Page 32

Moreland

R exford’s note arrived three days later. He’d managed to secure an appointment with the Earl of Brantford. While we’d waited for word, I hadn’t left Victoria’s side.

I was slowly coming to terms with the fact that instead of growing bored, I was more determined than ever to make her my wife.

Normally, I didn’t find women who were newly out in society all that interesting.

But Victoria’s depth of character intrigued me.

She tried so hard to be self-reliant, and I knew it was because she didn’t want to be a burden.

It was the most confounding thing, but the more she tried to pull away, the more I wanted to keep her close.

And now that I’d had her in my bed, I couldn’t stand the thought of anyone else touching her. She was mine, and I intended to keep her.

I didn’t know what Rexford had to promise Brantford to gain an audience, but the two men held a great deal of influence.

It made sense that Brantford, who seemed to have the ear of everyone in government, if not in the royal family itself, would see the benefit of making an alliance with the Marquess of Rexford.

It was midday when we left the townhouse and set out for Brantford’s home in Mayfair. It was a short carriage ride, and under any other circumstances, I would have suggested that we walk. But Brantford’s townhouse was very close to the Duke of Sherbourne’s London house.

When we passed the house, the same one from which Victoria had escaped, she reached for my hand. I pulled her against my side and dropped a kiss onto her hair. Given the close call she’d had mere days before, she would have needed an admirable amount of courage to accompany me today.

She held her breath, but two minutes later, when we stopped in front of Brantford’s townhouse, she’d managed to recover her equilibrium.

The moment the carriage drew to a halt, she straightened and pulled away from me.

Before my eyes, she transformed from the frightened young woman who was terrified that her father would find her and bring her back under his thumb to the composed daughter of a duke, who had no fear.

Someone knocked softly on the carriage door.

“Are you ready?” I asked.

She took a deep breath and nodded. I exited first, then held out my hand to help her.

The footman who’d knocked on the carriage door stood to one side, but I didn’t miss the way his eyes swept up and down the street. I didn’t expect Sherbourne to attempt anything on Brantford’s doorstep. No one was that brave—or that foolish.

The front door was already open and a middle-aged butler stood at the threshold.

I escorted Victoria into the house and handed the man my card.

With a nod, he turned and led us into the drawing room.

Apparently, we were the last to arrive. Rexford was already waiting, along with his right hand, Mr. Clarence.

Brantford was present, as was his wife. After Rexford made the introductions, I experienced a moment of uncertainty about what was supposed to happen now.

Before I could ask, Brantford’s wife came to Victoria’s side and took her other arm. “I think the men have some scheming to do,” she said.

I reluctantly released her. “This involves Victoria. She should have a say in what happens.”

Lady Brantford smiled warmly at me. “I agree. But for now, you can argue among yourselves about the best course of action. When you’ve decided on what you want to do, you can present it to her and see what she thinks.”

Victoria grinned at the woman. “I think that sounds acceptable.”

“Good. Now come with me. I’m sure we can find something much more entertaining to do as we become better acquainted.”

I watched Victoria go, pushing back my concern. Nothing would happen to her within Brantford’s home, but I hated letting her out of my sight. The last time she’d left to spend time with a friend, her father had almost succeeded in finding her.

When I turned back, everyone was watching me. I ignored them and took a seat on the settee next to Clarence. Rexford and Brantford were seated in the two armchairs.

I knew Rexford would have already outlined our situation. I couldn’t imagine what he’d had to promise Brantford to gain his cooperation, but I knew that he would do anything to help his sister.

I addressed Brantford directly. “I assume you know why we’re here today.”

It was my first time meeting the man. The air of cool detachment about him matched his reputation. It was said that everyone wanted to be his friend but few had gained access to his inner sanctum. He normally conducted his affairs away from his wife, his actions veiled within a shroud of secrecy.

Brantford steepled his fingers and assessed me with his cold blue gaze. “Rexford has brought me up to date. You decided to ruin her, and now you want to marry her. But she is only eighteen and requires her father’s permission.”

I nodded.

“And you are certain that you want to marry her? It is within my means to aid in hiding her. Her father could scour the entire countryside, and I assure you she wouldn’t be found.”

The cool detachment with which he made that proclamation filled me with unease. Because if Sherbourne couldn’t find her, I wouldn’t be able to either.

Panic threatened to take hold. “Where is she now? You’re not?—”

Rexford leaned forward and placed a hand on my arm, stopping me from leaping to my feet. “She hasn’t been escorted out the back door.”

One corner of Brantford’s mouth twitched. “Indeed. My wife is a romantic. When she heard about your plight, I had no choice but to agree to assist you.” He aimed an assessing glance at Rexford. “I have your friend here to blame for that.”

Rexford shrugged. “We all play to our strengths, and I didn’t think you would mind too much.”

I half expected Brantford to call off the entire meeting. To my surprise, he smiled. “Rose is my weakness.” He turned that assessing gaze back to me. “And I take it that Lady Victoria is the same for you.”

Everyone was looking at me again.

