Page 11 of The Earl's Reluctant Bride
“I did indeed,” Elizabeth replied in a haughty manner.
Lord Thornton nodded. “Well, that explains it. Did you not wonder why the viscount courted you in secret?”
Elizabeth gazed at Lord Thornton who appeared smug and superior.
Who the hell did he think he was?
“Barlow,” Elizabeth was sure to put the emphasis on her brother’s name so Lord Thornton could know exactly what she thought. “Did Mama and Papa bother to take the time to expound on the circumstances? I went to speak with them both, to let them know that there was a gentleman that I admired, whom I believed was well suited. Mama said there was no one better than the Duke of Rochester. A viscount would not do. I resolved that day never to marry that odious man even if I had to elope to be with the one that I love.” Elizabeth glared at Barlow with burning and reproachful eyes.
Although her parents disapproved Elizabeth was certain thatif she married the viscount, and consummated the marriage, her father would not cut her off. He would be angry but he loved her too much to banish her from his life completely.
Barlow’s brows creased. “Why are you so opposed to marriage to the duke? Is it not a good match?” he asked incredulously.
Elizabeth swallowed hard, trying not to reveal her anger. She wanted to win her brother over, not alienate him for she needed him on her side. “Well for one, I am not in love with the duke, and I … I do not wish to repeat the other reason for it is so vile. So, to answer your question …. No. It is not a good match. It will never be,” she replied firmly.
A tense silence enveloped the room.
Lord Thornton lifted an eyebrow. “And how exactly did the viscount say he would provide for you after marriage?”
Elizabeth could not help but flash the earl a withering gaze. All thoughts of controlling her emotions evaporated for his tone infuriated her. She didnotwant him to be here, for this was a family matter that should be resolved between Barlow and herself. Although he was a close friend of Barlow’s, he was not family. She did not appreciate him asking these intrusive and pointed questions.
Elizabeth studied him. He was dangerously confident. How dare he?
She wondered why her brother had gone so quiet and why he deferred to this …gentleman. “Lord Thornton, the viscount is from a well-to-do family,” she answered smugly.
“That may have been true in the past, but it is not his current position. I am afraid he has deceived you.” Lord Thornton’s tone was synonymous with explaining a simple task to a child.
Elizabeth flushed. “What you say could not possibly be true,” she managed in a suffocated whisper as she felt her skin grow clammy. She replied with more conviction than she felt as she searched anxiously for the meaning behind his words. Her insides were in turmoil and her flush deepened to crimson. She could not fathom why Lord Thornton was being so cruel, making such disparaging remarks about the viscount. It was unbecoming of a gentleman. She would not accept what he said to be true, she could not.
Lord Thornton crossed his legs and continued as if she had not spoken. She detected a condescension in his attitude. “I know of the viscount, Lady Elizabeth. His father had a penchant for gambling, and it appears that the viscount inherited it. He has frittered away his inheritance and he is on the brink of financial ruin.”
Elizabeth gasped, fear stark and vivid piercing her heart. “These are nothing but vile rumors. There is no truth to it.”
She immediately understood that if the viscount lacked financial independence, it meant that he was only marrying her for her inheritance.Perish the thought. She could not bear to think that he would deceive her so. Her mind raced.
This cannot be. It is not true. It cannot be true.
She clenched her hands until her nails bit into her palms. “I love the viscount, and he loves me,” she said with defiance.
Lord Thornton stood and held out his hand toward Barlow. “Wait here, Barlow.”
Lord Thornton had a scowl on his face that would cause any man to pause in his tracks. Elizabeth watched as he departed the room and closed the door. She felt a heightened sense of panic for she knew he had gone to the viscount’s room.
She gazed at her brother and a cold knot formed in her stomach. “What will he do to the viscount?” Her voice was shrill. She did not need to ponder the viscount’s fate for much longer for the door opened and the viscount entered the room with Lord Thornton following closely behind. Elizabeth was sure they could hear her heart pounding for it was loud in her own ears.
“You scoundrel,” Barlow hissed as he jumped to his feet.
Elizabeth observed a glance pass between Lord Thornton and her brother before Barlow promptly sat on the sofa. Her gaze flashed to the viscount where beads of perspiration gleamed on his forehead.
“Have a seat, Salisbury,” Lord Thornton said in a tone that broke no opposition.
The viscount sat on the bed for there were not enough chairs in the room. Elizabeth glanced at Barlow whose face was flushed with rage.
“What is the meaning of this, Salisbury?” Barlow demanded, his lips thin with anger.
The viscount shifted uneasily drawing even more attention to his perch on the bed. “Lady Elizabeth and I are in love, and we were on our way to Gretna Green to be wed.”
“You dare to utter those words. You are a man of low morals who acted with complete impunity. You seduced Lady Elizabeth and took advantage of her naivety. What manner of a man are you?” Barlow’s voice dripped with scorn.
