Page 28 of A Rogues & Gentlemen Christmas

Lady Blackdown leaned down and kissed her husband’s forehead. “You learned a lesson, Arthur, and you never, ever let me down again… until now, that is.”

Lord Blackdown straightened, meeting his wife’s gaze. A touch of colour rose in a face that was handsome, if austere.

“Father,” Chance said, offering his sire a glass of brandy.

He met Chance’s cautious gaze and let out a soft laugh.

“Thank you,” he said, and took the glass, downing the drink in two large swallows.

Then he stood, straightened his waistcoat, and approached Odette. She watched him with trepidation as he reached for her hand.

“I hope you can forgive me for what has passed until now, for…. My behaviour has not been that of a gentleman, far from it. I pray you might forgive me for my hand in this sordid business and allow me to start over. I welcome you to our family, Odette. I only hope you will not hold my actions against my son, for he played no part in it. He is a good man, an honourable one, and I am proud of him.”

Chance looked taken aback by this, but Odette thought she saw relief in his eyes alongside the surprise. She thought perhaps he had waited a long time to hear such words. For her part, she was only too happy to forgive the man. The burden he had been under was obvious now it had been lifted from his shoulders. The change was apparent and immediate, a glint of warmth and sincerity visible in his expression where she had found none before.

“I should be most ’appy to do so, monseigneur.”

“English, child,” her uncle snapped. “The word is happy, and you address him as my lord.”

“You’ve said quite enough,” Chance said, turning on her uncle. “I think it best you leave and do it quickly. You will not be staying for Christmas.”

“Perhaps your wife might like to have a say in that decision, Chauncey, dear,” his mama remarked mildly, moving to stand beside her husband.

Chance coloured and looked to her, a flush of colour creeping up his neck.

“I beg your pardon,” he began, but Odette shook her head and slid her hand into his.

She turned to her uncle, to the cold grey gaze of the man who had frightened her these past years.

“On this occasion, you will ’ave no argument from me,” she said, deliberately dropping the ‘h’ to annoy her uncle. “I would like you to leave now, Uncle. Incidentally, I can imagine what the arrangement was: that you got my dowry and, in return, Lord Blackdown’s secret was kept safe. Until there was something else you wanted, at least.”

Fury flashed in the man’s eyes, an expression which would once have cowed her into silence. “Odette, that is quite enough from you. You will hold your tongue and do as I say. This marriage is a farce and shall be annulled.”

There was an angry, warning note to his voice, but Odette was done being afraid of this man.

“Uncle Guy,” she began again. “I have no intention—”

“Stop going on, child,” he snapped, heading for the door. “We are leaving. Now.”

“Non. I will not leave, and I will not hold my tongue. Not any longer. Never again will I be frightened into obeying. Strange, is it not, Lady Blackdown, that where men are strong and firm and commanding, women go on, and nag and harp. the words are correct, I think? My English is not quite perfect, as my uncle rightly says.”

“Oh, I think your understanding quite superior on all counts, my dear,” Lady Blackdown remarked, her amusement obvious. “A nagging wife is not to borne, is it Arthur?”

Her husband raised her hand to his lips. “I do not believe I have been nagged once in all the years I have known you, Lucy.”

Lady Blackdown shrugged. “But that is because you have a superior intellect, my darling, and recognise good advice when you hear it.”

Their eyes met and Lord Blackdown grinned at his wife, adoration shining in his eyes.

Odette laughed softly. Her mother-in-law was a strong woman, a woman who knew what it took to survive in a man’s world, and she had made a friend of her husband who quite obviously respected and loved her. Chance was a good man, and their marriage would be a success, she was certain of it. She turned back to her uncle, who had watched the exchange with a curl of disgust at his lips. Odette sighed.

“It may be that I can forgive you in time, Uncle Guy. I remember when André and I were children, you were kinder then, not so cold and greedy, but that was a very long time ago and these memories are fresh yet. We shall see, but for now I should like to celebrate my marriage and Christmas with my husband and his family.”

“Your family, dear,” Lady Blackdown said.

Odette blinked very hard as the room became blurry.

“My family,” she repeated, and smiled.