“If you’ve changed your mind—” Rexford began.

I didn’t let him finish. “No. I want to marry her, and if we have to elope, we will.”

Brantford’s eyes narrowed on me. “Sherbourne doesn’t have the money for her dowry.”

I frowned. “I don’t need his money.”

“True,” Brantford said. “But while you may not need the money, I cannot say the same for her father. It’s why he arranged Victoria’s betrothal before she’d even attended her first ball this season.”

The proclamation filled me with anger. “So, you’re saying that he sold his daughter?”

Brantford shrugged. “Is that not what every other member of the ton does? Buy and sell their daughters’ positions in society with an eye on advancing their own?”

I thought about the state of my finances. I could certainly buy her if that was what Sherbourne wanted. I could easily afford it. But Victoria was worth more than that. She wasn’t a commodity to be purchased. “If you’re suggesting?—”

Brantford shook his head. “No, Sherbourne wants money and a lofty title. And I’m afraid as a baron…”

I finished his thought for him. “I’m the last person he would want for his daughter.”

“Just so,” Brantford said.

Rexford leaned forward. “Sherbourne has done everything in his power to ensure no one learns about his financial constraints.”

I turned to look at Clarence. He’d been Sherbourne’s steward before he left to help Rexford establish King’s. As far as I was aware, he’d been with Lord Sherbourne since before Rexford’s birth. “Did you know about this?”

Clarence shrugged. “I knew he was careless with his assets and his investments, but I managed to curb some of his excesses while I was in control of his estates. I’m sure it was a large blow when Lord Rexford left and took his inheritance with him.”

Rexford’s smile held a hint of bitterness. “He’d been siphoning off money from my inheritance—the one that my mother left to me and to which he legally had no right. Thankfully, Clarence managed to move around some money and restore the funds my father stole.”

“Indeed,” Clarence said. “Which meant that Lord Sherbourne was already on the verge of finding himself in debt when his son took control of his inheritance.”

I whistled. “It’s a miracle that Sherbourne hasn’t had you killed.”

Clarence smiled. “I’m sure he wanted to, but I know too much. Certain secrets would come out with my death that Sherbourne would do anything to keep hidden.”

I turned to look at Rexford. “Do I need to know about these secrets?”

Rexford shrugged. “I don’t even know what they are, but apparently, Clarence has made arrangements for them to become known if anything were to happen to him.”

I nodded. I’d always known that Rexford trusted Clarence, but now, I understood why. It seemed that Rexford had only managed to gain his independence from his father’s control because of his club manager’s intervention.

I turned back to Brantford. “So, what do we do?”

Brantford steepled his fingers over his chest. “I’ll have a talk with the man. As a liaison to the Crown, I can make it known that it would be in his best interest not to create further scandal with respect to his daughter.”

“At this point, would he even care?” I asked.

“Father cares,” Rexford said. “He cares very much. But more than that, he doesn’t want anyone to learn about his financial constraints.”

Brantford looked at his nails. “And on occasion, I do have the opportunity to inform the Crown as to which of their aristocracy can be most relied upon. A few words in their ears, and Sherbourne would become a social pariah.”

I gazed at the three men. “This all seems too easy. Should I go see him?”

“Absolutely not,” Brantford said. “That is the last thing you should do. A baron going to see him, asking for his daughter’s hand…” He shook his head. “I wouldn’t want anything bad to befall you.”

Ice slithered through my veins. Message received. Stay as far away from Victoria’s father as possible. But I couldn’t help feeling that I was still missing an important piece of the puzzle. “So, we return home and wait for you to tell us it’s all been settled.”

“Actually,” Rexford said, “I will be returning home with Victoria. We must keep up appearances now, which means that since the townhouse is in my name, I will need to take up residence there.”

One corner of Brantford’s mouth lifted. “My wife has taken it upon herself to rehabilitate Lady Victoria’s reputation. They will be seen about town together, and your intended will be living with her brother in his townhouse.”

There was an edge to Brantford’s words that told me he knew exactly what I was thinking. He knew very well that I didn’t want to give Victoria up for even one day.

I looked at Rexford. “If you think this is for the best…”

Rexford nodded. “It is.”

I released a harsh breath. “Fine. But I want to be the one to tell her.” I rose to my feet, and the others followed suit. “Where can I find her?”

“I’m fairly certain that my wife has taken her to the exercise room.”

My brows rose. “The exercise room?”

His eyes twinkled with amusement. “She and my sister have been teaching women of the ton how to defend themselves against improper advances and would-be assailants. It’s become something of a pet project for them.

I’m sure she wouldn’t have been able to resist the temptation to take Lady Victoria under her tutelage right now, given everything that’s happening. ”

I smiled at the man, my assessment of him increasing. He was even more impressive than I’d imagined.

Brantford rose and spoke to the footman waiting in the hall. “Would you please show Baron Moreland to the exercise room?”

The butler bowed and, with a “Follow me, my lord,” started down the hallway.

I obeyed, fascinated by what I would find.