“I assumed it was something being smuggled in, as we both knew a shipment was to be received.”
“He wasn’t waiting for goods to be delivered, he was waiting for Violet to be vulnerable.” Emory rushed to the door and called for his driver to be ready. “I’ll find Violet and bring her back. Inform Epworth.” If the brother would have protected his sister better, she wouldn’t be in danger now. Though, she most likely left without his knowledge because she thought herself so bloody self-sufficient.
At the sight of his carriage, Emory knew that it would not be swift enough. “Liam, I’m taking the curricle, and your matching bays.”
Violet had pulledherself into the corner of the carriage and willed herself to calm. They’d been traveling nearly an hour, the sun was now fully risen, and she was locked in a carriage with no escape. Eardly sat directly across from her, a smug turn of his lips and coldness in his eyes.
“I knew my patience would pay off eventually.”
She wasn’t certain what he meant, but Violet wasn’t going to ask.
“I learned you were in that inn,” he continued. “Then you returned to the Harleys’, but Ferrard posted guards. Boys, really, but the time wasn’t right.. Besides, I didn’t want to enter that home.”
“Why?”
“Only a fool would go where the measles has spread.”
“I assume you’ve not suffered from the disease.” That was the only reason anyone would stay away.
“I would have courted you, you know,” he added. “Ferrard made that impossible by always being underfoot, never letting you be alone, as if he truly cared.” Eardly snorted, then coughed. It wasn’t the first time he’d done so in the short time she’d been in the carriage with the man.
“He would not have married you, otherwise he would have courted you in a respectable manner.” Eardly drew out a handkerchief and dabbed at his nose.
“He did so,” Violet argued. “We had afternoon visits with chaperones.”
Eardly snorted. “You were a delightful diversion from the boredom of that village.”
Violet knew there was no marriage in her future, at least not to Ferrard, but it hurt to be reminded of that fact.
“I don’t know what game he played with you, but he is to leave for Sussex this morning and has likely already done so without a thought for you.”
“Our courtship had ended,” she advised.
“As I assumed. I thought you’d broken it off after he found entertainment more suited to his tastes by way of the widow.”
Had Eardly been watching her and Ferrard? How else would he know?
“You saw him with her.” It was stated more as a fact and not a question. “You were at the window in the Harleys’. You saw Ferrard escort his lover home. How much it must have pained you to witness such a sight.”
A chill ran up her spine as she wondered how much Eardly had observed of her without her knowledge.
“I was going to call on you the next day, certain that I’d be able to soothe any pain you experienced from Ferrard’s duplicity, only to learn that you’d run home.”
“I didn’trunhome,” she defended, even though that was exactly what she’d done.
“You should have remained so that I could have courted you properly. Instead, I was forced into more drastic measures.”
“You don’t even know me, Lord Eardly.”
“I know enough.” He shrugged. “Your dowry will go far in helping clear my debts, and respectability will be returned to my name by association to your father.”
“That is unlikely when Society learns of your actions to force a marriage on me.”
He chuckled. “I can assure you that no one will learn, as your family will not wish for the scandal. I’m quite confident that they will insist it was a love match and we simply couldn’t wait any longer to be together.”
He was delusional if Eardly thought her father would agree to such. It was more likely that he’d petition for a divorce on her behalf. It might leave Violet ruined and not worthy of another marriage, but she’d not be forced to remain with a man who would kidnap her to solve financial difficulties.
“Enough talk.” He pulled at his cravat and stretched out his neck as if uncomfortable. “I grow tired, especially with this carriage so bloody warm.”
