It was only to be a small affair, with himself and Lady Cassandra and their families present, but that did not mean he wanted it to be simple. He wanted it to be worth all of the turmoil, and yet here was a man that wished to add to it all.
“Your Grace, I know you. You are like your father, and you will do anything in your power to save face. I will admit that your choice in bride was a surprise to me, for she is not the–”
“You will not say a word against her.”
“Very well. I will not. My point is that you will do what you must, and as it seems, you are able to do an awful lot.”
“That has nothing to do with you.”
“On the contrary, it has everything to do with me. I do not plan to stay long, Your Grace, so let me be very clear. I expect that, with her dowry, you will be able to pay double what you owed. Should you not, then I will expose your family, and all of this will have been for nothing.”
It felt like a punch in the stomach. He had done everything that Buxton had asked. He had repaid his debts, and more on top of them in order to keep him happy. He had done everything in his power to protect his family, and it was not enough.
But he could no longer cower. He had to be a man, had to prove that he was worthy of his bride. Lady Cassandra did not deserve a husband that could not protect her, nor one that would bow down to any threat that came their way. He had to be better for her.
And he would be from that moment.
“I will remind you that extortion is illegal,” George warned. “It is punishable too, by imprisonment or exile. I suggest that you turn around and leave before I am forced to take the matter further.”
“You would never do that. It is as I said, Your Grace, you are your father’s son. He would have done anything to save face, and youwill do the same. It will be easier for both of us if you simply do what is expected of you. Real gentlemen always do.”
“I have already told you that I am not like my father,” he warned again, “and if you do not believe me, then that will only be to your detriment, for I am more than willing to show you rather than merely telling. The choice is yours, Buxton.”
“On the contrary, the choice is yours, and you and I both know precisely which one you will make. I have this conversation twice a week with a multitude of debtors, and they always make the right decision. I trust that you will do the same. Enjoy your wedding, Your Grace.”
He turned and left, and George watched him go. He knew that there was not a chance that he would let the man win, and yet something kept his feet planted there instead of following him out. He was furious, hehatedhim, but he had to admit that paying him was easier.
Against his will, he wondered what Lady Cassandra’s dowry amounted to, and he forced himself to think of anything else at all. It was not his to give, and he had always said that. What was to come was his burden, not that of his wife, and if he had his way then she would never know of it at all. He would remedy it once and for all.
And that meant that he would not pay a thing, for if he did then he was accepting a life of Buxton always demanding more. His solution had to be permanent, and it had to be thoughtof quickly. He would make Buxton regret ever threatening his family.
But, he realized with a sick ache in his stomach, it had to be done before he could marry.
Lady Cassandra did not deserve to be saddled with a man like him. She had entered into their match knowingly, but he had kept his debts from her. It had been unfair of him to keep such a secret, and the thought of tying her to them too was too much. He had to delay the wedding, only for a short while, but that meant risking her leaving altogether.
And if she did, he would not blame her. She had every right to turn away from a man that had been unable to give her everything she deserved, and in spite of his best efforts that was what had happened. She deserved better than the man that he was, and if she chose to turn a delay into cancelling it altogether, then he would accept her decision.
He simply did not know that he could accept his.
Chapter Twenty-One
“Can you believe it?” Anthea beamed as Cassandra’s gown was adjusted.
“No, I cannot. I never could.”
Her friends were crowded around her, having made the journey to surprise her. They would not be present at the ceremony, but they had made peace with that.
At least, Cassandra had thought that they had.
“I wish we could have been present,” Sybil sighed. “Anthea’s wedding was so lovely.”
“It is for the best,” Cassandra assured her. “If you came, you would compare my wedding with hers, and that would positively mortify me. It is my preference that you do not bear witness to it.”
“That is not true! We are happy to see you happy, and the rest of it does not matter at all. They are but details.”
“Speaking of details,” Anthea smiled, “your gown is most intricate.”
“It is. I shall look ridiculous.”
