhat?” Lady Beatrice’s brows shot up. “Where do you think you’re going?”
“To beg for Virginia’s hand.” Theo rolled back his shoulders as the sleigh pulled into sight. “Go home to London.”
“But she doesn’t even want you anymore,” Lady Beatrice stammered. “She said this was goodbye!”
Theo would change Virginia’s mind or die trying.
“Itisgoodbye,” he said as he climbed into the sleigh. “To fear, to each other, and to our parents’ manipulations. Live for yourself, Lady Beatrice. Choose happiness. It’s the only decision worth making.”
Chapter 14
Virginia wrapped her arms about her chest and huddled into the wind as she climbed the final stretch toward the castle.
Her throat felt swollen. The bitter wind blowing through her heart came not from the air around her, but from having come face-to-face with the sort of woman Theodore’s father expected him to marry. Nothing less than perfection would do.
Lady Beatrice was everything Virginia had imagined her to be. Beautiful, composed, wealthy, popular, more than comfortable in her role as a lady. The ideal marchioness. She would never cause embarrassment.
Virginia’s eyes pricked with heat. By trying to force herself where she did not belong, Virginia would only make Theodore’s life harder… just as she’d done to her own family.
’Twas better to cut things off now, before greater damage could occur. If Virginia’s parents had rid themselves of her in order to have a normal life, what did she expect from Theodore?
“Miss Underwood!”
