Page 48 of The Truth about the Viscount
“Never.” Daniel put one arm about her waist again, seeing how Lord Newforth began to blink rather quickly, his gaze darting from Daniel to Patience to Lord Milthorpe and back again. It was as if he had never even thought of such a scenario, where he might succeed in his efforts but, at the same time, ultimately fail.
“And I can say the same about myself and Isabella.” Lord Milthorpe smiled as Daniel threw him a glance. “I would never abandon her, would never turn away from her, no matter what you tried to do to Lord Hastings and the standing of his family name.” He let out a wry laugh. “Not only are you poor in funds, Lord Newforth, but it seems that you are also poor in happiness, in friends, and in genuine affection. And that shall be your heavy burden to carry for as long as you choose to bear it.”
A sudden thought came shooting into Daniel’s mind as Lord Milthorpe spoke.
Poor in funds?
He caught his breath, seeing Patience look at him with wide eyes, perhaps wondering what had made him respond so.
And then, Daniel spoke.
“Though, that being said, I do not much like what it is that you have tried to do to my family and now, to my betrothed,” he said, as Lord Newforth turned his head away. “This shall come to an end, Lord Newforth. You will not pursue us any longer in this manner. Lady Winters, it seems, has abandoned you, and brought her efforts to an end, given the failure of her attempt to be of aid to you. Thus, I think that you shall have to follow suit.”
Lord Newforth threw himself to his feet, his face quickly turning a shade of crimson.
“Never,” he grated, his eyes narrowed slits. “I shallnever–”
“I think you shall.” Daniel cleared his throat and broke into Lord Newforth’s retort. “For do you not recall that you owe me a great deal of money?”
This made Lord Newforth stop short. The color in his face began to fade as his eyes rounded, staring back at Daniel as Daniel smiled quietly.
“Lord Newforth owes you money?” Patience asked, as Daniel nodded. “How can that be?”
“I have only just remembered it,” Daniel confessed, feeling a little embarrassed. “With all that has happened, it quite went from my mind. But yes, before Lord Newforth even came to speak to me about Isabella, he and I played cards with a small group of gentlemen.” Seeing the way that Lord Newforth took a small step back, Daniel let his lips curve. “You recall now, I think? Yes, it was an evening of cards that lasted a long time, for you weremostinsistent on another game, and then another, gambling more and more and more as you tipped brandy after brandy down your throat.”
A small, choked sound came from Lord Newforth’s lips.
“I have the vowel you gave me,” Daniel continued, a sense of relief sweeping through him as he recognized that, finally, he had the upper hand. “A vowel which was taken to the Jerusalemroom, if I recall correctly?” Knowing that this meant the vowel was a legal debt, and one that Lord Newforth could not escape from, Daniel’s spirits lifted as Lord Newforth shrank back. “I think that I require it to be fulfilled, Lord Newforth.”
The gentleman shook his head.
“I – I cannot.”
“But you must. You will lose all honor if you do not… and if you cannot pay the debt, then I shall be forced to inform society of it.” Daniel’s jaw tightened as a flash of anger broke in him again, recalling all that Lord Newforth had done. “You have used society for your own ends, Lord Newforth, and I now do the same. Pay me what you owe, or all shall know of your debt and your shame. Then you shall see just how many of them listen to you as you try to demean my name and reputation.”
Lord Newforth opened his mouth to say something, but could only stammer, his brow furrowing, his eyes jumping from place to place as he sought a response, but nothing came out. With a deep breath, Daniel turned on his heel and, taking Patience with him, walked from the room.
“It is over,” he said quietly, leading her out of the dark room and back to the light outside. “He can do nothing now. If he dares speak ill of me, then I shall show thetonmy vowel and that will be enough for them to surmise the reason for his actions.”
“And if he does not pay you?”
Daniel led her back towards the carriage.
“I care not about the money. I want him to fade away, to move himself back from society, and from us, so that I need not ever think of him again.” Releasing her so that she might climb up into the carriage. “I have all that I need, Patience. And I have it all in you.”
Epilogue
“Ithink it has been a wonderful evening.”
Patience nodded and smiled, watching as Eleanor danced with Lord Thornlake, a gentleman who had been paying a little more attention to her of late.
“It has been, yes.” She smiled at her sister. “And I now see Lord Hurrelton coming to seek you out, my dear sister.”
Watching as Christina’s cheeks flushed, Patience’s smile grew, though she quickly took a few steps away to permit her sister to speak with the gentleman alone.
Letting out a slow breath, Patience felt contentment settle deep within her. At her request, nothing had been said to her mother or sister about what had taken place, though she had been required to share it all with Eleanor, simply so that her cousin could confirm that yes, Patience had been in her company that afternoon. Eleanor had been quite horrified, of course, but all had come to a pleasing conclusion, for Lord Newforth had not been seen in some days now, with the last rumors being that he had returned to his estate, rather than coming back to London. Isabella’s betrothal ball had been a marvelous success, and now all that was left for Patience was tolook forward to her wedding to the gentleman she had come to care for so very deeply.
“There you are.”
