Page 33 of A Rogue to Forget

Chapter Ten

Henry stalked into the parlor, prepared to face his parents and whoever else was there. Although he knew Una was in all probability in cahoots with his mother, he had to make sure to tread carefully and not allow his temper to get the best of him.

There were more important things to do in an afternoon than to be told whom to marry by mothers who had nothing better to dedicate their time to.

Sitting in the room were both his mother and Lady Stewart, who he’d never particularly cared for. The woman was judgmental and constantly bringing gossip to his mother.

“Young man,” the woman began. “I find it deplorable that you made your mother and I wait even a minute. This matter of what happened between you and my daughter must be seen to immediately. An engagement will be the only way to quiet the tongues.”

He kept quiet. Otherwise he’d point out it was she who had the loosest of tongues, except for Lady Wilshire, who was beyond compare.

“What do you have to say, Henry?” his mother asked with an impatient motion for him to sit. “Don’t just stand there, son.”

Still standing, he eyed the scones on the tray. The cook made the most delicious scones, and he would go in search of one once the current matter was settled.

First he met his mother’s gaze and then Lady Stewart’s. “I am not going to be trapped into marriage. It was Una who kissed me, not the other way around. She waited until someone was nearing. I am not totally convinced you did not have something to do with it, Mother.”

The women exchanged astounded looks.

“Henry, you are a well-built man, how could you expect us to believe my daughter accosted you against your will.” Lady Stewart shook her head.

He blew out a calming breath. “She kissed me. I did not say accosted. Nevertheless, I will not marry Una. My heart belongs to someone else.”

At the announcement, his mother’s eyes rounded. “What? Who?”

“That is a discussion I prefer to speak about at a later time. If you ladies will excuse me, Father expects me to meet with him about a contract and I must go.”

Lady Stewart stood. “You must make this right. How can you be so cavalier about my daughter’s reputation?”

“It is not I who acted without considering the consequences, Lady Stewart. I hold you and your family in high esteem and would not deliberately set out to hurt any of you. However, that does not mean that I will bind myself to a woman I do not love, for life. You must explain this to Una.”

Before either could speak, he walked directly out the front door where his horse awaited. Upon mounting, he rode from the property refusing to look back. Hopefully his mother and Lady Stewart would give up on the idea.

Once he met with his father and business colleague, he had to speak to Hannah. It had been two days since he’d seen her. After a night of wondering what to do and avoid a marriage that would no doubt make him miserable, he had to come up with a way to convince Hannah to marry him.

The building where he was to meet his father was at the end of the main street quite close to the Grant Hotel he frequented. Henry dismounted and handed the reins to a waiting steward.

“Where is my father?” he asked upon entering and was ushered into a large study.

His father eyed him silently, obviously noting he was late to arrive.

“There is no one else here,” Henry pointed out. “Whoever we are to meet are later than me.”

“What happened?”

“Mother and Lady Stewart demand that I marry Una to make up for being seen with her in the garden. It is utterly ridiculous.”

His father frowned. “You should make amends, son. You cannot go about making inappropriate advances without expecting repercussions.”

“Father, I did not kiss the woman. She planned the entire thing. Not only will I not marry her because obviously she is devious, but also because I plan to ask Miss Kerr to accept my courtship.”

At the sound of footsteps, his father refrained from replying.

*

Throughout the businessdiscussion, Henry noted that his father deferred to him more than once. The information he relayed was not difficult, but at the same time, it was obvious his father had not read over the details.

Finally, they came to an agreement and documents were signed and witnessed.