“You gave your word to your daughter, too. So break your word to the man and set Marina free.”
Marina beamed. She almost felt bad for the pranks she and her brother played on each other as kids. Almost.
“I will not. You must trust me that this is the best course.”
“You have given me no reason to trust you in this matter, Father,” Arthur countered. “There is no way you missed the nefarious looks he has given Marina for years. He will be a dreadful husband to her. I won’t allow it.”
“You are not the earl yet, my boy, and you have no say in the matter.”
“Then explain it to me, Father. Explain to me why you are giving Marina to this man.”
There was a pause. The only sound was Marina’s rapid breathing.
“I don’t like this any more than you do, son. Of course I know Marina deserves better.”
Marina gasped. It took every ounce of her control to keep from barging into the room and strangling her father.
“Then why, Father?”
“My ladies,” their butler Brooks said, startling both Marina and her mother. “There is a caller for you. Lady Powis. Should I show her to the drawing room?” He made no comment on their eavesdropping.
Marina glanced at her mother and shrugged. They both stepped further away from the study door to avoid detection. “Yes, please.”
The ladies found themselves torn between their insatiable curiosityand their obligation to be polite to their guest. But Diana must have a reason for calling. Once the women reached the study, they found Diana standing near a window.
“Diana,” Marina said, “I didn’t expect you back in town for a few more days.”
Diana shifted her gaze between Marina and her mother. “I heard of your betrothal and thought you might be in need of assistance.”
“You may speak candidly in front of Mama. She would be happy to see me relieved of this situation,” Marina said.
Her mother motioned for everyone to take a seat. “I may never speak to my husband again after this,” Lady Sidmouth said.
“As if that’s some significant loss,” Marina huffed.
“What happened?” Diana asked.
Marina lowered her voice and shared the events surrounding her betrothal to Minto. After she finished telling her friend all the details, she tilted her head to the side. “How did you know to come so swiftly?”
“Graham and I decided to return a few days sooner, and we happened across Evan. His man keeping watch on things here informed him of your brother’s arrival. I came to see if you required assistance, or to relay a message back to Evan.”
A loud commotion caught all the ladies’ attention.
“Father! Father!” Arthur called after the earl. The ladies rushed into the hall to see his back as he left toward the mews. Arthur stood in the foyer, running his hands through his hair.
“Arthur, what is going on?” Marina asked.
“I’m not certain. We were discussing the matter of your betrothal,” he said, the last word filled with disdain, “when he jumped up and said he must leave.”
“Why? Where is he going? To see Minto?” their mother asked.
Arthur shrugged. “I was setting him down for this abhorrent decision, and the next thing I knew, he was fleeing.”
Marina pulled her brother into a hug. “I sure am glad to see you, brother.”
He pulled back and took her hands in his. “I will do all I can to get you out of this.”
She nodded in reply. She hadn’t told her mother of her plan to flee to Gretna Green in order to protect her, in case she was questioned. Marina would apologize for keeping the secret from her mother and brother as soon as she was safely out of Minto’s reach.
