“I have played your game and won.” The countess leaned forward, lording her position over Meredith. “I earned my place, you grasping little trollop. I devoted two years toward catching my husband, and you think you can waltz into Blackwood Castle and wheedle a marriage proposal from Colin in two weeks?”
The roar of Meredith’s blood pumping through her veins whooshed in her ears. She’d had enough of the vile woman’s abuse. Giving in to her base desires had been a mistake, but she would never use manipulation to further her gains. “I am here to teach your daughters. My friendship with Lord Blackwood is no cause for concern.”
“Friendship.” One side of the woman’s mouth curved up. “You seemed chummy a moment ago. I believe you desire more than friendship, Miss Halliday, and the game has been played on you.”
The sound of crackling paper caught Meredith’s attention, and she realized the countess had been holding something behind her back.
“Colin doesn’t want you here.” She thrust the paper in Meredith’s face, and Meredith flinched. “He only agreed to hire you in exchange for land, and he will do anything necessary to fulfill his agreement with Danby. He does not care for you.”
Meredith took the letter and silently read the damning words. A lump formed in her throat as she neared the end. Lady Blackwood spoke the truth. Meredith was simply a bargain to fulfill, and the duke had betrayed her.
The countess backed away and pointed toward the door. “Leave my house at once. You are not wanted here.”
Meredith rose from the settee, bade the countess a good day, and swept from the drawing room with her head held high and the letter in hand. Once she was outside, however, she lifted her skirts and ran away in a most undignified manner. She was almost halfway to Danby Castle before she realized fleeing was unnecessary.
Lord Blackwood wasn’t giving chase.
She slowed her pace. Dampness plastered several strands of hair to her forehead, and her breath came out in forceful puffs.
“He isn’t coming,” she murmured as if saying it aloud might make it easier to accept, but it didn’t. Disappointment crashed down on her, sitting heavily on her chest, and her boots suddenly felt like they were made of stone.
She had fallen for the earl when all along he’d probably been seeking a way to compel her to resign. And most troubling of all, he’d been scheming with the duke, a man she’d come to love like a grandfather.
Righteous anger blazed through her, searing her skin. The Duke of Danby was a menace to all who wished to remain uncoupled. It was high time someone set him straight about meddling in other’s affairs, and since none of his blood kin seemed to want to take on the task, Meredith would.
When she reached Danby Castle, she marched straight for the duke’s study, knocked once, and barged inside with the proof of his guilt clutched in her fist.
Colin’s brotherdetained him in the corridor when he exited the classroom with Meredith’s books. Colin didn’t want to keep her waiting, but James stood blocking the path with his hands propped on his waist; his expression was grim.
“I thought you should know a downstairs maid spotted Audrey leaving your study earlier. She appeared to be empty-handed, so I assume you have taken measures to protect the household purse.”
“I’ve hidden it well,” Colin said with a decisive nod. Since he had caught her taking money from his desk a week earlier, he wasn’t surprised by the report. “Audrey will receive her pin money soon, which should buoy her spirits for a couple of days and keep her out of trouble. Now, if you will excuse me...”
He tried to go around James, but his brother stepped in front of him. “What are we going to do about her?”
Colin growled under his breath. He didn’t have the time or the desire to discuss his sister-in-law. “We will continue to tolerate her because she is the girls’ mother. I don’t see any other choice.”
James rubbed his forehead, frowning. “Perhaps you are right, but I intend to give it more thought.”
“Yes, well. Please do your thinking elsewhere. Miss Halliday is waiting for me in the drawing room.”
James raised his hands in surrender and allowed Colin to pass. He jogged down the stairs and entered the drawing room a few moments later, expecting to find Meredith where he’d left her. He froze inside the doorway. The room was empty and unnervingly silent.
“Miss Halliday?”
Naturally, she didn’t answer. No popping up from behind the settee or jumping out of the curtains. He didn’t know why he’d called out to her except he couldn’t quite grasp that she wasn’t there. Where would she have gone?
With her books still in his arms, he stalked into the foyer and along the stone passage en route to Audrey’s sitting room. He found his sister-in-law reclining on the lush fainting couch with the back of her hand draped across her eyes.
“Have you seen Miss Halliday?” he asked.
Audrey didn’t deign to move an inch to look at him. “I am not her keeper. Go away.”
“Audrey!” His bark startled her, and her hand fell away from her face. “Sit up and address me with the proper respect.”
Her eyes were wide as she slowly pushed to a seated position and folded her hands in her lap. “Yes, my lord.”
He took a cleansing breath to harness his temper before speaking again. The prospect of spending the next twenty or more years fighting with this woman exhausted him. “The girls may not see us arguing, but they sense the tension between us. Malcolm wouldn’t want this type of home for them.”
