“I don’t think I do. I lost everything.”
Chase snorted and waved around the room. “Hardly.”
“On the surface, no. But in my heart? What would you do? Would you submit gracefully to the will of another? Somehow, I don’t think you would.”
“You have no idea what I’ve done or what I’ve lost. Forgive me if I don’t sympathize.”
“I won’t. I don’t expect anything of you.”
“Let me be clear. You end this or I will.”
Never, his heart said.Sam bit back a grin. “Or what? What could the woman possibly do? Expel me from the club? She cannot force my hand.”
“Do not underestimate her. It’s not just about you, but the other persons involved, your sister, your friend, and now Miss Blakewood. Do you want to drag them down with you?”
“I don’t take kindly to threats, and I won’t be blackmailed.”
“This isn’t a game you can win. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. You will act swiftly, or I will act for you.” Chase stood andstraightened his coat. “Frankly, I’m disappointed in you.” Sam scoffed and rolled his eyes. “I thought you more honorable than to take advantage of an innocent woman.”
“Question my honor again and I’ll call you out.”
Chase chuckled and walked out. Sam fisted his hands, wishing they were wrapped around that rat’s neck.
He ran a hand through his hair and stared blankly at the empty hearth. Just for a moment he’d had something wonderful in his grasp, and it was already slipping away. What was he going to do? Fight for it, that’s what. He loved her and he was not going to lose her.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Daisy’s heart poundedso loudly she feared they might hear it.
Alston was betrothed. To whom?
It seemed they’d both been hiding something, trying to chase a dream they could not catch. The longer she stood there listening to Mr. Chase make his threats, the more her heart shriveled in despair. Why couldn’t she just have one thing for herself? Make one choice and keep it?
Mr. Chase stalked out of the room and immediately spotted her. He strode right for her, and Daisy had the urge to scream but couldn’t find her voice. He took her elbow, not painfully, and led her into the back stairwell, then he stopped and faced her.
“Well, I’m assuming you heard everything.”
“I did.”
“Then you know I didn’t tell him about your intended, and it seems clear you haven’t told him either.”
She sucked in a breath. “I just wanted...”
“Hm, yes. We all want things, Miss Blakewood, but that doesn’t mean we get to have them. That is life. Both of you have been deceiving each other. Either you can walk away and pretend nothing ever happened or confront him. I don’t blame you if you want to simply walk away. You’re young—”
“Why does everyone focus on my youth? I’m old enough to marry. In fact, I’ve been betrothed since infancy. I’m not a child. I’m not nitwitted. I made choices, and I stand by them.”
He folded one arm and stroked his chin as he considered her. “Then you’ll have no issue resolving it with him, will you?”
“No. I’m not afraid of honesty. If he hid something from me, he had reasons, just as I do.”
He shook his head and turned away. “The girl with two earls. Good luck, Miss Blakewood, but know there is only one you can keep. The other is already owned. Remember that.”
Daisy’s mouth dropped open, and he disappeared around the corner.
Owned?No one owned Alston. He’d fought to live, and it was not fair that he must be chained to someone not of his choosing. Just like her. Was that the thread that had drawn them together, even without them realizing? She wasn’t going to wait to find out. She’d waited long enough for her life to begin, but it hadn’t until she’d met Alston. Only then had she realized what she’d been missing all along and discovered what she wanted. She may be inexperienced when it came to men, but she knew Alston’s heart was genuine, no matter what Mr. Chase had said to him.
Daisy marched back into the master suite. Alston sat in the chair, slumped, a hand to his brow and more desolate than she’d ever seen him. Daisy shut the door and locked it.
