“I do not follow.” She was a contradiction.
“I know that my father paid your father’s debts and gave additional funds to force you to marry me. I was never told the amount, but I did know that your family estate was in disrepair.”
“It was.”
“Your sister had not yet married and would have another Season, which is also very expensive. What if what father gave you wasn’t enough? You won’t receive the rest of his fortune until he dies. Then where would you be?”
“Destitute?” he offered, beginning to understand her thought process.
“Yes! The earnings from the wool and Turner Textiles are quite good and would hopefully be sufficient to support your family.”
“Except I didn’t know that I had ownership in the mills and funds available to use,” he reminded her.
“I would have told you if I learned that you were in need of funds.” Her face heated. “Do you see why I entered into this business venture? Even if it is in trade, you should not have financial worries.”
“Charlotte, it does not bother me to be part owner in this business. I wish you would have felt comfortable enough to tell me in the beginning.”
Charlotte frowned. “You are not angry?”
“Quite the opposite,” he insisted. “I am lucky to have a wife who is concerned with the financial welfare of our family instead of a wife who spends a small fortune as if there was an endless supply of funds.”
Chapter 18
Charlotterelaxedinherchair. At least she had done one thing correctly—not given him any complaint with regard to her spending habits. It was likely he would also ask her to cease her work at the mill. It was something that she would miss, but as he was the true quarter owner, there was little she could say or do. Though, once he was gone from here, it is likely Melcombe would have no objection to her participation.
Further, it was a great relief to know that Victor had no financial concerns and that he had managed her father’s money well, and therefore, she need not fear losing her home. That was the only reason she had made any of her decisions.
Oh, there were other reasons she had made these investments, but she feared telling him. Eventually she would need to, but not right now. He wasn’t angry about the mill, but he might be over the others.
“I would like to return to the mill and learn more, if you are up to accompanying me.”
“I would be happy to.” Charlotte stood, noting the stiffening not only in her hip but her knee as well. Goodness, she hadn’t expected such to happen but decided that all she needed to do was walk a bit and the discomfort would lessen. Except, with each step, the pain did not leave her, and she tried to put as little weight on her left hip as possible.
Victor was behind her immediately. “You are not fine.” He scooped her up in his arms. “Do not lie to me again, Charlotte, or tell me what you think I want to hear.” He carried her out of the room and up the stairs and into her chamber where he laid her.
“I thought I was,” she argued.
Victor ignored her and called for her maid. “See that my wife is made comfortable then send for me.” He stalked to the door and paused. “Is there a doctor in the village?”
“Yes.” The maid bobbed her head.
“Have someone fetch him.”
“A doctor really is not necessary.” Charlotte sat up in the bed.
“I will let the good doctor make that decision, wife.”
After he had left, Charlotte fell back against the pillows. What had she done to make him angry now?
While her maid went about dressing her in a nightshift, all Charlotte could do was comply, then allow herself to be tucked into the bed. Callie then left her and promised to return with something to help with the pain, leaving Charlotte very much alone.
As she stared at the ceiling, the conversation she had with Victor played over in her mind.
She had always known that he hadn’t wanted to marry her and had done it to save his family. She had also never allowed herself to develop any romantic notions about what they could be either. Even though she was half in love with her husband, she also knew he would never feel the same towards her.
But regardless of knowing all of this, it had still hurt deeply when he said,“Had he invested in sound business matters instead of the gaming tables, I would not have been forced into this marriage.”
Yet, they were married, and he was a viscount, which meant their marriage would need to eventually be true. A titled gentleman needed an heir and the more she thought about it, Charlotte was determined to give him just that and the sooner the better. Once Victor had a son, she had no doubt that he’d return to London or his family estate, and then she’d take all the love she had stored and shower it on their child. At least she’d then have his child even though she’d never have Victor’s heart.
