“She’s practically consented to it. She doesn’t have much choice, after all.” Reeves shrugged. “And it would be something to have a son who would be an earl, even if it’s of Kinmarloch. An earl, like you, Lord Burchester. One could put up with the countess’ coarse manners and speech, I suppose. It’s the face that would be difficult. But the land would be valuable once I cleared it of farms and farmers.”
Jack saw red. He had thought such a thing was hyperbole, but it was not. He was slightly aware of being pushed and Phineas saying, “Mr. Pike and I have an important issue to discuss, so good day to you, Lord Reeves,” and an iron grip on his upper arm leading him at a fast clip up the gravel path.
“Steady now, Jack. Steady.”
“That man—”
“Let’s get away from here.” Phineas led Jack to the edge of the park and waved down a hack. He told the driver to take them to Jack’s house. Jack’s heart was still pounding, his breath short.
“Well, that was unpleasant,” Phineas said, as the carriage started moving.
“Unpleasant? The man is a—”
“Vulgarian? Yes.”
“I was going to say something far fouler. You shouldn’t have kept me from striking him.”
“You weren’t going to strike him, Jack. You were going to beat him to a bloody pulp. In Hyde Park, in front of witnesses.”
Jack took a deep breath. “Yes.”
“But I want you to use your rage to concentrate your mind on your problem.”
“My problem?”
“Your Helen Boyd problem. It sounds like Lord Reeves is a potential solution.”
“Phin, you can’t mean to say she should marry that despicable man? And he plans to clear Kinmarloch. She would never marry him for that reason alone.”
“Jack. Helen Boyd will either marry or she won’t. What do you think?”
“She must have money to live.”
“Will she accept money without marriage?”
“Set her up as my mistress? She’ll bed me but she won’t take my money. I’m lying to her as it is about what everything costs. And if she never has a legitimate child, her title will go extinct. She won’t allow that to happen.”
“So, she will marry.”
“Yes, she must, she says.”
“So, she will either marry you or another man. Which is it to be?”
Jack groaned. “I don’t like either of those choices.”
“But you have choices, Jack. Unlike the countess. After all, she must wait for a proposal.”
Jack shook his head.
“Well, my advice is to tell her you’re the duke and propose to her. Simple.”
“She would hate me.”
“You’re still Jack Pike. She wouldn’t hate you for long. Just pull out your charm.”
“She doesn’t like my charm.”
“No, Jack. She doesn’t like that she likes your charm. There’s a difference.”
