“Murder, Hollis. I murdered a God damn Viscount.”
“On the field of Honor. It could just as easily have been you.”
“Do you think Lord Groby’s parent’s care about that? Do you think they care that the scoundrel deserved it?” Chance shook his head, tugging at the cloth around his neck again. “And I refuse to regret it. Likely Adelaide is not the only one who suffered at his hands. Likely she would not have been the last.”
“And this is what they would have for their silence.” Hollis scoffed. “That you marry a sickly chit.”
“How many other titled men, do you think, are interested in marrying Lady Hannah? Her parents were not interested in money. According to the terms of their title, Lady Hannah can inherit but if she is without issue, it goes into abeyance. She is their only chance of maintaining the lineage.”
“They are deluding themselves. The chit will not be able to provide any child at all, let alone a healthy son.” Hollis downed his Scotch and ran one hand through his hair. His frustration mirrored Chance’s of a few months ago.
Since then he’d come to terms with his fate.
Since then, he’d also met Aubrey. He swallowed hard. Impossible.
“Lady Hannah is to become my wife, Hol. I cannot have you speaking ill of her.”
His only option had been to present himself at Prosser Heights, Marry the Earl of Beresford’s daughter, and come to terms with his altered future. In return for their silence regarding their son’s death and Adelaide’s behavior, Chance had been given the deadline of his thirtieth birthday. Not only did this protect Chance from making a one-way visit to the gallows, but it assured that Adelaide’s’ reputation would remain intact.
Beresford would not besmirch his own family’s standing. By marrying the earl’s daughter, Chance became their own. And thusly, did Adelaide.
Hollis refilled both of their glasses. Despite the fact that it was barely nine o’clock in the morning, they’d already consumed half the decanter. “Well then, let me be the first to wish you happy. And Happy Birthday as well. God forbid I find myself in your state when I turn thirty.” He lifted the glass in a mock toast. “May God help you and protect you and may your conscious allow you to take a mistress.”
Chance groused but lifted his glass, nonetheless. He would not. It was too soon to think of being with any other woman than the one he’d walked out on just four days ago. He wondered when he would not close his eyes and see her face.
“Damnit, Hollis, I don’t have a choice. I’d face the gallows, you know that, but Adelaide and my mother would suffer greatly. And Adelaide is not strong…”
Just then the vicar appeared at the door, along with the Earl and Countess of Beresford. Behind them, a nurse pushed Lady Hannah in her chair.
The girl, barely eight and ten, appeared little more than a child. Her thin brown hair had been braided and spun into a coronet atop her head, her scalp visible between the parts. Dull gray eyes set in a paper-white complexion lifted to meet his. She appeared terrified.
This was not her fault, but the doing of her obstinate parents. He could never take out his dissatisfaction on this young woman.
“Are we ready then?” The vicar made an attempt to signify the occasion with some sort of cheerfulness.
Chance nodded and then turned toward his fiancé. “Lady Hannah?”
She hesitated and then nodded as well.
“Very good. Yes. Very good. Shall we begin then? Your Grace. If you would stand here, and the bride…” The vicar faltered.
The nurse pushed Lady Hannah farther into the room so that her chair was placed directly beside Chance.
“Very good, very good…” The vicar opened his prayer book and began.
For a moment, Chance wondered what had happened to all of the air in the room. His cravat, damnit. It was practically strangling him.
It was not the cravat.
“I have not known love, Chance. I have never experienced physical satisfaction with a man. It is all I ask of you tonight. Just for tonight, won’t you love me?”
She had been irresistible to him for most of their acquaintance. It had taken all the self-discipline that he could muster…
“I will never hate you.”
Since leaving her, her voice had whispered in his ear memories he’d never forget.
“You will still find peace and joy in your life,”she’d surprised him by making such a statement.“Because of the magic of laughter that you carry in your heart.”
