Page 38 of Miss Hawthorne’s Unlikely Husband (The Troublemakers Trilogy #3)

“I am the man Miss Hawthorne loves. I am her choice above all others.”

“You think that marrying a Viscount’s bastard will give you ties to the nobility?”

Richard froze and took a deep breath, keeping his arms folded.

The man had always been good at getting under his skin, but Richard had never been driven to violence quite so quickly before.

Especially over someone else. It was as unnerving as it was thrilling to know how much he felt for her.

To know that he didn’t have to hide how he felt when it came to her.

Regardless, if he lost his temper here, he would be thrown out.

“Although I suppose it is the best you can do.”

He turned to face his uncle. “And you, dear uncle, couldn’t even manage that.”

Simon was practically vibrating with rage, “You arrogant little—”

“Incidentally, she isn’t a bastard.” He didn’t have the patience for any more of his vitriol.

Simon blinked at him in shock. “What? Of course she is.”

Richard tilted his head and smiled in vicious delight at his uncle’s confusion and growing horror.

“That would mean he married a—” He shook his head in revulsion. “No. No nobleman would do such a thing.”

“Perhaps you should seek out his lordship and verify the matter for yourself,” Richard replied with a smile. His uncle would receive a nasty shock either way; it was all a matter of timing, really.

“You think you’re so clever, don’t you?” he sneered.

“I shall leave you to your thoughts, uncle.” He walked away, whistling, to rejoin Basil and Leo who were watching him warily.

“What did he want?” Leo asked as Richard took his seat and sighed heavily.

“To congratulate me on my marriage,” he replied with raised eyebrows.

“Why do I find that hard to believe?”

“Well, he didn’t use those exact words,” Richard conceded, “but the gist was the same.”

“He must be shitting himself.” Basil was smiling widely.

“He is indeed. He can’t decide what bothers him more, retaliation for my impudence or for his.”

“Has he figured out that you are about to be connected to a viscount’s daughter?”

“Do you know I’m not certain he has. But I’ll likely hear about it when he does.”

“I don’t know why you put up with him still,” Leo said, shaking his head.

“Because, for now, it is my duty to put up with him. I am the head of the entire Thornfield family whether he likes that or not, and within that section of our family are innocent people who will be affected by my behavior. There will be a time for cutting ties with him, but there is no rush. Besides, I have a wedding to plan for.”

*

An uneasy stalemate had emerged between Elodia and her father within the passing days.

He didn’t push her and she didn’t mention her engagement.

The plans went ahead, and Richard wrote letters every day as he’d promised, and she received them without any trouble.

That lasted until the first of her banns were read.

The Monday after had begun regularly enough, with them enjoying luncheon in a polite silence before he had left, presumably on business, and she had taken the opportunity to have tea with Ada and Isolde at Regina’s home.

“Will you have a white wedding dress, Ellie?” Ada asked.

“Ivory, I think, with the blonde French lace.”

“I think that would suit you better,” Regina said. “White can be such a harsh color.”

“I agree.”

“Do you think you’ll go on your honeymoon immediately?” Isolde asked.

“I’m less certain of that.”

“Because of your father?” Regina asked.

“He plans to marry this year as well. If he does, then I wouldn’t want to be out of town. In the event that he chooses to invite me.”

“Will you invite him to yours?” Ada asked.

“Richard says we should, and I’m too angry to decide if it’s what I want or not.”

“Is he still against the marriage?” Isolde asked.

“He’s been less defiant lately. I don’t know what that means. I’m only grateful for the quiet.”

“I never thought he would react so strongly to it,” Regina said.

“Basil’s family wasn’t terribly pleased about me, and he has virtually no chance of inheriting anything,” Ada said.

“It’s the idea of me being in the family at all, of their grandchildren not being of the best pedigree possible.

The possibility of my children having a place somewhere previously forbidden. It’s a loss of control.”

Elodia shook her head. “Ada, he married my mother and she was a slave turned servant. He did so with the full intention of making her a viscountess. If my grandfather had died before her, she would have been a viscountess. What right does my father have to criticize Richard on the basis of rank? He is a hypocrite as well as a snob.”

“Well then, let us discuss something more cheerful,” Ada said, patting her hand.

“I agree,” Isolde said.

“Your wedding night, what color will you choose?” Ada asked.

There was a question she hadn’t considered at all. What color should she choose? Was there a correct answer? “What did you get for yours?” Elodia asked.

“I went with white,” Ada said. “My wedding night was already done by the time I got my trousseau.”

“Mine was green,” Regina replied.

“How did you decide?” Elodia asked.

“Sometimes it’s the color you prefer the most, the one you feel the most comfortable in.”

Elodia wasn’t certain she would feel comfortable in any color. While she was all too excited to marry Richard at long last, the idea of appearing in front of him in such a state of undress was terrifying. There would be nothing to hide behind then.

“If you need a suggestion,” Ada began.

“Yes, please.” Elodia turned to her and took her hand.

“Perhaps red.”

“Why red?” Elodia asked.

“It is the traditional color for weddings in China, I believe. If it mattered enough to him that I receive some semblance of tradition, I can’t imagine he wouldn’t want the same for himself.”

“Red is a bit scandalous, isn’t it?” Isolde mused.

“Perhaps, but why be modest now?” Regina shrugged and Eloida laughed. It was true enough. If she had always stayed beholden to convention, she wouldn’t be marrying Richard. Convention was not something she and her father had even given much sway to.

On her way home a few hours later, she wondered if it was possible that she was holding too firm a line, and Richard was correct.

If her marriage to Richard was certain then there would be nothing lost in extending the olive branch first. He was her father after all, and while he was staunchly against her marriage, there was a path back.

