Page 54 of A Wicked Business

“But Papa, didn’t you love my mother?”

The earl’s face lost a little of its colour, and he frowned. “Sentiment in marriage is to be avoided. It leads to no good,” he said brusquely, returning to his desk and picking up his glass.

“Why? Because you risk getting hurt?” Belinda ventured, wondering how she dared. The earl never spoke of his feelings, or of her mother. Either subject usually ended in him losing his temper.

“I would not see you suffer so,” he said, and though his voice was hard, she recognised his care for her in the words, as foolish as they were. Had that been why he had kept himself so distant all these years from her too? Was it not indifference that held him back, but fear of being hurt again? The idea made her heart clench and yet the once forlorn hope that he might value her for something other than her ability to make a great alliance bloomed inside her.

“Do you truly think it better to endure a loveless marriage with no affection?” she asked, genuinely curious.

“Devil take you, Belinda! Enough of this. Ashburton is a good man, he won’t beat or ill-treat you and, if you must fall in love, there will be time enough for that once you’ve provided his heir and a spare, providing you are discreet. Now stop all this repining for something that you cannot have. You’ll marry Ashburton, and that’s my last word. Do you understand?”

Belinda stifled a sigh. Whether or not he did care for her future, the earl did not like being challenged. “I do,” she said, knowing she would never marry Ashburton, and that her father would likely never speak to her again when he discovered what she’d done.

“I should think so, too. Run along now, I have business to attend to.” He dismissed her with a wave of his hand, turning away to stare morosely into the empty grate.

“Yes, Papa,” Belinda replied calmly, and left the study, intending to go upstairs to where Doris would be waiting for her.

As she made her way back to the entrance hall, she found Mr Flint. He seemed to be in a hurry but his cold eyes gleamed as he saw her.

“My lady,” he said, looking far too pleased with himself for Belinda’s comfort. “How delightful. You are just the person I hoped to see.”

“But you have business with my father, so I shan’t keep you,” Belinda said, striving to sound polite when everything about the man made her want to recoil from him.

He seized her arm as she tried to pass him, holding on too tight. Belinda gasped, trying to pull free, but he held tighter still. “But I wish to speak with you too, Belinda, and I think you will look upon my suit rather more favourably when you hear what I have to say.”

“I will thank you for unhanding me, sir,” Belinda said coldly. “And my father has just told me I am to marry Lord Ashburton, so I’m afraid whatever your plan was, it is no longer viable.”

“What?” Mr Flint stared at her, his shock palpable. “But… But this cannot be.”

“I assure you it is, now unhand me,” she said, tugging harder as his fingers bit into her flesh.

“Mr Flint.”

Belinda let out a breath of relief as her father’s voice reached them.

Flint let her go, turning to face the earl.

“Is it true?” he asked, the words more of a growl than a question. “She’s betrothed to Ashburton?”

“It’s true. It will be the match of the decade,” the earl said smugly. “Are you not going to congratulate my lovely daughter, Mr Flint?”

Flint looked from him to Belinda and back again, his grey eyes hard and icy with fury.

“And what of me?” he demanded. “You promised—”

“Promised?” the earl said, frigidly contemptuous. “I did no such thing. I said I would give you the opportunity to win Belinda, but it is clear she despises you. And whilst you would be well enough if you pleased her, you cannot think I would pass up a future marquess for a mere mister, and one on the brink of ruin too?”

“Why you double-crossing—”

“You dare?”

The earl’s scorn was tinged with amusement and Belinda edged away, praying they would not notice her exit. Though it pleased her to see Mr Flint taken down a peg or two, she didn't want to witness his humiliation. Heaven alone knew what her father had said, but Flint had clearly expected Belinda as part of their deal. She shuddered at the idea and turned to make good her escape, but Flint grasped her arm once more.

“Not so fast, my lady. I believe you will wish to hear what I have to say. I suspect Ashburton will be less inclined to wed you if what I know becomes public knowledge,” he said with a nasty smile that made her flesh creep and a sensation like iced water slide down her spine.

“Take your hands off my daughter. Belinda, come here,” her father said, his eyes narrowing.

Belinda felt a tremor of unease, but hurried to her father’s side with relief as Mr Flint released her.