Page 86 of A Deal with the Broken Duke
“No,” Lord Stickland agreed. “It doesn’t make sense at all. It would make much more sense for you to simply walk away and let me court her.”
“It isn’t up to me whom she accepts,” Harry said. “And as I told you once before, she wanted me. She didn’t want you. I realize you’re upset over it, but I can’t force her to accept your offer of courtship.”
“She would be with me if it weren’t for your meddling.” Lord Stickland shook his head. “Her father was going to give her to me, and you know that. You got involved because you wanted to thwart me. You’ve made it clear how you feel about me.”
“If you don’t want people to harbor ill feelings towards you, perhaps you shouldn’t manhandle young ladies when they don’t give you what you want,” Harry retorted. “I saw the bruises you left on Lady Juliet’s arm.”
“She disrespected me.”
“And that makes it all right?”
“It’s not any of your business, Your Grace.”
“It’s my business if I’m courting her.”
“But you’re not. You were only ever pretending. Don’t treat me as a fool. I’ve told you that I know what you were doing, so you may as well acknowledge the fact that your ruse has failed.”
Harry’s heart was pounding. Much as he hated it, Lord Stickland was exactly right. He could deny the nature of their relationship, deny the accusations Lord Stickland was hurling at him, but that didn’t make those accusations any less true.
And he had just ended his courtship with Juliet.
Whatever Lord Stickland had in mind now, she would be vulnerable to it.
Harry was beginning to think that there had never been anything he could have done to protect her. There had never been a chance of keeping her safe and secure. If he had stayed with her, his curse would surely have ended her life. It was a chance he could never have permitted himself to take. But now, leaving her on her own had left her vulnerable to the things Lord Stickland would do to her.
Which was worse?
At least this way leaves her alive. Lord Stickland is cruel, but he’s not a killer the way my curse is. And perhaps she’ll find a way out for herself. If she tells her father or Daniel what he’s like, maybe something can still be done.
“What do you want from me?” he asked Lord Stickland.
“Well, I thought about that,” Lord Stickland said. “For a while, I was considering asking you to buy my silence. But in reality, I don’t need your money. There’s only one thing I really want, and you’re the only man who can give it to me.”
Harry knew what it would be. It was obvious. But he waited for Lord Stickland to say it anyway.
“End your courtship with Lady Juliet,” Lord Stickland said.
Of course, the courtship was already over. But Harry would never have dreamed of publicly announcing that to Lord Stickland until this moment.
“And if I don’t?” he asked.
“Then I’ll tell everyone it’s all been a sham,” Lord Stickland threatened.
“Suppose I don’t care if you do tell them that?”
“You may not care,” Lord Stickland said. “But Lady Juliet certainly will. This will destroy her reputation. And it will be even worse when people learn the two of you were kissing at last night’s ball. How will that look, when you can’t even give her the dignity of a true courtship?”
He was right.
Harry couldn’t allow Juliet’s good name to be destroyed. He had already done enough damage to her life. He had left the shadow of his curse hanging over her. He couldn’t allow any more harm to be inflicted upon her by his presence.
“Very well,” he relented. “You’ll have what you want, as I’m sure you knew you must.”
“There, now,” Lord Stickland said. “That wasn’t so very difficult, was it? Perhaps you can return to France. I’m sure that was a good experience for you. To tell you the truth, most of us wondered why you bothered to come back after the death of your fiancée. Everyone thought you would simply begin a new life in France. It’s what I would have done in your shoes, and it’s what I advise you to do now.”
“I don’t recall seeking your advice,” Harry snapped.
Lord Stickland laughed. “Then stay in London if that’s what you wish to do. Stay and watch as I court Lady Juliet. I’m sure you won’t mind seeing her with me.”
