AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter 10
John looked at Sam as she rode beside him, a smile playing about her lips. He had come out for a morning ride not because of his usual habit, but in hopes to see her again. His hopes were not in vain, so here they were, riding side by side once more. He didn’t think it possible, but she was getting even more extraordinarily beautiful every time he saw her. Like at this moment, sitting on a gleaming brown mount, her profile to him, a few tendrils of golden blond hair blowing in a breeze, her back straight as a lance, her delicate feminine figure so fragile, yet so strong. Atop a horse, she looked like a Goddess.
After a good gallop, she was rosy-cheeked, her golden-brown eyes glowing with happiness, her beautiful lush mouth looking sinfully attractive. His gaze lingered on her mouth as he imagined licking and nipping at her lips, learning her taste. The sudden thought gave him a start. What a horrible way to feel about one’s fiancée’s best friend. He had to shake himself out of his reverie.
“What a great way to start a morning, isn’t it?” she called happily.
It was. If he had his say, he would start each morning like that, looking at her happy face. He looked away. That wouldn’t last. He would crush her with his wounds, his moods, his temper. It was probably a good thing he was marrying her friend and not her. He would ruin her life, but he could save the duchess’s.
It would be a marriage of convenience. He would give her freedom, her rightful inheritance, and they would remain distant yet friendly. He would save his lands as well, and the farmers living on those lands. Everyone would get what they needed.
But none of them would get what they wanted. The duchess would be stuck in a loveless marriage, he would be married to his Angel’s best friend, and his Angel… Well, she’d probably soon be married to someone else. His stomach churned at the thought of Sam in someone else’s arms. He shook his head again, trying to rid himself of the unwanted images.
“Is there any news regarding your marriage to Evie?” Sam asked.
“Yes, and no.”
Sam looked at him with a raised brow.
“The betrothal contract is still not signed. Montbrook is stalling. But I’ve talked to Clydesdale,” he said carefully. “He made some inquiries into Montbrook’s affairs. It turns out it is even worse than we thought. Not only does he have gambling debts, but both of his sons do, too. His heir is the biggest wastrel this world has ever seen and probably owes half theton.”
“Evie didn’t tell me anything about his sons,” Sam said with a frown.
“She probably hasn’t even met them. They both live in Scotland. I assume Lady Montbrook exiled them there so they wouldn’t be shot in a duel for not paying back their debts. She is the Iron Lady of the house. Or that’s what everyone seems to call her. Lord Lansdowne is one of the people they owe. I do not have details on how much, but I can assume it’s not a small sum if the Montbrooks are willing to sell their niece for it.”
“The scoundrels!” Sam exclaimed, her nostrils flaring.
“That’s not all,” John continued.
“Of course not,” she said with an exasperated sigh.
“Somerset’s previous solicitor, the man who is responsible for taking care of Her Grace’s inheritance, said that Montbrook had tried several times to wager against it. Since he is her guardian, he has a legal right to use the inheritance and make investment decisions. So, at the moment, he is happily squandering her fortune away. He can’t spend all of it. Fortunately, there’s a clause in the contract only allowing a certain percentage. But after that is gone, the Montbrooks will only get more desperate. We can’t let the duchess spend any more time with them. We don’t know what they are capable of. Montbrook doesn’t seem to want to hurt his niece, but we don’t know what he’ll do if he’s cornered, and we don’t know his wife’s motivations.”
“He doesn’t want to hurt her? What do you think selling her to Lansdowne is?”
“I just meant hurting her physically.”
Sam scoffed. “All right. What are our solutions?”
“We marry,” John said with a heavy heart. “As soon as possible.”
Silence hung for a moment between them.
“You need to get a special license. Can you do that?” Sam finally asked.
“I am a simple baron.” John shook his head. “But Clydesdale will be able to. Since Montbrook gave his blessing to our betrothal, this shouldn’t be difficult.”
“Thank you for keeping me informed.” Sam smiled sadly. “I can’t imagine what it’s like for Evie. It pains me that it’s come to that. She has become a beacon of light in my life ever since I met her; I don’t want that to change. I am so glad you are the one she’s going to marry.”
John just smiled and nodded. What could he say to that?
“Did she tell you how we met?” Sam smiled in reminiscence.
John cleared his throat. “Yes, she said, you were in mourning when she stumbled upon you riding in the field or some such.”
Sam turned her bright smile in his direction. “That’s correct. I think I spotted her bright hair before I ever realized who was galloping toward me. She rides like a hellion, you know.”
“Does she?” John wouldn’t have imagined a sophisticated lady like the duchess ever being described as a hellion. Trotting along the Rotten Row during a fashionable hour, yes, but galloping through the fields, he couldn’t contemplate.
