‘I will have the magistrate onto you for such criminality,’ cried Howden. ‘Kidnapping a young lady and seducing her in such a manner. I heard all about it from my housekeeper, who saw it all when she went in search of her. I must cover up this outrage, or my niece will be ruined.’ Howden turned on Grace. ‘How could you throw away your honour so recklessly, you strumpet? Shame on you,’ he spat.
‘Throw it away, as opposed to selling it, you mean?’ said Rawden, going in for the kill. ‘Did you not plan to barter her honour to the highest bidder? I know all about Caville Sharp, and I would not put a dog under his care, let alone a helpless young woman.’
‘That is a repugnant and preposterous accusation. You have it all wrong,’ said Howden, all bluster and excuses.
Rawden turned to Grace. ‘This wretch really is a bad liar. No wonder he has massive gambling debts and is currently veering towards bankruptcy.’
Grace’s mouth fell open, and she turned to her uncle. ‘Can this be true?’
‘No, of course not. I have suffered a momentary embarrassment in my finances. That is all. This fiend exaggerates.’
‘Do me the courtesy of not lying to her, Howden. You were going to sell her to Caville Sharp in return for him bailing you out of debt, you worm. I know it all.’ Rawden grabbed Charles Howden by the lapels of his fine, velvet jacket and shook him hard. ‘Now tell her before I throttle you.’
Howden hung his head and glanced at his niece. ‘Grace, I am sorry. But I was in dire straits, and I had no choice. Caville is a fine young man, and you would be well taken care of.’
‘No, he is not, and no, she would not. Now give us your consent and put a sheen of respectability on this business,’ growled Rawden.
‘I cannot. She is promised,’ said Howden, his voice rising to a screech. ‘And I will have the law on you, Voss, see if I don’t.’
How he longed to plant a fist firmly into Charles Howden’s bloated, pathetic face. ‘Ah, so Sharp already paid, did he?’
Howden set his jaw and looked at Grace, who sobbed and turned her back on him.
‘A terrible choice lies before you,’ said Rawden. ‘You can consent to my marrying your niece, not that I need or care about it particularly, but it will make the whole thing more respectable, for her sake. Alternatively, if you are unhappy with my behaviour, then as Miss Howden’s only male relative, you may challenge me, and we will settle this matter like gentlemen.’
‘Do you mean a duel?’ blubbered Howden. ‘I cannot…what I mean is….a duel! I will tell the whole of the ton about this seduction of yours. You will be disgraced, and so will she.’
‘If you release this information and bring the disapproval of the ton down on my head and hers, you will die at my hand, or you may choose the wise course.’
‘And that is?’
‘You will consent to Grace becoming my wife and look happy about it too, and there will be no stain on her honour.’
‘But she will be married to you - a blackguard who kidnapped her and stained her honour in the first place.’
‘Yes, quite the dilemma for you, isn’t it? Do you see another suitor beating down your door to offer for your niece? Grace will marry me, and you will gain an earl for your family instead of a scandal, a bullet, and whatever kind of burial you can afford in your straightened circumstances. I doubt many would miss you. So, which is it to be?’
Howden was clearly not a quick thinker. He swallowed hard. ‘Let me think on it.’
‘While you think on it, shall I polish my duelling pistols, Howden? We both know you have no choice.’
‘What…what about Grace?’
‘Oh, she has no choice in anything. You made sure of that, didn’t you, by reneging on her dowry. But fear not. I will not ask for payment, and we shall be married immediately. I will obtain the necessary licences.’
‘And will you settle a sum on the occasion of the marriage,’ said Howden with a sickly smile.
‘Yes, but on Grace, not you. For you, I will do no more than to settle your debts. I think you have abused your power over Grace long enough.’
‘But I must have something for my trouble. I have had her bed and board for months, and she has bled me dry.’
‘That is a lie,’ said Grace angrily. ‘He has done the bare minimum for me, so do not dare give him anything.’
Rawden smiled inside. The lady had some fire in her, and already she was taking his side against her own family. It gave him satisfaction to know Grace had some trust in him, albeit not much.
‘You heard the lady. You will get nothing, Howden, so run along now and let me have some time alone with my betrothed.’
When Charles Howden had retreated, wailing, ‘This is not to be suffered,’ Rawden turned to Grace with a smile. ‘What a fat old windbag,’ he said into the silence between them.
