“Please. I beg you to reconsider. All I want is a chance to live mylife as I choose, peacefully and without interference from anyone.”
“I would like that too, but as a woman, I may not rest until I marry. If we marry, we shall both be at peace. I shall not stop you from living as you see fit, if you promise me the same.”
“What about your mother? Isn’t she determined to marry off your sister first?”
So, the voice belongs to Lydia Eamont, not her sister!
“My mother can go to the devil and my sister with her. I’m tired of living by her rules. And with your money, Lord Dodsworth, I won’t need to seek my mama’s approval. You are a rich man, are you not, my lord?”
“Then you are determined to force my hand, and there is nothing I can do to dissuade you?”
“Nothing. You have until tomorrow afternoon to decide. One way or another, an announcement will be made. Either it will result in a ring on my finger or a noose around your neck.”
Bridget scooped up Bijou, whose paws and nose were black from digging and crouched behind the enormous oak with him as Lydia Eamont marched past and back to the villa. Bridget stayed hidden for a few minutes longer, breathing steadily, as she waited for Lord Dodsworth to depart the scene. He did so, walking in the opposite direction of Lydia, toward the lake.
Bijou squirmed in Bridget’s arms and let out a shrill bark. She froze. Lord Dodsworth paused, turned around, and scanned the area. Bridget cradled her dog, petting him and praying he’d stay quiet.
*
Nate found Frederickin the smoking room with a brandy in one hand and a cigar in the other.
“Frederick, old boy, I’ve been looking for you.” Nate poured himself a brandy and slid into the chair next to Frederick. “It’s been quite aday, hasn’t it? Where have you been?”
“Off for a walk by the lake. I took poor old Lord Eamont with me. It’s quite healing—the sublimity of nature and all that.”
“I quite agree. It’s magical. Did Lord Eamont reveal if Madam Bouffant had been in his room? I can’t imagine what other reason she’d have had to be roaming around upstairs when everyone was still asleep. I hoped they’d have the sense not to meet at all while his wife was under the same roof as them, but at the very least, I’d expect Lord Eamont to make his way to her room if he were so inclined.” Nate shook his head. “The entire thing is so distasteful.”
Frederick shrugged. “Who knows? Eamont didn’t seem to want to talk about it. The poor fellow is in shock. But I agree. It would have been foolish of them to meet under his wife’s nose. It was foolish of him to twist my arm into bringing her here in the first place.”
“Yes, so you said. How did he do that exactly?” Nate had learned about the debt Frederick owed Lord Eamont from Bridget, but he wanted to hear the full details from Frederick. It was time his friend was honest with him.
Frederick blew out a breath, pillowing up his cheeks. “I owed him some money—a great deal of money, actually—that I lost in a card game. Foolish of me. I don’t usually lose, but I wasn’t myself that night, you see. And well, I couldn’t pay it.”
“What?” Nate leaned forward, genuinely shocked. “You gambled money that you didn’t have?” Not paying a gambling debt was an unthinkable disgrace. It could get you excommunicated from society. It was the thing which had caused Mr. De Lacey to commit his own self-murder, after all.
“I was going to pay it, of course, just not all at once. I went to Lord Eamont and asked him for a bit more time. I even offered to marry one of his daughters, but he laughed in my face. I don’t know why I thought that would work. I’m merely a baron and one with no real money to speak of. But, I suppose, desperate men take desperatemeasures and all that.”
“Good Lord, Frederick. I had no idea.”
“Yes. Don’t be fooled by Eamont’s soft spot for his mistress. He can be ruthless when it comes to money. I thought he’d ruin me. And then you came along and saved the day with this little venture of yours.” He gestured to the area surrounding them. “You see, Lady Eamont had learned from your brother’s wife that you had a new estate, and she insisted they come for a family holiday. I suspect she was hoping to snag you into marrying her daughter.”
Nate shook his head. “I don’t see why Lord and Lady Eamont want me for Adelia’s husband. Unlike you, of course, I have no title. Nor do I have money of my own. And I’m essentially a working man now. Aren’t they scandalized that I turned my home into an inn?”
“I believe your brother and Lord Eamont have many dealings together—investments and such. They are staunch allies. Your brother has convinced Lord Eamont that you are simply rebelling out of boredom and that once you are married, your little operation will shut down. All you need is a good wife to show you the way. Then, Edward will bring you back into the fold, and this mad little episode in your life will be forgotten. With their families combined, Edward and Eamont can safely keep their fortunes in each other’s pockets.”
Nate squeezed the bridge of his nose. Would Edward ever stop interfering in his life?
“Anyway, Lady Eamont is so determined to see Adelia married to you that she insisted on coming, and it didn’t hurt that all of London is abuzz about the Lake District, what with Wordsworth’sGuide to the Lakes. The fact that you have turned your villa into an inn is being touted as ingenious by some. They call it a brilliant investment scheme.”
Nate smiled. “Edward’s words, no doubt.” He had to give his brother credit for being a master manipulator.
“Yes. They are all sheep who bend the rules for what suits them.At any rate, I digress. Lady Eamont insisted on coming, as I said, but Lord Eamont didn’t seem to like the idea of leaving his mistress behind for such an extended period, so when he found out you’d invited me to the villa, he said he’d forgive a large portion of my debt if I brought his mistress along as my guest. All I had to do was pretend that she was my mistress.”
“That sounds like the actions of a man afflicted with insanity,” Nate said.
“Well, I think he lost perspective. He despises his wife, you know, and he was quite besotted with Madam Bouffant. But you’re right. It did something to his brain. He stopped thinking clearly. Either way, it’s over now—for good.”
“Do you think Madam Bouffant loved Lord Eamont in the same way?”
