A FATHER’S ADVICE IS UNBELIEVABLE
Meanwhile, in another part of Hyde Park
“Damn girls don’t know their own minds sometimes.”
Lord Andrew gave a start, turning to discover a gentleman standing next to him. He hadn’t heard the man’s approach, so he was taken by surprise. “Sir?”
“I’m her father,” David Fitzsimmons stated on a sigh. “I couldn’t help but overhear your odd proposal. Odd, but memorable.”
“Sir?” Andrew repeated, his brows furrowed at seeing a man who looked very much as he remembered the Earl of Norwick to look, although considerably younger. “Have you taken the waters in Bath? You look as if you’ve youthened, sir.”
“As a matter of fact, I have,” David replied with a grin. “Now, did my Danielle agree to wed you?”
Andrew dipped his head, his face reddening with embarrassment. “I planned to pay a call on you later today, my lord. To ask your permission to court her,” he said, not wanting to admit what had happened. He was still smarting over Danielle’s surprising response. Not quite a rejection, it still left him smarting.
“Oh, you have it,” David said with a wave of a gloved hand. “You had it back when you proposed to her when she was nine or ten,” he added as he crossed his arms. “So, did she agree to marry you now?”
Despair had Andrew frowning. “She did not... although she asked for a few days to think about it,” he added on a sigh.
“Oh, dear. That’s never good. But the alternative—her not marrying? Taking her inheritance and living an independent life? That won’t do.”
“It won’t, sir?”
“Of course not. Which means you must take matters in hand.”
Andrew angled his head to one side. “You’ve an idea, sir?”
“Of course I do,” David replied with a nod. “You’re going to kidnap her.”
Andrew boggled. “Sir?”
“Kidnap her.”
He scoffed. “I can’t do that, sir. It’s... it’s illegal. And I’m already in trouble for cheating at Cambridge.”
“Nonsense. It’s not illegal ifI’mthe one telling you to do it,” David argued. “I’ll explain everything to Clarinda—she’ll be so relieved to learn you wish to wed her daughter, she’ll help as best she can—so there won’t be any issue on our part.”
“But...” Andrew furrowed his brows. “Where would I take her? And what sort of ransom would I be demanding?”
David straightened, pretending to think on the query. “Take her to the empty townhouse where your grandfather used to keep his mistress. The one in Bruton Street,” he advised. “The ransom will be her agreement to marry you.”
Andrew blinked. “Pardon, sir, but I really don’t think incessant begging is going to have your daughter agreeing to wed me.”
“Then don’t beg.” David’s brow arched suggestively. “Ruin her.”
“Sir?” Andrew scoffed and glanced around, as if to ensure no one could hear the earl’s directives.
“Her damned sister read a few of the books in my library. The ones detailing sexual acts,” David explained with a wave. “She examined the color plates.”
“Oh, dear,” Andrew murmured, his eyes widening. “But those aren’t even...” He stopped speaking. “I mean, normal people don’t really engage inthosesorts of acts. The ones in those French books, I mean,” he stammered.
David seemed to think on this comment for a moment. “I used to own theElegant Courtesan,” he countered. “I assure you, the clients there engaged in all sorts of—”
“Yes, well, they weren’t doing it with theirwives,” Andrew interrupted, his face reddening with embarrassment.
“True,” David replied with a nod. “But what Dahlia saw cannot be unseen, and what she’s described to Danielle has left them both a bit afraid of the marriage bed, andthatis why they are claiming they have no intention of marrying.”
Andrew considered the explanation, not about to admit he’d had similar reactions to what he’d seen in those books. His own experience with sexual congress was quite limited—a few tumbles with a tavern maid in Cambridge. “What do you suggest I do, sir? To... to change her mind?”
