“So, you say. But you could have stopped her leaving London, and you didn’t. Instead, you helped her travel all the way to Mopus Manor. Tell me, James, does that sound like the actions of a man who doesn’t have in mind to steal away a young woman? To betray his friend?”
His father’s harsh words felt like a slap to the face. He had been expecting some sort of reproach, but to hear his own sire accuse him of such a dishonest and despicable act truly hurt.
Sir Geoffrey got to his feet. He walked over to the sideboard, and after picking up the tea pot, began to fill the three cups. James had hoped he might back up the version of the story already given him by his granddaughter and James. But it was to no avail.
Anger stirred within James. He was not a child. He would only tolerate so much of a berating from even his own father before he would speak to defend both himself and Leah.
“Leah was desperate not to marry Guy. Her family forced her into accepting his suit,” said James.
His anger threatened to boil over. His honor was being called into question, and he was not going to stand for it. Hugh may not like what he heard from his son, but James was determined hewasgoing to hear it.
His father accepted the cup of tea offered to him by Sir Geoffrey. He blew cool air over the lip of the cup before taking a sip. He then set it down. James refused the tea he was offered.
“And you travelled alone with her all this way, to ensure her safety?” replied Hugh.
“Yes. I did. I felt honor-bound to ensure that not only was Leah saved from having to marry a man who is a vile, debauched monster, but that she was safely delivered into the hands of someone in her family whodidcare for her. I regret nothing that I have done to help her,” he replied.
Hugh looked to Sir Geoffrey. “Good. I am glad to have heard it firsthand from my son. James did exactly what I would have expected of him. So, Sir Geoffrey, I am in complete agreement with your proposal. There really is no other option.”
James chanced a look at Hugh and then turned his attention to Sir Geoffrey.
Leah’s grandfather was slowly nodding his head. “Do you have the license?”
James quickly looked back to Hugh. The air whooshed out of his lungs as he saw his father produce a document from out of his jacket. The document was closed with an official Church of England seal.
License.Bishops tended to handle only one type of license—an ordinary marriage license. But since neither he nor Leah had been resident at Mopus Manor long enough to be able to avail themselves of church banns or an ordinary marriage license, that meant Sir Geoffrey could only be referring to theothertype of marriage license.
A special license.
James swallowed deep. Little wonder his father had come dressed in his bishop’s cape. He had visited the Archbishop of Canterbury before leaving London and had secured aspecial license. James dreaded to think how much money and favors that had cost his father. He now understood Hugh’s filthy mood.
“Yes. It cost me not only a pretty penny, but I am going to be indebted to the Archbishop of Canterbury for the foreseeable future, thanks to the efforts of my son,” replied Hugh.
It would take a long time for James to be able to pay his father back. The favors his father had called in, he would likely never be able to repay. His father’s financial support of his painting career had been generous enough. He was humbled by the thought of all that his father had gone through in order to save the honor of both his son and his future daughter-in-law.
“Well then, all that needs to be done in order for the wedding to take place is for this young man to convince my granddaughter that he will make her a fine husband,” said Sir Geoffrey. He downed the rest of his cup of tea. “I shall leave the two of you to talk and eat.”
At the thought of Leah becoming his wife, James’s heart filled with an odd mixture of joy and guilt. Joy over the fact that he and Leah would be wed—guilt over his fear that she may not want him.
It was only after Sir Geoffrey had left the room that Hugh appeared to relax somewhat. James stood quietly waiting. His father had just travelled more than two hundred and fifty miles along less-than-stellar roads in order to meet with his son—a fact that James knew would test his love. “I didn’t want to say too much about Guy while Sir Geoffrey was still here, and I am grateful that he had the discretion to leave us alone. Guy was obviously angry over what happened with Leah, but it was your betrayal which truly knocked him for six.”
James raked his fingers through his hair. His father was right; he had betrayed Guy. The moment he had fallen in love with Leah, James had broken all the bonds of friendship. But now knowing what he did about Guy, and his wicked plans for Leah, any sense of guilt James may have once had over betraying his former best friend was long gone. He would protect the woman he loved, and Guy Dannon could go to the devil.
“I love her. I began to have feelings for Leah some time ago; it was part of the reason why I agreed to go to Derbyshire with Caroline and Francis. I was hoping that time away from her would cure me of that ailment. Instead, being apart and missing her only made it worse,” he replied.
His father crossed the floor and placed a hand on James’s shoulder. “You have to be honest with yourself and the rest of the world over what has happened. If you wish my full support for your marriage to Leah, I shall expect nothing less than that from you.”
James met Hugh’s gaze. “Guy Dannon was going to use Leah to seduce other men in order to further his political ambitions. He can claim I betrayed him all he likes, butheis the one who was prepared to betray the innocence of a young woman in order to satisfy his lust for power. And Tobias Shepherd was prepared to let him do it. As I said before, I regret nothing that I have done since that day in London and I would do it all again if I had to.”
Hugh nodded. “Good. The son I raised to be an honest man has not failed me. You must have known where this would all lead to in the end. I just hope you are prepared to withstand the ramifications of your actions once you and Leah return to London. This has been quite the scandal.”
“I will protect what is mine,” replied James.
“Then marry her. Put Leah forever out of the reach of her father. Make it certain that Tobias Shepherd can never hurt her again. You and Leah must stand before me and God today and become man and wife.”
James’s thoughts drifted back to the conversation that he and Leah had shared the previous afternoon. For a moment, she had let him hold her hand, and at the time he had seen it as an encouraging sign of progress. Now he knew he was going to have to rely upon that tenuous moment of connection to get her agreement for them to marry.
“I will speak to her and explain the situation. We have discussed some matters already, so this won’t come as a complete surprise to her. Can I ask, have we your blessing for this marriage?” he replied.
