Page 47 of The Wise Daughter

Aaron led Bilford to his study. The fire was low, the room stuffy. Perhaps the chimney was clogged, and he would need Mr. Rowe’s services again sooner than expected.

“Have a seat, Bilford.”

Lord Bilford took his time pulling out the chair and settling in. Other than briefly imagining planting a facer square in the middle of Bilford’s nose, Aaron was surprisingly calm inside. He wanted nothing more than to be done with this meeting and return to Nora.

“I’ll get straight to the point, Ravenglass.”

“Please do,” Aaron grumbled.

“Your soon-to-be father-in-law lost every bit of money you were foolish enough to give him, so he wagered Raven Manor. And lost.”

“And when did he have such an opportunity?” He should have known Bilford would find another way to take something. He may not have been a thief by the usual standards, but Aaron was convinced he was one nonetheless.

“We became fast friends.” Bilford chuckled. “We may be far from London, but I have my own little club and was kind enough to let him join us. He’s been coming round nearly every night this week.”

All this time, Aaron thought Mr. Lacy had been diligent about getting Raven Manor ready. He should have heeded Nora’s warnings and watched him more closely.

“So Lacy and I decided to play cards while everyone danced. In any event, he wagered Raven Manor when there was nothing left to tempt me further. The poor man never stood a chance, Derricott. You should see how terrible he is at cards. Doesn’t matter which game either.

He ruins every chance he gets.” Bilford’s chuckle deepened to a low, guttural laugh.

Aaron ground his teeth. Bilford knew exactly what he had been doing. “You should have known better than to accept such collateral, Bilford. Raven Manor isn’t his to give.”

“Oh, I know. You didn’t think I was going to make that argument, did you?”

“Then what is your argument?” Aaron was getting frustrated with this tedious line of talk.

“Merely that you either help your future father-in-law in some manner or suffer the shame of being connected to the newest tenant of Marshalsea.”

“You’d send collectors after him for such a ludicrous bet?”

Bilford smirked. “We could make an interesting wager over it now if you don’t believe I would.”

“I’m through with wagers. You’re wasting my time.”

“Really? Consider one more thing, Ravenglass. What is everyone to think when you, the new duke, won’t help keep your bride’s father out of debtors' prison?”

Aaron clenched his fists.

“And what’s worse,” he lowered his voice, “what is your bride to think? How will she face you day in and day out knowing her father is locked up because you wouldn’t offer the help that would keep him out?”

Bilford had him now, and Aaron could tell he knew it.

Aaron thought quickly. “I’ll give you seven hundred pounds instead. Take the money and never speak to me of this again. That’s more than fair.”

Bilford shrugged. “Maybe, but not if you consider the justice I’m after.

Your father owed me at least that much. Now, combine that with the living of the estate I just won.

Oh, and let’s not forget the embarrassment you caused my daughter.

Add it together, and I’m sure you owe me at least five thousand pounds. ”

Aaron was livid. “Five thousand pounds? Impossible.”

“You have to pay it, Ravenglass. Even if Raven Manor had tenants, which it currently does not, it wouldn’t bring in more than four or five hundred a year. The repairs alone make it an unwise investment. It would take years before you regain what you spent on it.”

“You make a persuasive argument. Perhaps I should just give you the manor instead of money, but as you said, you didn’t play cards with Mr. Lacy to get the manor, did you?”

Bilford’s lips stretched into an oily smile. “Oh, I know that house has sentimental meaning. Wasn’t it supposed to be the dower house? You keep it in hopes of your mother returning, don’t you?” He chuckled again. “Come now. Let’s not let bad memories sour our business.”

Aaron very nearly insisted Bilford take the manor to spite him, but Bilford was right.

His mother would have lived there if she hadn’t run away.

It wasn’t only an old house. It was part of his history and held certain hopes.

Regardless, he knew deep within he wouldn’t let his estate be broken up by something so dishonorable as Bilford’s wretched threats.

He walked around his desk, considering possibilities, from offering Bilford another property to letting him call in the debt and send Mr. Lacy to prison. He needed a moment to think.

As he sat at his desk, a thick letter caught his eye, probably the letter Cornell had mentioned.

Aaron lifted it, intending to pocket it and read its contents later, but he enjoyed the thought of making Bilford wait a little longer while he considered what to do.

