Page 8 of Revealing a Rogue
She was not the fainting type, but a lack of air and the twinkling stars before her eyes had Bronwyn clutching the edge of the desk and inhaling deeply. She’d predicted her dad wouldn’t deny a request by a PORF, but she hadn’t even managed to share her plan, and her dad was already done with the topic.
Her mum rubbed soothing circles upon her back. “All will be well. No time to dawdle; we must get you ready.”
No. Landon was to marry a lady, not her. Of all people, her parents should know this. Taking in a deep breath, Bronwyn straightened and faced her mum. “Lord Hadfield is making a mistake by offering for me. It is a tradition that a PORF marry one of their own.”
The snap of the paper being straightened brought her focus back to her dad. “He is risking too much! He’ll expose the Network if he marries me. Marrying a commoner will raise suspicions. Consider the possibility of all our secrets being exposed if someone takes an interest and digs into my background. It’s not how things work. He’ll disrupt the balance.”
She heaved in another breath, but before Bronwyn could continue, her dad said, “I’ll not hear another word. You will marry Lord Hadfield.”
Fustian!
If her dad would not hear her pleas, she’d wait until she had her mum alone. She let her mum guide her from her dad’s office. As soon as they’d walked down the hall to the connecting door that led to the family’s living quarters, Bronwyn placed a hand on her mum’s arm. “You have to make Dad understand.”
Her mum led her into the kitchen and placed a kettle in the fire.
Bronwyn needed her mum to comprehend her plight. Her mum was her last hope, the only person capable of convincing her dad to put a stop to this madness. “I’m not the right woman for Lord Hadfield. I’ll bring shame upon him. I’ve no idea how to behave like a lady. He needs someone who can host balls and house parties, run multiple households, and forge alliances amongst the ladies of the ton.” Bronwyn paused and went to the cabinet to get the teacups. “I know naught of those things, and I’ve nothing in common with the duchesses, marchionesses, and countesses his wife would need to befriend in order to assist with PORF affairs.” She plopped down on the bench as her mum calmly reached for a cloth, and then the boiling kettle.
Pouring steaming water into the well worn tea pot, her mum said, “Lord Hadfield has had the special license in his possession for over a month now. As head PORF, his actions and directives have been rather…deliberate. I’m sure he gave the decision to marry and to whom much thought.” She set the kettle down. Placing her warm hand beneath Bronwyn’s chin, her mum tilted Bronwyn’s head up and met her eyes. “He was wise to choose you.”
Bronwyn poured the barely steeped tea into their cups. Her mum sipped tea, eyeing her with one eyebrow cocked. It was as if her mum was challenging her to find a counter-argument. But her mind had wandered after the revelation that Landon had held on to the special license for a month.
Bronwyn tapped her finger against her teacup as she contemplated a plan that would allow them both time to be sure marriage was the best solution.
Her mum stood up, winked, and took Bronwyn’s cup from her hands. “Child, you are smart and brave. I’m extremely proud of you, and I know you will not shame our family.”
Whatever plan she devised, she’d ensure it would not end in disgrace.
Chapter Four
Twisted between his bed linens, Landon groaned as the image of the three piles of casework sitting atop Bronwyn’s desk reappeared—haunting him as he attempted to sleep. Rolling out of bed, Landon hastily donned his shirt and breeches without the assistance of a valet, as he had done many a time before he inherited the earldom.
Landon grinned as he tiptoed through the hall and down the stairs of his townhouse. It was like he was twenty-two again, leaving his bachelor lodgings in the middle of the night to get a head start on the day’s work to prove to his papa that he would be capable of running the firm one day. A surge of excitement at the prospect of utilizing his legal training had his feet pounding against the pavement.
Out of breath, Landon stood frozen at the front door of the Neale & Sons offices. He stared down at his shadow and asked, “What are you afraid of?” The answer was complicated and not completely formulated in his mind. Landon shook his head and entered the quiet building.
In the peaceful dark, Landon sat at his old desk, a stalwart reminder of his previous path in his papa’s footsteps. But would he face the same untimely demise as his papa, due to their shared lung condition? Landon might not be on this earth much longer. Christopher would be miserable as earl, and that was but a portion of the responsibilities he’d leave to his unsuspecting brother. His little brother would also inherit the rondure, which brought about danger and a slew of obligations that Landon himself was trying to unravel. He needed an heir and a wife who was intelligent and courageous enough to guide his son should he die early. He needed Bronwyn. With a frown, he pulled the first pile of files in front of him.Deal with one matter at a time.
* * *
Sunlight fell upon the desk.Quill poised midair, Landon reviewed the summary before him. A swell of pride gained momentum and eased the tension in his chest. Breathing easier than he had in months, Landon grinned at the tall stack of files at the corner of Bronwyn’s desk.
His brother’s voice wafted through the office. Landon pulled out his pocket watch; it was later in the morning than he had realized. He chuckled as Christopher’s cheery greetings to the staff became louder and louder. He missed working alongside his brother every day.
The door swung open, and Christopher popped his head in. “What the devil are you doing here?” Christopher sauntered into Bronwyn’s office and slid into the client chair across the desk.
Landon ran a hand over his jaw covered in stubble. “I merely sought to help prepare a few summaries.”
“Don’t you have more pressing issues to deal with?”
“Not at this time.” He rolled his head from side to side. His neck and shoulder muscles were no longer accustomed to being strained for extended periods. In recent months, the only burden Landon had carried was the pressure of selecting a wife. Bronwyn’s sweet features flashed before his mind’s eye.
“Really?” Christopher sat back in his chair and crossed his legs. “Have you practiced your closing arguments?”
Whether it was from a lack of sleep or his distracted thoughts, Landon stumbled over his brother’s logic. “Beg pardon?”
“Perhaps you should run them by me before she arrives.”
She?Christopher gave him a wide grin. His brother must have heard of his failed proposal. Likely he’d overheard the staff at the townhouse discussing it this morning. Landon had made the mistake of visiting Theo after his meeting with Bronwyn. The walls of her townhouse were paper thin. Theo was the only woman whose discretion and judgment he trusted. He desperately needed her insight into why Bronwyn had not immediately accepted his offer of marriage, and he sought her advice on to how to rectify the situation. Instead of providing the guidance he wished for, Theo had simply told him not to act like an ignoramus and then applauded his choice of wife. Landon realized the error of his visit as he walked through the foyer to leave and received full, approving smiles from the household staff. The Network was abuzz with his decision to wed.
