She didn’t know how she would start her conversation with Sidney today, but decided she’d need to be as straightforward as possible: reminding him of the reality that he had responsibilities as the viscount and it was now his duty to produce an heir. That was simply something Angeline could not provide him, and there wasn’t any way around it.
Contemplating the best way to deliver that message, more than anything, Angeline wished she could have a different body. It had always hurt every time it failed to nurture life within her, but now it was creating a new kind of pain, costing not only the opportunity to be a mother, but also her second chance to be with a man she loved.
Inhaling deeply, Angeline knew the time had come and that putting off talking to Sidney any further was no longer an option. With the clarity that she was not with child after their night together, she absolutely could not allow him to keep living in the belief that they had a future together. It made her furious, even in her sadness. Rising from the bath, she dressed and made her way downstairs for breakfast, though she didn’t think she’d be able to eat anything with her nerves.
Entering the breakfast room, she found her brother seated at the table, returned from Ravenswood. “Good morning, Fitz.”
Fitz looked up from his paper, startled by her voice. “Angie, where on earth have you been? No one has seen you for days and Sidney’s a mess.”
Angeline hung her head in shame. Yes, she had been dealing with a crisis of her own, but she knew she had left Sidney when he needed his friends the most. “I’m sorry, Fitz. I needed some time for myself, it was an overwhelming week. I returned here and asked Moira not to tell anyone. But, Fitz, what’s going on?”
Sighing, Fitz laid down the paper and pinched the bridge of his nose. “I’m not sure it’s my place to fill you in, but as it directly affects you, I think you should know.”
Angeline was now alarmed. What could have transpired the past two days that would affect her?
“After the reading of the will, we were waylaid by Lady Effie,” Fitz explained. “She’s claiming that based on how the marriage contract was drawn up, she is engaged to marry Viscount Hasting—regardless of who that may be. As Nick was not named specifically, she’s claiming that the contract was not voided upon his death. She is insisting that Sidney fulfill the terms of the contract and marry her as the new viscount.”
Angeline was stunned. “What did the lawyer have to say?”
Fitz shook his head, looking more than a little displeased. “He said that Lady Effie’s correct that the contract only listed ‘Viscount Hasting’ and did not name Nick as the viscount, so she had the right to make a legal claim.”
“But why would she want to go ahead with a marriage when the person she had meant to marry died?” Angeline couldn’t imagine being able to transfer affections so easily.
“Because it was never really Nick she cared about,” Fitz said with a sneer. “Her actions make it clear it was only his position and money that she was after. Sidney can still provide her with the title of viscountess now that there is a new Marchioness of Albany to replace her. That’s all she’s after, she could not care less whom she actually marries.”
“Have you consulted anyone else? Is Lady Effie still here?”
“Yes, to both. Lady Effie wanted to talk with Sidney again, but he wanted more information first. Yesterday, he and Reid went to visit a lawyer both Reid and I have worked with before. He specializes in contract law, and we wanted to see if he had any insights into how the contract can be voided or broken. I’m sorry, Angie,” Fitz added, looking both affronted and sad on her behalf. He really was a good brother.
“Maybe this is for the best,” Angeline said.
“What are you talking about?” Fitz asked, stunned.
“While I certainly don’t want Sidney to be forced into a marriage—especially not to that odious woman—now that he’s the viscount, he will need to marry.”
“Yes,” Fitz said slowly, “but he was planning to marry you, Angie.”
“He can’t,” Angeline whispered. Eyes filling with tears, she looked at her brother who still appeared confused. While she didn’t wish to share everything that had happened over the past few days, she did want him to understand why she needed to break things off with Sidney. “You know I can’t give him children.”
Stricken, Fitz’s face fell. “Oh, Angie. Is that why you disappeared here for the past few days?”
Angeline nodded. “I was planning to talk to Sidney about it today. I wanted to wait until after everything was settled.”
“There has to be a way you can make it work, the two of you were so happy together.”
“Yes, but that was before, Fitz. Everything has changed over the past week. Sidney has duties he never had before and will need an heir.”
“He has other relatives who can be his heir,” Fitz protested. “I don’t know who would be next in the family line, but it’s not imperative he have his own children.”
“None of this matters if he has to wed Lady Effie. I suppose we should wait to hear what the lawyer says before we go looking for solutions to a problem which may resolve itself.” Angeline stood and kissed the top of her brother’s head before leaving the room, needing a moment to herself to process the new turn of events.
While she certainly didn’t want Sidney to be forced into a marriage due to a legal precedent, it might make the blow that Angeline was no longer an option easier to handle. His hands would be tied, making marriage to her impossible regardless of why they couldn’t be together. But once again, Sidney would be the one hurt in the situation, forced into a life with a woman he didn’t even like.
A half hour later, Angeline set out to Ravenswood. Putting off talking with Sidney wouldn’t make anything easier, it would only keep her stomach tied in knots as she worried over what to say. Unfortunately, just as Angeline was coming out of the trees by the pond, she came face to face with Lady Effie herself.
“Lady Eastland,” she said in greeting, smiling victoriously at Angeline. “I’m surprised you’re still here. Unless you don’t yet know.”
“Know that you are trying to trap Sidney into a marriage he doesn’t want?” Angeline said.
