Page 58 of A Wicked Business

“What kind of advice, Belinda? From whom?”

Belinda stared down into her cup, her heart beating in her ears, before making her decision. She lifted her head and looked into her father’s eyes. “I contacted Felix Knight. He is said to be the most successful young man of our generation already. I thought if anyone could show me how to proceed, he ought to know.”

She watched her father’s face segue from white through scarlet to a mottled purple shade that she feared might be the end of him. He surged to his feet and strode to the window, apparently too angry to speak. Belinda swallowed, keeping her hands clasped in her lap so he could not see how she trembled.

“Why him? Was that deliberate? Did you do it to defy me?” he asked in a terrible voice that made her feel rather ill.

“Not entirely. He is simply the best man of business I could contact, for most people consider him to be a gentleman, but I cannot deny that it gave me satisfaction to do so.”

He swung around, staring at her as though he’d never seen her before. “You admit it?” he exclaimed, stunned.

Belinda nodded, finding she was calm now. She had always known there would be a confrontation eventually, though she had not expected it to be over the print shop, but rather her marriage.

“You have spent your life pretending I do not exist, sir. You were content to do so until I was of an age where I could marry and be useful to you by bringing a powerful alliance with another family. It is hard to love a father who is little more than a stranger, and so defying you gave me some satisfaction, when the rest of my life was so far from my control.”

“I bet he laughed, the blackguard, to know he was dealing with you behind my back,” he said bitterly, and Belinda admitted herself dismayed that this was his only reaction to her words.

“No. He did not,” she said coolly. “You may not like to acknowledge it, but Felix Knight is a gentleman. I do not believe he took any pleasure in deceiving you. Indeed, I can promise you he thought me a blessed nuisance and could not wait to be rid of me.”

Her father snorted and sat back down at the table. “The sooner you are married to Ashburton, the better. He will see you behave as you ought.”

“No, he won’t,” Belinda replied, finding she was growing in confidence. She had never dared speak so to her father. Oh, she had been pert and bold and defied him in a dozen small ways, but they had never had a real conversation about her feelings, about the way he treated her and what she thought of it. “I have spoken to Ashburton, and he agrees we may go our own ways. That is the nature of such marriages, I believe. He will allow me to continue my print shop, or whatever other interests I decide upon.”

Her father gaped, stunned.

“Papa, I am not a fool,” she told him, the words filled with pride and a growing confidence in her own abilities. “You and any other man may do what you please to control me, to bend me to your will, but do not think because I do not stamp my foot and weep that I accede to your wishes. I will not be manipulated if there is something I can do to stop it.”

“Is that so?” he said, his voice a growl of displeasure.

Belinda put up her chin. “Yes, sir.”

He swung back to stare out of the window, his expression daunting, but he made a dismissive move with his hand and Belinda did not need asking twice to leave the room. She ran back upstairs to find Doris.

“We’re going out,” she said, gesturing for Doris to hurry.

Without another word, Doris found bonnets and gloves and, a few minutes later, they were outside, walking through the square. The day was humid and rather overcast.

Doris puffed out a breath. “Where’s the fire?” she protested, red with effort at the hectic pace Belinda had set.

“I beg your pardon,” Belinda said, slowing her steps. “I am in a stew, and I need to cool off.”

“Well, this ain’t—isn’t very cooling, if you ask me,” Doris remarked.

Belinda laughed, shaking her head. “No, indeed, but I am only vexed and frustrated. I had to tell Papa it was Mr Knight who helped me set up the print shop, and he’s mad as fire. It’s so frustrating to me that there is no way to prove Felix is a gentleman. Papa is prejudiced against him and his family, and there is no way of talking him around or proving him wrong. It’s too ingrained. I fear he will sever all ties to me when he discovers we are wed.”

“One thing at a time, pet,” Doris said, taking Belinda’s arm. “There’s no use in borrowing trouble. All will work out, you’ll see. Look, why don’t we go to Hatchard’s? You know a nice bookshop always makes you feel better, and we could go to Gunter’s too. Then, this afternoon, we’ll see Charlie and your Mr Knight.”

Belinda smiled and nodded. They had arranged to meet the men accidentally in Hyde Park, and the thought eased her mind, though she must warn Felix she had told her father of his involvement. She only hoped the earl would not immediately set his sights on punishing Felix for helping her. Belinda had always known her father could be callous, but what she had learned last night had given her new insight into a man who would stop at nothing to have his own way.

The bookshop and ices at Gunter’s did indeed make Belinda feel a little less agitated and by the time they returned home she had reassured herself that Felix could well look after himself. Her father, if he ever wanted to see his grandchildren, he would simply have to accept her marriage to a man he despised. If not, well, then he obviously did not care enough for her to make the effort and, in that case, his affection was hardly a loss. Whilst this rather prosaic outlook did not entirely ease her misgivings, it allowed her to look forward to the afternoon’s outing.

Belinda dressed for their afternoon promenade in a dark blue walking dress and a charming bonnet that framed her face with blue velvet ribbons and Brussels lace. Excitement rushed through her as she and Doris made their way down the stairs.

“Oh, drat and bother!” Doris muttered. “I left my gloves upstairs.”

“Hurry, Doris, we’re already late. They’ll think we’re not coming!” Belinda said in exasperation.

“I’ll be two shakes of a lamb’s tail, pet,” she said cheerfully, and made her way laboriously back up the grand staircase.