“My lord,” she said without preamble, “I am most anxious to talk to you. Alone.”
“My dear,” he said, a warm smile lighting his face as he rose, “I’m glad you’re here, for I have brought you a surprise.”
“I am most appreciative, but perhaps that had better wait until we’ve spoken.”
“Er, Lenora?” Margery ventured.
Lenora did not take her eyes from Lord Redburn. “I am sorry, dearest, but I really must insist on speaking to Lord Redburn now.”
“But, Lenora—”
Frustration reared. If she didn’t do this now, she would never have the nerve. “Not now, Margery,” she bit out.
“I did not raise you to be rude, Lenora.”
She gasped and whirled about. “Father, you’re here.”
He stood by the window. His face was as it ever was, craggy and stern, no softness marring the harsh lines. He lifted one eyebrow. “I see you are still stating the obvious.”
She clasped her hands in front of her. “I didn’t expect you.”
“No doubt, or you would not have been running wild like some hoyden. If I’d known this is what becomes of you when you’re here, I never would have agreed to send you.”
Lenora flinched at the blatant rebuke, her cheeks burning.
“She was doing a favor for me, Alfred, so you may remove that stick from your posterior,” Lady Tesh drawled.
“Damn it, Olivia,” Lenora’s father snapped, “you always were too soft on her, letting her do as she wished, giving her too much independence. If you had kept better control of her when she was younger, she would be readying herself to be a duchess now.”
Lady Tesh took hold of her cane and rose, leveling a glare on Sir Alfred that was positively chilling. “His Grace is not yet in his grave and you dare say such things?”
Lenora had never heard such a frightening tone from the viscountess. Even during the few times she had truly railed at Lenora and Margery, she had never sounded so terrifying. Sir Alfred’s lips tightened, and though he offered no apology, he nodded, once and sharply.
He leveled that cold stare at Lenora. “Well, I see you have not mucked things up yet with Redburn here. It’s time we talked about the wedding. I’ve brought a special license with me from London. We will have this done and settled before the day is out.”
There was a moment of stunned silence before the room burst into noise.
“Alfred, you cannot mean to marry her off so quickly, and in such a shabby manner.”
“Sir Alfred, our dear Lenora must have more time.”
“I say there, Sir Alfred, I’m all for moving things along quickly, but this seems a trifle hasty.”
Lenora, for her part, remained silent, staring at her father in disbelief. It was all so cold, so calculating. A mere business transaction. Was that all she was to him? Was that what she had been to him all this time?
Sir Alfred raised a hand for silence. “Enough. We will have a wedding today and see this done with.”
“No, Father, we won’t.”
Again that imperious brow rose, though this time it was accompanied by a flare of anger in his cold eyes. “You have no say in the matter.”
“I do. And I say I will not marry today. Nor,” she continued, turning to Lord Redburn with an apologetic look, “will I ever. I am sorry, my lord, but I cannot marry you.”
His expression, ever kind and considerate, turned puzzled. “I’m sorry, Miss Hartley, I don’t believe I heard you right.”
Placing her bag down on the nearest chair, she walked to him and took his hand in hers. “You’re a wonderful man. And any woman would be happy to have you for her husband.” She drew in a deep breath. “But I cannot marry you.”
His brows drew down in the middle. “But the contract has been signed.”
