Closing his eyes, Lord Turnhill pinched the bridge of his nose. “You do not understand.”
“What do I not understand?” Lord Surrey demanded, as Beatrice sat forward in her chair, her nerves jangling. “You somehow forced my father’s hand? Is that what you did?”
“No, it was not I!”
Beatrice’s eyebrows shot upwards, hearing Miss Burnley’s gasp of shock. “You mean to say that Lord Neath was the one who did so?” she asked, as Lord Turnhill threw her a glance before looking to his daughter. “Why would he do such a thing, and why would you accept it?”
It was a long time before Lord Turnhill answered. With a shrug of his shoulders, he spread out his hands and then let them fall to his side without explaining a word. Then, with another breath, he opened his eyes, looked to Lord Surrey and grimaced. “Lord Neath is a cousin. A relation of mine. He is Baron, so lower in title than I.” With another heavy sigh, he dropped his head, any sense of irritation or frustration now gone from him. “We were not well acquainted and, for various reasons, we were not often in each other’s company since there was not a good deal of familial affection there. You can imagine my shock in reading the fourth page of that document where it states that any marriage between the Turnhill line and the Surrey line would result in a good deal of land and property going directly to whoever the Baron of Neath was at that time.”
“It seems that my great-grandfather was aware of your own lack of love for your extended family,” Lord Surrey remarked, as Lord Turnhill scowled. “It was he who drew up the document,I believe. He wanted to make certain there was no desire for a match on either side of things.”
Trying to make sure she understood it all, Beatrice spoke up again. “So, from what I understand – and please, correct me if I am wrong – there was an agreement written up that stated there was to be a marriage between the Surrey line and the Turnhill line.”
Lord Surrey nodded. “Yes. The marriage was between Miss Claypole, daughter to the Earl of Surrey, who married the son of Viscount Turnhill.”
“And with that, there came the exchange of land and property, from the Turnhill family to the Surrey family, though this was done with a little money given to make it appear that it was nothing more than a business transaction.”
This time, Lord Welton was the one who confirmed it. “Precisely. However, this was all done as an apology and an attempt at restoration, given that Viscount Turnhill’s son had disgraced Miss Claypole most dreadfully.”
Beatrice’s heart ached for the lady in question, wondering what it would have been like for her to have been forced into marriage with the gentleman who had treated her so abominably – and all in the name of keeping the family reputation pristine.
“So that there could not be another marriage between the families, no further connection between them both, there was written into this document that, should there ever be so again, then more than half of the Surrey estate would be surrendered to Lord Neath.” Lady Welton looked to her husband, who nodded. “It seems to me, Lord Surrey, that your great-grandfather wanted to make certain you would never evenlookat another young lady from the Turnhill family.” Her eyes went to Lord Turnhill. “And such was your own family’s dislike of the Neath line, they would never desire such a marriage either. I presumethat, somehow, the present Lord Neath discovered this piece of information?”
Lord Turnhill nodded miserably. “He came to call upon me unexpectedly, telling me he had come to claim the money I owed him.”
“Money?” Miss Burnley’s eyes flared. “You owe him money?”
With another sigh, Lord Turnhill threw out his hands. “I gamble on occasion, I do not think there is anything wrong with that but… but one evening, I was far too much in my cups and, driven by my dislike of Lord Neath, decided to do whatever I could to drain him of every coin he had.”
“Except it did not work,” Lord Warwickshire surmised. “You lost.”
“A good deal, as I have said,” Lord Turnhill groaned. “My daughters, theycannothave their father’s name ridiculed in society, for what good match will they find then?”
“So you were driven by a desire to protect them from your foolishness,” Beatrice said, slowly as Lord Turnhill looked at her, only for Miss Burnley to burst into tears. The room fell silent aside from the sound of her sobs, and Beatrice, her sympathy and compassion flooding her, could only look on.
“I did not know what to do,” Lord Turnhill said, eventually. “When Lord Neath read the document, he was elated. I had no choice but to do as he said, else the coin would be demanded from me, and my name muddied – along with my two daughters.”
Lord Surrey drew in a breath and folded his arms across his chest. “You threatened my father?”
“Idid not,” Lord Turnhill said firmly. “Lord Neath, he was the one who did so. His threats were… vile, and I could only stand there and listen to them.” A catch came into his voice. “Offering you an apology seems so very trite, Lord Surrey, for I knew that it was wrong, but I went along with it regardless.”
Silence fell across the room, and Beatrice, tears in her eyes, looked up at Lord Surrey and saw the conflicting emotions spreading across his face. There was anger there, but pain too, his eyes finding hers and holding there as she looked back at him. She could not imagine what he was feeling at present, wishing she could go to him and, even if it was only by her physical presence near him, offer some comfort.
“Then it seems I shall have to speak with Lord Neath.” Lord Surrey’s voice was low, each word dragged out of him. “You have done me a great wrong, Lord Turnhill, but what is worse, you have brought pain and sorrow to your daughter. Your sole cause, as her father, is to be responsible for her, to ensure her happiness and her satisfaction with her future, and yet, you were willing to put her into marriage with me.”
“But you are an Earl!” Lord Turnhill exclaimed, as Lord Surrey shook his head. “That in itself would be a blessing!”
“An Earl who would soon lose half of his estate,” Lord Surrey responded, making Lord Turnhill squeeze his eyes closed, his face whitening. “Who would have thetonspeak of his loss, who would have society whisper about him for many a year to come. Is that truly what you wanted for your daughter? What you would have been content with?” Without allowing him to answer, Lord Surrey looked directly at Miss Burnley. “I am truly sorry, Miss Burnley. Had I known anything about this, I would never have stepped into a connection with you.”
Miss Burnley rose to her feet, a damp handkerchief in her hand, but a steadiness about her that had not been present even a few moments ago. “It is quite all right, Lord Surrey, you bear no guilt in this,” she said, her voice wobbling but no more tears falling to her cheeks. “If you will excuse me, I think it best that I retire for the evening.”
“We should all take our leave.” Lord Surrey looked at Beatrice as Miss Burnley hurried from the room. “There isnothing more that needs to be discussed, I think.” There was a sudden warmth in his expression, and Beatrice, responding to it, rose and made her way towards him, taking his arm and standing as near to him as she dared without being improper. How much she wanted to throw her arms about his neck and have him hold her tightly! How much she longed to hear him whisper those words of love that he had done so many months ago! She would not have to wait much longer, that she knew for certain. Their separation was over and now, with everything revealed, there was nothing left to threaten them any longer.
“I – I am sorry.” Lord Turnhill shook his head, shoving one hand through his hair. “I knew that this was wrong,deeplywrong but I could not – ”
“I will give you the money required for Lord Neath’s debt.”
Beatrice caught her breath as Lord Turnhill’s head shot upwards, his eyes rounding.
