Hugo squared his shoulders, putting himself between Evelyn and her father. “I love your daughter, Lord Townshend. I love her, and she has just accepted my proposal of marriage.”
“I beg your pardon?” Josiah scoffed.
“I believe you heard me,” Hugo replied, eerily calm while Evelyn’s heart had transformed into a desperate bird, flapping its wings against the cage of her ribs.
Her father’s face contorted into a mask of pale fury. “Well, Your Grace, I may have heard you, but it is impossible. My daughter is already engaged. Shecannotaccept any proposal you might have made.”
“It is her life, sir,” Hugo replied. “She can accept and she has, and all you need to do is give your blessing. Yes, there might be some ruffled feathers to smooth over with the baron, but I am sure he is a reasonable man.”
Do not rile him, Hugo!Evelyn urged silently, for her father was a proud man. He did not like to be told how things would be. He did not like to take orders from anyone. The authority that Hugo might have used with other people, like her brothers, would not be tolerated by her father.
“Allyouneed to do, Your Grace, is leave my house immediately,” Josiah retorted, chest puffed, eyes shining with rage. “You do not get to tell me what to do with my daughter. An agreement is made, and we do not break agreements in this household.”
“If I leave this house, sir, I will be taking your daughter with me,” Hugo said with that same air of cool calm. “Shewillbe my wife because we are in love, and that is worth more than any forced agreement.”
“If you try to take her, it will be the last thing you do,” Josiah warned, his voice icy.
Hugo took a step forward. “I do not take kindly to threats, sir.”
“It is not a threat; it is a guarantee.” Josiah took a step toward Hugo. “She is my daughter, my property.Idecide who she marries, and I do not give my blessing.”
Of course, that is all I am to you… Property.It hurt less than Evelyn had expected, to hear her father admit it out loud: that she was just a thing to be sold, requiring no affection or love whatsoever. Yet, hehadloved something once. Her mother. A mother who was not here to talk some sense, some compassion into her husband.
Just then, more footsteps drummed upon the terrace, an imposing trio marching along from the drawing room to where Josiah stood. Like guards, her brothers flanked their father, while the third man positioned himself awkwardly off to one side, frowning at the scene before him.
Miles clearly did not know what to think of what he was seeing but even now, his gaze seemed to skim over Evelyn altogether.
“What is going on, Father?” Luke asked in a low voice. “The guests are agitated.”
Matthew wore a scowl so startlingly identical to Josiah’s that, for an awful moment, they looked like twins.
“Is it not obvious? I knew you were a scoundrel, Your Grace,” he hissed at Hugo. “Has he kissed you, Evelyn? Touched you?”
Evelyn dropped her gaze and grasped handfuls of her skirts to try and dispel the shaking in her hands. She looked guilty, no doubt, but she could not help it.
“Do not insult me. I have asked her to marry me,” Hugo shot back.
Matthew laughed coldly. “Marry you? She isalreadydue to be married, and certainly not to you.” He flashed a dark look at Miles. “You ought to demand satisfaction for this wretched behavior. If I were you, I would.”
“Yes, exactly!” Josiah joined in, his lip curled. “You must demand a duel, Lord Hemstich. For my daughter’s honor, you must.”
Evelyn shot to her feet, running in front of Hugo as if pistols were being drawn at that very moment. “No! No, there shouldnotbe a duel!” She glanced at the baron. “Please, Lord Hemstich, just… accept whatever Hugo is willing to offer in exchange for breaking our engagement. There will be no scandal, no trouble. This can all be handled quietly if you just agree.”
“How dare you,” Josiah erupted. “How dare you speak on your family’s behalf, when it is your family that have been heinously insulted!”
Luke cleared his throat. “Perhaps it would be better if we went inside to discuss this. The guests may become more curious and come out to investigate.” He looked back at the servants’ door. “Your study, Father. Let us convene there instead of?—”
“There is no need,” Josiah interrupted, huffing and puffing. “There will be a duel in the morning. Hyde Park. By the Serpentine. Lord Hemstich shall have his satisfaction, and I shall have mine for the dishonor that you have committed against my family and my good name, Your Grace.”
Miles stared, unblinking, at Hugo. There was not a single indication upon his face that he wished to be part of a duel, yet the man could not speak. Evelyn wondered if it was fear thatheld him silent or if, like her father, he needed to protect his reputation.
“Very well,” Hugo replied, to Evelyn’s dismay. “If it is a duel you demand, then it is a duel you shall have. But when I win, make no mistake about my terms: I shall marry Evelyn. Do not attempt to hide her or imprison her, for there is nowhere on earth that you could place her where I would not find her.”
Josiah’s nose twitched in displeasure. “Get out of my house.”
“Hugo, please…” Evelyn whispered, terror in her voice. “You cannot duel. Please.”
If he left now, she feared she would never see him again. Under no circumstances would she be permitted to attend the duel, and if he were to die… then she would lose everything. She would be forced to marry Miles, the cruelty of it increased tenfold now that she had the memory of Hugo’s kiss and confession.
