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“Your son is a most excellent man,” Eleanor said, squaring her shoulders. “He is kind and caring and wants only the best for others.”
“He is disrespectful,” Oliver’s mother muttered. “He is going to ruin us all.”
“By marrying a daughter of the Duke of Daventry?” Eleanor shook her head. “I think not.”
Lady Ashford narrowed her gaze. “Do not pretend you think you know my son. I raised him, I—”
“Spent your days haranguing him, making him hide from you, ensuring he did not even think of seeking his own happiness?” Arms folded, Eleanor stared her down. “Oliver is the best man I know and actually, I feel sorry for you that you cannot see that.”
“Sorry for me?” Lady Ashford spluttered. “Sorry for me? If you were truly sorry, you would call off this engagement and refuse to drag him down with you!”
“Your son and I are in love.” Eleanor spotted her sister’s proud expression. She could rather get used to this standing up for herself business. Drawing herself a little taller, she smiled. “And there is nothing you or anyone else can say to spoil that.”
∞∞∞
If Oliver didn’t feel like steam might be bursting from his ears, he would be proud of Eleanor.
Well, actually he was. But he did not have time to ponder the bravery of his fiancée at present. He had his witch of a mother to deal with. He marched toward her, just able to make out Eleanor’s pronouncement as she stood boldly in front of his mother.
She looked every inch the duke’s daughter—regal and proud. His mother on the other hand must have hastened over here upon hearing the news and had neglected to even put on gloves let alone wear her usual refinements. Rather fitting, he reckoned. Eleanor was far beyond her equal and his mother spitting rage at her with wild hair rather highlighted that fact.
It did not mean he was going to tolerate her words, however. As soon as he’d heard she’d been spotted on her way to the Daventry house, he knew he could avoid her no longer. For too long he’d ignored her or even tolerated her behavior. Such vileness could not be endured anymore, though. He was not going to turn a blind eye again.
“I think it is time you left, Mother,” he said softly as she fought for a response to Eleanor’s declaration of their love.
She twisted, her eyes wide. “Will you really tolerate such talk to your own mother?”
“If it is deserved, yes.”
“So it is all true?”
“That Eleanor and I are in love?” Oliver glanced at Eleanor and grinned. “Yes, indeed. We are to be wed as soon as possible.”
“And you did not even think to speak to me of the matter?” His mother spluttered. “I could have found you a wife, asuitablewife if you were so desperate.”
“Eleanor is more than suitable for me,” he countered calmly.
His rage slowly slipped away when he saw the crazed look in his mother’s eyes. She no longer had control of his future and it looked as though her mind might explode. A weight began to lift of his chest. By denying himself marriage to spite his mother, he’d been denying himself a happy future. But no longer.
“So you are going to wed a...a half-breed?”
Oliver tightened his jaw and heard Cassie suck in a breath. “I am going to wed a lady, Mother.” He stepped closer to her. “A wonderful, clever, sweet lady who deserves your respect.” He closed the gap between them until they were almost toe-to-toe and lowered his voice. “And if you ever utter such words again, I shall not only have you banned from my presence but sent to the house in Scotland. You do not do well in the cold, Mother.”
Her mouth opened then closed. “You would not dare.”
“I would and I could.” He inclined his head. “You know I have the power to do so.”
His mother’s gaze searched his then she turned on a heel, lifting her chin. “You might think you have won, young lady,” she said to Eleanor. “But you have not. Believe me, I shall not let this stand.” She flicked her hair over her shoulder and turned her nose to the sky to stride past Eleanor and her sister. “I shall—”
She stumbled, her hands grabbing out for purchase as she wavered at the edge of the fountain for a few moments. Her eyes widened and Oliver saw the panic before she toppled over the edge of the fountain and landed with an unceremonious splash, her head vanishing first. Like a fish out of water, she thrashed around for a few moments, dark cloth swirling about her, water pouring upon her head.
“A-Aren’t you going to help me?” she spluttered as she tried to stand again and slipped, landing upon her rear.
Oliver eyed the spectacle for a few moments, then offered his arm to Eleanor and the other to Cassie. “No.” He cocked his head and eyed the spectacle briefly. “I don’t think so.”
“Oliver!” his mother squawked as they walked away. “Oliver!”
“Wait until I tell my brothers of this,” he said to Eleanor.
