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She approached them. “I can’t marry the Duke of Winnett. Byron is going to find out he’s guilty of sabotaging that chair, and I bet he’ll find out the duke tampered with the carriage wheel and tried to make me fall at the theatre. You were right all along, Father. I’m not clumsy. All of it was done on purpose, and the Duke of Winnett was behind all of it.”
Her father rolled his eyes. “You’re only saying this because you want out of the marriage. Well, you can stop. I can’t marry you to the Duke of Winnett after all this.” He pointed to Byron and then to her. “Enough people have seen you run in this direction, and even more saw you come into this house.” He narrowed his eyes at them. “Don’t think I’m stupid. I noticed the way you two were looking at each other last evening. For all I know, you two have been sneaking off to be alone at other times. There might even be a child on the way.”
She put her hand over her mouth and gasped.
Byron sighed. Unlike her, he’d known that accusation was coming.
Her father turned to him. “I blame you for this. My daughter didn’t know any better. I kept her innocent to the ways of the world. But you are a Runner. You’ve spent your life in the seedy underbelly of London. I can only imagine how many other ladies you’ve defiled in your time.” Before Byron could say he hadn’t defiled anyone, her father added, “You will not leave my daughter with the stain of fornication on her soul. I might not like marrying her off to someone who offers no value to the union, but you will do right by her. You will get none of my money, nor will you ever be a part of polite society. This is a left-handed marriage.” He spun to face Eleanor. “I hope giving up the comforts of your life will be worth it because your children will not inherit anything. The best we can do for them is make sure they don’t grow up with the stigma of being a bastard. I hope spending the rest of your life in squalor will be worth not marrying the Duke of Winnett.” He gestured to the house.
This was the part where Byron expected her to finally realize the startling consequences of her hasty decision to come here, but to his shock, she lifted her chin and said, “I’ll happily take this over being with the Duke of Winnett.”
Her father gritted his teeth. “Then so be it. I will not protest the union when you return from Gretna Green. I can’t have you marrying in London. People will think I agreed to the match. This will have to be an elopement.”
It was on the tip of Byron’s tongue to say,Once again, you manage to think of what’s best for you,but he was able to force the criticism down. Things were bad enough already. He didn’t need to make them worse.
“The longer you tarry to marry,” her father continued, “the easier it will be to count the months and realize the conception of the child happened out of wedlock.”
“There is no child,” Byron said, this time not hiding his irritation.
“For my daughter’s sake, I hope not,” her father replied. “Now, I am going to arrange for a carriage to come and take you both to Gretna Green. It won’t be anything impressive, but then, how can anyone bring anything impressive into this section of London?” He started to head for the door but stopped. “I’ll make sure my daughter’s things are packed and brought here.” He scanned Byron from his head to his feet then gave him a pointed look. “I suggest you get dressed.” Then he left.