Besides which, his curiosity pulled him in. He broke the seal and read,

Forgive me, Your Grace, if my abundance of caution is not necessary in this instance, but I received a letter from your betrothed (enclosed here) which struck me as rather odd and uncharacteristic of our previous business dealings.

I took it upon myself to make a few inquiries and discovered several complaints against her.

If I am not mistaken, she was engaged to a certain Lord Newbery who paid thousands of pounds to her father to pay off gambling debts.

There was also a Mr. Hunt, who, though he was never engaged to Miss Lacy, also paid a thousand pounds directly to Mr. Lacy with the promise that she would marry him.

Be it far from me to make decisions regarding your engagement, but I thought it incumbent on me to warn you that there is a pattern here you should be aware of.

If Miss Lacy’s request in the letter enclosed is, indeed, according to your wishes, please confirm to me your approval, and I will proceed. If you do not wish to act upon this request, simply let me know, and I will advise you on what to do next.

Your humble servant,

Cornell

Aaron unfolded the letter tucked within, carrying the broken seal he recognized as his own, and read.

Dear Mr. Cornell,

As His Grace, the Duke of Ravenglass, and I are to be wed in the coming weeks, he has entrusted all wedding preparations to my care.

As there are, in addition to wedding expenses, family matters to settle and coffers to replenish, such preparations will be extensive and costly.

I ask you to transfer the amount of fifteen thousand pounds to an account to be opened immediately in my name, the funds of which I have been given permission to use however I see fit.

Please note my use of His Graces’s seal, which I hope will be sufficient to convey his approval.

His Grace is occupied with other matters at this time.

Respectfully,

Miss Honora Lacy

Aaron swallowed as he stared at the wax seal, aware that Bilford’s eyes were intently focused on him.

“Did you hear me, Ravenglass? I won’t be ignored. My complaints won’t go away.”

“I… I apologize, Bilford.” Dazed, Aaron quickly tucked the note away.

“Well, something must be wrong, indeed. You’ve never apologized so readily to me before.”

Aaron’s head throbbed anew while his heart beat erratically. He wanted to blame it all on the opium, but the letter had just as strange an effect. Nora couldn’t have written it. She was waiting for him in the garden. He was going to declare how much he loved her, but that letter…

Bilford placed his feet on the desk.

Aaron shoved them off. He didn’t have time for this.

“Something urgent has come to my attention, Bilford. I’ll have to postpone this meeting.

I promise we’ll settle this another time.

Forgive me, but I must ask you to leave immediately.

” He rose from his chair and held the door open for Bilford’s departure.

“You can’t be serious, Derricott.”

“I assure you, I am.” His arm was burning as he held the door, the blood rushing to his head.

Bilford puffed out his chest as he stood. “What a way to treat a guest! Every time you dismiss me without paying what you owe, the debt grows.”

Aaron heard Bilford’s threats like words being spoken underwater. Bilford must have seen that Aaron was in no state to argue. He eventually shuffled out, footsteps stomping down the corridor.

Aaron closed the door and let his emotions surface. Hurt. Anger. Betrayal. The wax seal had been made with his signet ring. He couldn’t believe it. He couldn’t believe she would attempt such a lie.

No.

Not Nora. She wouldn’t.

But the proof was in his pocket.

Nora waited in the small garden alcove, shivering beneath her thin shawl, but she didn’t mind.

“Aaron’s arms will be all the warmth I need,” she whispered to the vines, fingering one of the loose tendrils.

Aaron’s earnest addresses to her after their dance filled her with the deepest hope.

He had all but declared his love this time.

No more carefully worded declarations of possibilities or of love that was growing.

This was it. This was love. She was sure he was about to say the words she longed to hear.

But a woman sitting alone in cold night air can only dream of whispered endearments and savored kisses for so long before the chill takes its toll.

The stars’ light grew hazier by the minute as trails of clouds passed over, dampening their glow.

When footsteps sounded on the stone, she rose, breathless. Aaron’s handsome form drew closer.

“Aaron! I was beginning to worry.” Her unrestrained grin sank as she took in his somber expression and the way he couldn’t meet her eye for more than a second. “Aaron, what is the matter?”

“Nora.” His voice was thick.

Her stomach grew queasy. Something was very wrong.