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If she had her way, she would eliminate the wedding as well as the honeymoon. Or perhaps even the man. “That’s fine,” she blurted out.
That would give her three weeks to find a way out of it.
“My dear, I think it would be in our best interests to meet sometime soon to go over expectations.” Mr. Faulkner-Jones actually looked serious.
“Expectations?” She felt the flush starting up on her face again, but this time not from guilt but from the desire to beat Mr. Faulkner-Jones about the head with a heavy object.
“Yes. I have my work and you have yours. I won’t be in England very much so I must make sure you are taken care of during my absences.”
Rayne raised her brows at the man’s impertinence. “I have been ‘taking care’ of myself ever since my father retired and left me his medical practice. I do not need someone from miles away monitoring my every move.”
Silence settled over the three like a shroud.
“Be careful, girl.” Father murmured the words and she immediately mumbled, “I apologize.”
He smiled. “That’s a good girl.”
Yes. That was all she’d ever been. A ‘good girl.’ Always doing what Father wanted and living up to his expectations since she’d been such a disappointment to him at her birth.
And she’d been making up for it from the time she was old enough to understand. He’d bypassed her two sisters in his quest for someone to follow him into medicine. Both Natalie and Mary Beth had managed to marry young—men of their choosing—and moved as far away from their father as they could and not be criticized for abandoning him.
However, Rayne was of the opinion her father rarely remembered he had two other daughters. The women made their obligatory visits at Christmas and Father’s birthday, and then headed back to their happy and peaceful life. With their doting husbands and children.
Something she was unlikely to have if Father had his way and she married Mr. Faulkner-Jones. No doting husband, no warm, comfortable home, no children to raise and nurture. She would be a married woman with all the shackles and none of the benefits.
Father and Mr. Faulkner-Jones got into a discussion about her betrothed’s work, and soon acted as though she wasn’t even present anymore. She glanced at her timepiece and cleared her throat to gain their attention.
Father looked over at her. “Yes?”
“I believe it is time for me to leave. I have patients I need to visit.” She slowly climbed to her feet.
Mr. Faulkner-Jones hopped up and took her hand again. “My dear, I will call for you Wednesday evening at six o’clock. I will make a reservation for dinner. We can discuss whatever matters are troubling you at that time.” Her fiancé smiled at her in such a way that she expected him to pat her on the head. Then he turned back to her father and they continued their discussion.
He dismissed her!
Rayne he
sitated, completely ignored by the two men. “Father?”
He looked annoyed as he held his finger up to Mr. Faulkner-Jones, a signal to pause for a moment. “Yes?”
She took a deep breath. This visit did not go the way she had wanted it to, and she would not be denied her opportunity to discuss this further with him. “I request another visit within the next few days. There are things I do wish to discuss—” she looked over at Mr. Faulkner-Jones, then back to her father, “—that we have not settled on yet.”
Father leaned back in his chair and regarded her. He tapped his fingertip on the arm of the chair where he sat. It was obvious he was not pleased, but she needed to convince him that this wedding was not what she wanted. She’d spent almost her entire life doing what he wanted, but in this she preferred to hold firm to her decision that she and Mr. Faulkner-Jones did not suit.
They didn’t suit, she didn’t care for him, she doubted if the man even knew her first name—or cared—and she had to make Father understand she was no longer a little girl who did everything he ordered her to do.
And then there was Edwin.
She could certainly picture marriage with him. Imagine sharing his bed and bearing his children. Of a life filled with fun and laughter, the cozy home she’d always wanted before her desire for medicine had become her focus. There was no reason she couldn’t do both.
Heavy in thought, she left her father’s presence, took her things from Bessie, and made her way down the steps to Lord Sterling’s carriage. Once she was settled in, and the coach began the trek home she thought of only one thing.
If she could not persuade Father to understand how much she did not want to marry Mr. Faulkner-Jones, was she prepared to defy him for the first time in her life?
Chapter 14
Edwin had been disappointed when his carriage had arrived the night before with only his driver. He had foolishly hoped Rayne would be inside, ready to talk, and perhaps even to tell him she’d broken her engagement and would now consider his offer of marriage.
