Do not live your life to spite your father. He is dead, Blake. You have already won.
“I have already won,” Blake murmured to himself.
She was right.
“What?” Lady Waterburry demanded.
“Nothing.” Blake turned to face her, keeping his face neutral even though his blood was pounding in his ears. “I have no wish to embarrass you by causing a scene, but twice now I have asked that you leave my rooms. I will ask you one more time, and then I will lose my patience.”
“You would not dare,” Lady Waterburry hissed at him.
“Do not think to tell me what I would or would not do. You have tested my patience. You have insulted the woman I love, and you have made a fool of yourself in your attempt at seduction.” The words were out of his mouth before he could really think about them.
“Love?” she scoffed. “Love is for fools and silly, little boys. Love does not mean a thing.”
I love Jane.
It filled him with a strange giddiness. The truth of it filled him, almost dissipating the rage he felt at Lady Waterburry’s continued presence in his room.
“Then I am a fool.” Blake moved towards her, standing to his full height.
He towered over her as he surveyed her coolly, dispassionately. “You will leave my rooms now, or I will throw you out myself.”
“She will never want you the way I do. She does not know you.” Lady Waterburry scowled at him.
“You do not know me. You do not know the first thing about me.”
“Then let me know you.” She reached for him, but he pushed her hands away.
“No. I have no wish to ever be in your presence again.” Blake looked at her, his eyes full of anger and iron. “Though I suppose I should thank you.”
“Thank me?” She looked at him in confusion.
“You have given me some much-needed clarity.” Blake laughed and gestured once more towards the door. “I will have Jane, or I will have no one. Now, I am going to count to three. If you are still here by the time I am finished, there will be consequences.”
“You cannot be serious.” Lady Waterburry looked between him and the door.
“One.” Blake held up a finger.
“Do not do this.” Lady Waterburry took a step away from him, her eyes widening.
“Two.” Blake drew himself up to his full height, towering above her. He held up a second finger.
There was a roaring in his ears, and he felt oddly disconnected from the world around him.
“Fine! But do not even think to come crawling back to me with your tail between your legs. I will never forgive you for this.” She hastily stepped through the door, her eyes narrowed in anger.
“I do not need your forgiveness,” Blake hissed as he slammed the door in her face. “Three.”
His blood boiled, his rage warring with an almost euphoric feeling. He shook his head, trying to gather his thoughts. His mother’s words echoed in his mind once more.
Do not live your life to spite your father.
“She is going to be utterly incorrigible when I tell her that she was right,” Blake murmured fondly. “At least she seemed quite taken with Jane.”
The sun was just starting to lighten the sky.
I need to leave. I cannot delay for another moment.
