Lord Wakefield snorted angrily. “Father was weak! He couldn’t do what needed to be done.”
“Father was twice the man that you will ever be,” Georgie declared.
Her brother’s eyes narrowed. “You will pay for that.”
“I don’t care. It is the truth.”
Lord Wakefield dismounted, keeping the pistol in his right hand, and stalked toward Georgie, his features distorted by anger.
William drew Georgie behind him, holding her there with his hands on her arms. “You will not lay a hand on my fiancée.”
Lord Wakefield’s steps faltered. “It won’t matter when you are dead,” he said as he raised his pistol.
Georgie pulled free from William’s grasp and rushed to stand in front of him. “No! I won’t let you kill him.”
“What are you doing?” William asked in a hushed voice.
“I’m saving you,” Georgie said over her shoulder. She turned her attention towards her brother. “If you promise not to hurt William, I will go with you.”
Lord Wakefield chuckled dryly. “I’m afraid you do not have a choice in the matter. Besides, I can’t leave behind any witnesses.”
“What if I gave you my inheritance to leave us be?” Georgie asked, grasping at hope.
The man before her scowled. “That money was gone long ago.”
“What do you mean?”
“I spent it.”
“All of it?” Georgie asked. “How is that possible?”
Lord Wakefield scoffed. “I do not have to explain my actions to you!”
“What of Grandmother’s estate?”
“I sold it.”
Georgie gaped at him. “Why would you do such a thing? You stole my inheritance!”
“No!” Lord Wakefield shouted. “It rightfully belonged to me. You are just a woman.”
“Regardless, Grandmother entrusted her estate to me, not you!”
Lord Wakefield took a commanding step towards her, but Georgie held her ground. “You forget that I do not answer to you,” he snarled. “I will do as I please.”
“What happened to the money?” Georgie asked.
“It is expensive to run an estate, and I ran into some trouble,” Lord Wakefield said.
“Did you gamble it away?”
Lord Wakefield looked at her in disbelief. “What did you ask me?”
“Did you lose my money gambling?” Georgie asked slowly, emphasizing each word.
“I did, and more,” her brother spat, “but Lord Ransdale has generously agreed to take care of my debts once you marry him.”
“Lord Ransdale would want to marry me even though I thoroughly detest him?” Georgie asked, clearly appalled.
