Winchester snorted a laugh. “You don’t love anyone.”
“I don’t care about what you think. I came here out of respect and to inform you of my intentions.”
“Good. Because you’ll never marry my daughter,” Winchester said in a too-confident tone.
“She wants to marry me as well. I’m not interested in her dowry. You can keep it.”
“Money isn’t the problem.” Winchester stood up. His mouth twitched under his beard. “I’d rather not have my new son try to destroy me.”
Tristan rose as well. “I stopped and even reversed my financial moves, and I did it only because I love Effie.”
“Don’t take me for a fool. You’re still attacking me, Montcrest. Not as aggressively and openly as before, but you still are, and I’m still bleeding money.”
“I’m not doing anything,” he gritted out, doing his best not to show his surprise. “I am many things but not a liar. I’m not attacking you, Winchester. It must be someone else.”
“What a coincidence! Two different people attacking me in the same fashion, in a short time. When you’re ready to tell the truth, then maybe you’ll be worthy of my daughter.” Winchester rang the bell.
The butler arrived a moment later. “My lord.”
“Lord Montcrest is leaving.” He didn’t wait for Tristan to say anything and walked out of the room.
Tristan exhaled. He guessed professing his innocence would be a waste of breath.
Effie walked to the hallway as a footman helped him don his coat. “How did it go?”
“Not well. But you know me. I don’t give up. Ever.”
“But is there hope for his blessing?”
He couldn’t say he didn’t care about Winchester’s blessing because it would be a lie. He cared about her father’s opinion only because she cared about it. “Someone taught me that there’s always hope.” He leant closer to kiss her, only to stop himself before the butler yelled bloody murder.
She blushed, her eyelashes fluttering. “That someone is very wise.”
“And stunning. Very stunning.” He touched the rim of his hat and winked.
Pepper barkedat Kettle who was curled up next to Effie on the sofa in the library.
She raised her gaze from the latest issue ofThe Swiss Archives of Veterinary Medicine.Barks and hisses echoed off the ceiling. Now and then, a sharp claw or a white fang made an appearance.
“Pepper, stop this ruckus. There’s enough space for everyone.” She patted the empty spot next to her.
Pepper started to jump on the sofa, but Kettle hissed and hit his muzzle with a paw.
“Kettle!”
Pepper howled, outraged. The barking started again, along with hisses and the menacing glint of fangs.
In the chaos, she couldn’t hear her own thoughts, much less read. She hadn’t expected Tristan’s proposal to go smoothly with Papa, but after his visit, Papa had left in a hurry without talking to her. She was disappointed. He should have found a few minutes for her and discussed the proposal.
Maybe her annoyance disturbed her pets. Growls and yowls were exchanged with lukewarm attacks. She was about to intervene again when footsteps approached.
“Effie!” Papa’s voice echoed in the high ceiling.
The barking and hissing stopped.
She put a hand on her chest. “I didn’t hear you, Papa.”
“I’m not surprised. I called you, but you didn’t acknowledge me.” He sat next to her, taking most of the space on the sofa and ending the argument between Pepper and Kettle.
