“Ah, so youhaveheard. Since we last met, I learned you had intentions toward him, I do apologize for that.” Lady Effie’s fake smile was sharp enough to cut glass.
“No, you don’t,” Angeline responded with a tired sigh. All her fight had left her after the emotions of the last week. “I’m not going to stand here and debate with you. We’ll see what happens, but until all this is settled, we should probably avoid one another.”
“Why are you even here?” Lady Effie asked. “This isn’t your home, so I’m not sure it’s appropriate for you to still be around.”
“That’s not your call to make,” Angeline said sharply, a bit of fight returning in her irritation. “And if you must know, I’m here to support Sidney, a lifelong friend. And for Hazel, a little girl whose entire world has just been crushed. Someone you should have a care for since you are so determined to wed the viscount.” Angeline stormed away and didn’t look back.
CHAPTER26
Sidney felt like he was losing his mind. This was now the third day since he’d seen Angeline, and he had no idea where she’d gone. Yesterday, after returning from London, he’d searched all over the house for her, and no one claimed to have seen her. In despair, he drank a bit too much, leaving him with a throbbing headache this morning.
He was beginning to worry that he’d done something to upset her when they made love, as it had been the last thing to occur between them before she seemingly vanished. But for the life of him, he couldn’t figure out what he could have done that would make her turn away from him.
He had just roused himself from his chair in front of the fire to pour himself a drink when none other than Lady Effie burst into the study.
“You’ve been avoiding me,” she accused.
“On the contrary,” he said. “I haven’t thought of you at all.”
Sneering at him, she made her way further into the room and shut the door. “We’re going to talk about this and reach an agreement once and for all. I know you talked with another lawyer, and the fact that you haven’t kicked me out yet means you know I have a legitimate claim to see the contract fulfilled.”
Sidney snorted before taking another large drink from his glass. “I’ll concede the contract was drawn up poorly, but that doesn’t mean I’m obligated to marry you. The contract was clearly created and signed with my brother in mind. The intention is plain, and my lawyer said there is precedent for breaking such agreements, should you decide to take this to court. Because, let me assure you, the only way I will ever marry you is if a judge orders me to on the threat of prison.” Looking at her pursed lips, he added, “On second thought, even then I may choose prison.”
“Very clever,” Lady Effie quipped. “But it doesn’t change the facts. I know you wanted to marry Lady Eastland and are taking to the bottle in despair that I may be disrupting that plan, but you need to let her go.” Sidney was seething.
“That’s part of the reason why I came down here to talk with you. I saw her pop up on the estate again, she’s hard to miss with that atrocious head of red hair. Since we will soon be married, I don’t think it’s appropriate for her to be around anymore, and I asked her to stay away.”
Sidney could only stare at the lady, in shock. Angeline was back. He had to find her, but first he needed to dispense with Lady Effie. “You’re delusional,” he spluttered. “First of all, it’s not your place to tellanyonewhat to do in my home. Secondly, not that it’s any of your concern, but she’s here as a friend and to spend time with my niece, who is grieving if you recall. And finally, Angeline’s hair is glorious, and I won’t hear a word spoken against it!” Shouting by the time he had finished, Sidney’s chest heaved as he regained his composure.
With a deadly quietness, he spoke up one last time. “I’ve never been one who thinks men should dictate what women do, but while you insist on remaining in my home, you will never approach Lady Eastland again. Are.We.Clear.”
Sidney was impressed as Lady Effie sat unmoved through his tirade, never blinking, even as he practically spat his final words at her. “Just think on what I said. I’m not giving up, and this is not over,” she said, standing without ceremony and leaving the room.
* * *
Sidney found Angeline sitting in the library, perched on a windowsill looking out at the rain. She hadn’t noticed him yet, so he leaned against a nearby bookshelf and drank in the sight of her. With her head turned away, he took in the curve of her neck as it angled toward the window, her pale, smooth skin on display. Her hair appeared a bright flame red in the firelight, but as the flames flickered, strands of gold and copper also became visible, emerging and waning with the changing light.
Watching Angeline, he was determined to quickly resolve everything with the marriage contract so his life with her could begin. Sidney didn’t know what he would do without her. He had loved her for so long, and he wouldn’t let anyone or anything get in their way. Walking up behind her, he lightly placed a hand at the nape of her neck.
Angeline startled at the touch, lost in thought and not hearing him approach.
“Angie, where have you been?”
Angeline didn’t look at him, keeping her gaze fixed on the window. “I’m sorry, Sidney. I know I’ve not been around. But I was just with Hazel, and she’s doing better.”
Sidney noticed she avoided the question, but he decided to let it go for now, as they needed to discuss the issue involving Lady Effie. “There’s something I need to talk to you about.”
Turning around on the window seat to face him, Angeline said, “I know, Sidney. Fitz filled me in this morning, and then I unfortunately ran into Lady Effie.”
Feeling storm clouds gathering above him as he thought about Lady Effie, he spat, “What did she want?”
“To strut around in perceived victory,” Angeline sighed. “Forget about her, she’s not worth our time. What did the lawyer have to say?”
“He said she had the right to bring a case and challenge the contract because of Carlton’s poor drafting.” Sidney was so angry that he’d briefly contemplated suing his brother’s lawyer for negligence.
“So there’s no hope of getting the contract declared null and void?” Angeline asked.
“Not necessarily. Stanton thinks there is enough precedent from previous cases to argue against the vague nature of the contract. I’ll fight this with everything I have, I promise you, Angie.”
