Eyes flashing with hatred, her lovely mouth curled into an ugly sneer. “I meant for you to use thatcompromising situationto force the Duke of Broadmere to marry me, you fool! But instead, you leg-shackled yourself as meekly as a lamb led to the slaughter.” She stormed closer. “Have you no cunning? No sense of survival? Not only could you have been rid of me and my spineless mother, but you could have remained a bachelor to bed whomever you wished.”
“I consider the duke a friend. Never would I have saddled him with the likes of you.”
She shook with rage, fisting her hands at her sides. “I am not going back to India.”
“You will either go willingly, as a free woman to the Sykesburys of Bombay, or you will go in shackles as a prisoner charged with forgery and whatever else I decide the authorities might find interesting.”
“You cannot do this to me.”
“I already have.”
Tears welled in her eyes and overflowed, streaming down her cheeks. “This will kill Mama. You know that. You know how much she loves me. She would never wish me trapped in a marriage so far from her.”
“She will either overcome it or die with it. The choice is hers, and I am certain her new husband will help her rise above her turmoil.” He slowly rose out of his chair but kept the desk between them for her protection. “Did you truly believe I would allow you to continue your torment of my beloved wife?”
“You do not love her. You said so yourself. Said she was nothing but a friend.” She dove toward the desk and tried to grab the proof of her forgery, but he snatched it out of her reach. “We are blood, you and I,” she sobbed. “You cannot do this to me.”
“As far as I am concerned, my only family is Fortuity and our future children.” He yanked on the bellpull.
Thebson and Thomas both came to the door.
“Ask Mr. Turnmaster to deliver Miss Sykesbury and her maid to the port. Thomas, you go along and assist him. If Miss Sykesbury does not behave like a genteel lady and go willingly, hand her over to the authorities and ask them to come and speak with me.” Matthew put the letters in his center desk drawer and locked it.
“Come along now, miss,” Thebson said.
Young Thomas stood beside him, looking ready to drag her away if need be.
Eleanor stood taller and fixed Matthew with a haughty glare. “I will never forgive you for this.”
“I can live with that.” He waved her away. “Godspeed to you, cousin.”
Chapter Fourteen
Standing in thedoorway, Matthew watched the carriage carry Eleanor away. He should have done this long ago. In fact, he should never have enabled the wicked woman into his home in the first place.
After blowing out a heavy sigh, he went back inside, ambled through the entry hall, and eyed the staircase. Fortuity needed to be told about the forgery and Eleanor’s departure. While he hoped the latter would bring her some comfort, he knew in his heart that the ruination of what should have been the joyous occasion of her publishing debut would take quite some time for her to get over. Especially since her name would not grace a cover or title page until her next book.
Mrs. Greer appeared at the top of the stairs, her usually cheerful demeanor darker and sadder than he had ever seen it. Alarm shot through him, making him rush to meet her. “Pray, do not tell me her condition has worsened?”
The usually jolly matron avoided his gaze and wet her mouth as if struggling to coax the words free. “Nothing has happened to her ladyship, my lord. She is much better, in fact.”
“But?”
“It would be better if you spoke to her.”
“You say she isbetter.Is she fully recovered?”
“The herbal I blended has lessened her megrim greatly.” The housekeeper kept her eyes downcast. “I must hie myself to myapothecary now and blend some more for when she may next need it. Excuse me, my lord.”
An ominous thrum of dread filled him, growing stronger with every step he took toward their private suite. As soon as he opened the door, his heart fell.
Anne was checking the straps on a pair of trunks. When she looked up and set eyes on him, she backed away and curtsied. “My lord.”
“What is going on here?” he asked, forcing himself to speak in a quiet, reasonable tone.
“I am going to stay with Blessing.” Fortuity stepped into the room. Dark shadows, purplish black smudges of unwellness, plagued her troubled eyes, and her pallor concerned him. “It is for the best,” she added softly, as if that explained everything and made it all right.
She was leaving him. Everything had become too much for her.