There had to be. Her mother’s heart would have been broken to see them lose each other.

Upon returning home, however, she was greeted by a veritable greenhouse full of flowers of every kind; at least fifty bouquets littered the entryway, spilling out of the sitting room.

At first, she had wondered if Richard had decided upon spoiling her, but when she picked up the first card attached, then the second, it was made clear her fiancé had played no part in this demonstration. These were suitors.

Somehow, she now had men vying for her hand, despite the fact that her banns were being read. She didn’t know how this was possible. She’d sat in the church between Regina and Aunt Theo and heard them read out only a day ago. Richard had been there.

Now, she looked around her in her father’s house, seeing the results of someone’s delusion. She picked up five calling cards. All were from sons of the nobility, including Mr. Lewis. What on earth had happened?

The front door opened and Elodia turned to see her father observing the floral display with a degree of satisfaction.

“What on earth is this, Papa?” she asked.

“I told you I would be taking steps to correct the record with respect to your status as my daughter. This is the result.”

“This is more than that. There has been some misunderstanding. The first of the banns were read only yesterday.”

“Yes, that is true. But as a lady, you are not beholden to anything until you sign your wedding certificate.”

A horrifying realization fell over her. “You told them to keep making offers?”

“You have more options available to you than the one you are choosing to accept, Elodia. It is folly to throw them away for the sake of the first offer received.”

“I refuse to discuss this any further.”

“Where is the harm? If none of them suit you, then marry your merchant.”

“I cannot believe you would do this. I cannot believe that you would humiliate him like this.”

“You are worried about his humiliation?” he demanded, “What about mine? What about your own humiliation?”

In that moment, she knew she couldn’t stay in that house any longer.

She would say or do something horrific, something she couldn’t take back.

No, it was more than that. She couldn’t stay in her father’s house as long as he was determined to put an end to her engagement.

She couldn’t risk allowing Richard to be humiliated because of her father’s petty pride.

Whatever came next, it would have to come somewhere else.

Somewhere her father couldn’t throw his weight or title around.

She needed allies who couldn’t be bent or bought.

Thankfully, there was still one person available who met that description.

Without another word, she turned and walked out the front door, ignoring her father’s calls.

She did not stop walking until she reached Harley House.

When she entered the salon of her aunt’s city home, she found her there with Isolde. She lifted her head and frowned in her direction.

“Ellie, are you quite well?” Isolde said, rising to her feet.

Aunt Theo held out her hand to her. “My dear girl, what is the matter?”

“Aunt.” She went to her and sat at her feet. “I need your help.”

“Of course.” She stroked one gnarled, wrinkled hand over her hair and Elodia very nearly burst into tears.

“I… Papa has done something horrible.”

“What has happened?” Aunt Theo asked.

“He has been telling the ton that my engagement to Mr. Thornfield is somehow not a certain thing. That my mind can be altered if they present themselves as eligible suitors.”

“But your banns—” Isolde began.

“They have been doing it regardless. There is a mountain of flowers at Melbroke House because of him. He is determined that I should marry a member of the nobility no matter what I say or do. I just know what he won’t stop at this, he’ll do something worse, something to make it truly impossible.”

“What do you need from me then?”

“I cannot stay there. May I come here to live for the time being?”

“Until he agrees?” Isolde asked.

“Or until I marry. Whichever comes first.”

“That is an extreme response, Ellie.”

“It is the only way for him to understand that I mean what I say. Words have not been enough so now I must take action. Richard doesn’t want to elope, and I will respect that, but I cannot plan my wedding there. He will try to sabotage it in any way he can. I cannot take the risk.”

Aunt Theo watched her for a moment, her mouth pursed, her bright blue eyes sharp and steady. For a moment, Elodia feared she would send her back to her father with a few platitudes. Then the old woman let out a short sigh. “Isolde dear, ring the bell, will you?”

Isolde stood and followed the instructions, a pensive expression on her face. When the maid arrived, she curtsied to Aunt Theo who nodded. “Miss Elodia will be paying us an extensive visit; please prepare a room for her.”

Elodia took her fragile hand in hers and kissed the back of it. “Thank you, Aunt. I am sorry for having to do this. I know that it is the last thing you need right now.”

“Nonsense. I am happy to help you, don’t worry. When my nephew comes, I shall handle him.”

“I have to go now. I will pack my things and bring them tomorrow.”

“I’ll have the carriage sent to you around one pm. We can have tea together, it will be great fun.”

Elodia stood, kissed her white hair and then left, returning to the home she would soon no longer share with her father.

The dark wood and black and amber marble floors had once been a sanctuary for her, a guarantee of safety. Now it only looked foreboding, the flowers still in the foyer a clear indication that this was no longer a place where she could find peace. She walked past them and up the stairs.

Her maid Béa looked up at her from her mending when she entered her room.

“What is it, miss?”

“We need to pack my things. I will be staying with my aunt for the time being.”

“You are leaving home?” Béa asked in alarm.

“I am. Will you come with me?”

“You know I would never think of leaving you.”

“Thank you, Béa.” She hugged her tightly and Béa patted her back gently.

“When are we leaving?”

“Tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?” She yanked her away, looked at her in alarm again.

“It doesn’t need to be everything, just enough to get me through to the wedding. I will help you.”

“I’m not worried about that, girl. Does your father know you are leaving?”

“He will know when I am gone,” Elodia replied, striding into her closet to begin pulling out dresses.

She was tired of talking to no avail. Tired of being underestimated and ignored.

Tired of waiting for something to happen, tired of being afraid.

He’d made his move but two could play that game.

She wasn’t as trapped as he imagined her to be.