Giff, Alice, and Worthington met in his study a half an hour before his father was due to arrive. Worthington waved them to the seats in front of his desk. He glanced at Giff. “Although I have met your father, I still do not have a good idea of his character. What can you tell me?”
“He has no respect for weakness, and he will be difficult and try to make you give up as much as possible.”
Worthington gave Giff an appraising look as he tapped a finger on the desk. “How far are you willing to go?”
He understood then that if he wanted to marry Alice, he would take her side and not his father’s. This was the start of his own family. He glanced at her. “What do you suggest?”
She turned toward him. “Based on some things your mother and you have let drop, I have given this some thought. I will demand he do as Matt wishes. I think you should declare you will not wed anyone but me. And if he wants his heir to have an heir, he will do as Matt demands.”
Giff prayed he never got on the wrong side of her. “Ruthless, but it just might work. He has been turned before by firm intransigence.” He glanced back at Worthington. “Very well. We’ll play our hand.”
“I want you two on either side of me. He must know from the beginning that we are negotiating as a united front.”
Giff and Alice rose while the footmen moved the chairs.
If he was a gambler, he’d put his wager on Worthington. “How often have you done this?”
“Six,” Alice said. “No seven. I forgot Cousin Jane. One duke, three marquises, one heir to a marquis, the heir to a baronetcy, and a wealthy nabob.”
Thorton appeared at the door, and Giff and Alice quickly took their places. “The Duke of Cleveland.”
Worthington strode forward and bowed. “Your grace, welcome.”
“We’ll see about that.” Papa walked into the study. “I received your proposal. It is preposterous.”
“Please take a seat.” The duke was in the process of doing just that when he saw Giff and Alice. He glared at her. “What are you doing here?”
She raised her chin and a brow. “It is my life that is being discussed. Why would I not be present?”
“I hadn’t thought of it like that,” Papa mumbled.
Giff resisted smirking. Thus far, things were proceeding as expected.
Papa glared at Worthington. “As I was saying, this agreement will not stand.”
Worthington tapped a pencil on the desk. “Why is that, your grace?”
Tea was brought, interrupting the flow of the conversation. Quite on purpose, Giff surmised. Alice served. “How do you like your tea, sir?”
“Milk and sugar, please.”
As she gracefully poured tea for them all, his father watched her and nodded approvingly. She returned to her chair.
“Your grace,” Worthington said. “In what way is the proposal inadequate?”
“It is not inadequate. It is outrageous.” Papa reminded Giff of a bantam cock used to having his own way.
Alice leaned forward slightly and narrowed her eyes. “You think it is outrageous that I be protected as befits my station not only as the sister and daughter of an earl, but as your heir’s wife? If he dies before me, I will not be made a poor relation, sir.”
His father had probably never considered that a lady would keep her own property, including the dowry, and have guardianship of her children. As well as a generous allowance and a dower house separate from the one in which his mother might reside.
Papa held his serviette to his mouth as he spluttered.
“She is correct, Papa. The purpose of this contract is to protect my wife and children in the event of my death. If she gives birth to an heir and if she does not.”
His father stood. “I did not come here to be told what to do.”
Alice rose as well. “That is unfortunate. I dearly love Giff, but I cannot marry him without the protections of the agreements.” She glanced at him. “I am sorry, my darling.”
