“She is more than contented with you,” Lord Turnhill snapped. “Just as you ought to be with her.”
George spread out his hands. “I speak honestly, Lord Turnhill. That is why I hesitate when it comes to the engagement itself. I want to make sure that everything is as it ought to be.” Seeing Lord Turnhill frown, George probed a little, wondering if he might garner something from Lord Turnhill’s response, should he speak a little more about his concerns. “The solicitors are somewhat concerned about the seal on the documents. They are studying it carefully, wondering if it is real or if it might have been placed upon the documents by another at a separate time.”
Lord Turnhill’s expression grew darker still. “I have never heard anything more preposterous! Ofcoursethe seal is genuine!”
Seeing the anger flare in Lord Turnhill’s eyes, George spread out both hands. “As I have said, I am making quite certain about everything,” he said, honestly. “I do not want to engage myself to your daughter and then pull away from her, for that would cause quite a scandal, and I do not want that for either of us.” Thinking that it was best to bring the conversation to a close, he inclinedhis head. “I shall tell you more the moment I hear of it, Lord Turnhill. Good afternoon.”
Making to walk past the gentleman, George was astonished to feel the man’s vice-like grip catch his arm. Pain shot through him, and he yanked his arm away, turning his head to glare at Lord Turnhill, but the man’s dark expression stopped him short. There were heavy shadows held in Lord Turnhill’s eyes, a weight about his frame as he jutted his jaw forward.
“I will not accept any further delay,” he said, looking straight into George’s face. “You have one week, Lord Surrey.”
George’s eyebrows rose. “One week?” He shrugged. “Then I am afraid that I cannot promise you anything in that regard, Lord Turnhill. If I have not made a definite conclusion within seven days – and I doubt that I shall, given that my solicitors still have the documents – then there shall be no further connection between myself and Miss Burnley. Is that what you are suggesting?”
Lord Turnhill shook his head. “If you do not announce the engagement within seven days, Lord Surrey, then I shall make certain that the wedding goes ahead with or without your consent.”
A frown pulled at George’s forehead. “I beg your pardon?”
“There are many ways to make certain a gentleman and a lady marry,” Lord Turnhill replied, finally releasing George’s arm. “I do not want to have any sort of scandal surround my daughter, but if you do not engage yourself to her by the end of next week, then I shall do what I must to ensure the marriage goes ahead.” Stepping back, his lip curling, he held George’s gaze for another moment, then swung around and marched through the crowd, disappearing into them.
George took in a ragged breath, hardly daring to believe what he had just heard. To be threatened in such a way was notonly concerning, it was also astonishing! Whatever made Lord Turnhill think that he could try to coerce George in such a way?
“There you are.” Lord Dorset, his face set in a serious expression, put a hand on George’s shoulder. “I was just saying… goodness, my friend, are you quite all right? You are very pale indeed, and that with the sun blazing down as it is doing!”
Letting out a slow breath to keep himself composed, George closed his eyes again and nodded. “I am well,” he said, his anger beginning to spike as he curled his hands into a fist. “Lord Turnhill has just finished speaking – nay,threatening– me.”
Lord Dorset’s eyebrows lifted. “Threatening you?”
“Indeed. If I do not announce my engagement to Miss Burnley by the end of next week, he will make it so that we are engaged regardless.”
His friend’s eyes rounded. “You mean to say – ”
“He will lie and produce some sort of scandal that will force us together,” George muttered, reaching up to pinch the bridge of his nose as an ache formed behind his eyes. “I most certainly did not expect such a thing to happen and – ”
“Brother!”
Lady Norah appeared, pushing through the crowd to come to join them both, her smile warm but her eyes darting between George and Lord Dorset.
“Norah.” Lord Dorset greeted her, but then gestured to George. “I am afraid that I must speak with Lord Surrey, my dear. My solicitors have finished with the documents and – ”
“I must speak with him also,” Lady Norah interrupted, looking back at George with wide eyes. “Lord Turnhill, Miss Williams, Lord Warwickshire, and I have found a name.”
George blinked. “A name?”
“A name connected to the Surrey family through marriage,” Lady Norah said. “It is not a lady marrying a gentleman from the Surrey line, as we suspected, but the other way around.”
It took him a moment to understand what she was saying. “You mean to say that despite gaining money and property from the Turnhill family, my great-grandfather’s family also ensured a marriage between their daughter and the Turnhill’s son?”
Lady Norah nodded.
“But that does not make any sense, given that they – the Turnhill family, that is – had already lost a good deal by giving up property and land for so low a price!” George exclaimed, throwing up his hands. “What if – ”
“My solicitors think there is another page of these documents that is, for whatever reason, now missing from the others.”
George dropped his hands.
“I can tell you a little more detail, if you wish, but to their mind, it is imperative that the final page of the documents is found.”
Curling his hands into fists so that he might keep a hold of his composure, George drew in a long breath and then let it out again slowly, struggling to keep all that he had been told in his mind.
