Eleven
“You blackguard,” the Duke of Danby snarled at Colin as they stood toe to toe in the duke’s study.
When the duke’s fist plowed into Colin’s stomach, he grunted in surprise and pain. For a man of his advanced age, Danby’s punch had unexpected strength behind it.
“Grandfather!”
Julian Beckford, whom Colin hadn’t noticed earlier, bolted from a chair in front of Danby’s desk to intervene.
The duke drew back his arm to strike Colin again, but Colin was prepared this time and blocked the blow with his forearm. Beckford grabbed his grandfather from behind before he could throw another punch, much to Colin’s gratitude. He hadn’t come to box with the duke but to fight for Meredith.
Danby wrestled to break free of his grandson’s hold, and it appeared he might succeed.
“I love her,” Colin blurted. “I want to marry her.”
The duke ceased struggling, sagging in Beckford’s arms. He was panting, and his face was a startling shade of blood red—never a good sign for a man of his age.
“Look what you’ve done to yourself,” Beckford scolded his grandfather. “You are no longer a young buck to be challenging men to fisticuffs. Let me help you to your chair, and for god’s sake, calm yourself.”
Colin jumped at the chance to offer his assistance. Danby leaned on Colin and Beckford as they maneuvered him behind his desk and helped him lower into his chair.
“I am sending for Dr. Campion.” Beckford didn’t wait for his grandfather’s consent before grabbing the bell from the corner of the desk and ringing for a servant. For once, Danby didn’t appear inclined to argue. When a footman responded to the call, Beckford gave orders to retrieve the doctor and be swift about it.
“Yes, sir.” The servant shot out of the door.
Danby’s face was losing some of the redness, and he was no longer taking big gulps of air.
“Your Grace,” Colin said, “I realize you had your eye on Baron Lovell for Miss Halliday, but she deserves someone better suited for marriage than a scoundrel.”
The duke shook his head. His chest was still rising and falling rapidly, although his breathing was markedly improved from a moment ago.
“Shedoes,” Colin insisted, “and you cannot be stubborn about it. Meredith is remarkable. Her fortitude would be impressive for a man, much less a beautiful young lady. She is intelligent, compassionate, and practical, which I fear is a virtue she will need as my wife if you offer your blessing for me to ask for her hand.”
Julian Beckford perched on the edge of the desk and crossed his arms with a bemused smile. Colin looked back and forth between the men. Perhaps he should be appealing to Meredith’s brother-in-law instead, but Danby’s wishes came to pass too often to deny his influence over his family.
Colin addressed both men. “I admit Blackwood has fallen on hard times, but I am determined to see the estate restored. I would be unable to offer Miss Halliday many luxuries in the beginning of our marriage, but I do not believe she places much value on frivolous things. I can promise her my undying love, and she would not want for necessities. I am already her devoted servant. Please, give me your blessing to pledge my troth to Miss Halliday.”
The duke scoffed.
“Grandfather.” Beckford seemed as taken aback by Danby’s response to Colin’s heartfelt plea as he was.
“I amnotstubborn,” Danby said with a lift of his nose. “And if either of you believe I would allow any relation of mine to marry that louse Baron Lovell, you need Dr. Campion to examine your heads for bumps.”
Colin and Beckford exchanged a worried glance. The duke was speaking nonsense.
“Grandfather, I saw the letter,” Beckford reminded him. “It was your handwriting, and it clearly stated your wishes to see Meri wed to Lovell. You demanded Lord Blackwood help you to that end.”
The duke scoffed again. “I only said that because theearlis stubborn. He is a MacBride and cannot help himself.”
Colin squinted at him, confused. “I beg your pardon?”
“You never would have allowed an introduction if you had known I’d chosen you for Meri’s husband,” Danby said. “And your stubbornness would have kept you from finding love. I named Lovell because I knew you to be a man of honor. I anticipated once you came to care for Meri, you would want to protect her from the scoundrel by offering marriage.”
“That is diabolical,” Beckford said with more than a trace of admiration to his tone.
Colin glowered at Meredith’s brother-in-law, but he, too, was impressed by the duke’s machinations. And a little worried. “Why did you choose me?”
Danby fanned his hand away from his body with his palm up as if presenting the obvious. “One less lonely earl in Yorkshire never hurt anyone.”
