Page 85 of To Bed the Bride
“You’ve been different ever since Scotland. I wanted to know why. I decided that today was as good a time as any to confront you about your behavior. Why were you with McKnight?”
She couldn’t form an answer. He’d had her followed? Why, because she was a Scot and therefore beneath him? What a pity a mirror couldn’t bear him children. Otherwise, it would be the perfect mate, endlessly reflecting his image back to him.
“I came to visit Bruce,” she said. “Remember? The dog you refused to let me keep? Logan gave him a home, but I missed him. I wanted to see how he was doing.”
“One day a week? Such devotion, Eleanor, and to a dumb animal.”
She felt more affection for Bruce than she did Michael. Although it was neither the proper time nor the place, the words must be said.
“I’ve decided we won’t suit, Michael. I can’t marry you. I wouldn’t be the wife you want and, in turn, I would be miserable.” She could not, for the life of her, imbue her voice with any compassion or fondness. She wasn’t that much of a hypocrite.
He didn’t say anything, but his mouth thinned. There was no expression in his blue eyes. They might have been a pond frozen over in winter. He still had his arms folded in front of him, his knuckles now white.
She continued, “I can’t accept your decision about Hearthmere. You have no right to sell my father’s horses or to empty my home. I won’t tolerate it.”
“You won’t tolerate it? Who are you to dictate to me? There will be no change of plans. You’ll marry me and you’ll learn to be a docile, obedient wife, even if I have to beat it into you.”
“No.”
“Oh, yes, Eleanor. You aren’t going to shame me in front of the world. No one rejects me, Eleanor. No one makes me a laughingstock.”
“You can let it be known that you were the one to break the engagement,” she said. “After all, most people were surprised when you chose me in the first place. You can just say that the longer we were engaged the more you were convinced that I was the wrong choice.”
“Not an untruth, Eleanor. However, I wouldn’t have waited this long before making my decision. All of my acquaintances know that. Besides, I’ve introduced you to them. That doesn’t lend credence to my changing my mind.”
She’d never anticipated this reaction. She’d thought he would be angry, perhaps even enraged. But to refuse to listen to her?
“We will be married and you will become an exemplary wife. You’ll be a paragon of virtue, an example for others. You’ll never see McKnight or that cur again. You’ll never go anywhere without me. You’ll never act contrary to my interests.”
“You can’t force me to marry you,” she said, wondering if, somehow, he thought he could.
“You’d be surprised at what I can do, Eleanor,” he said, his smile chilling.
Once they were at her aunt’s house, Michael grabbed her wrist and nearly pulled her from the carriage. He kept his hand clamped on her as they mounted the steps and into the foyer.
“Send Jeremy to me,” Michael told the majordomo as he pulled Eleanor behind him. More than once she tried to break free, but Michael’s grip was too tight on her wrist. He didn’t seem to care that he was hurting her. Nor did he slow when she stumbled. She was certain he would have let her fall and then dragged her down the corridor.
He entered the gray parlor and nearly flung her from him. She hit the sofa, righted herself, and turned to confront him.
She rubbed her wrist where it was red and burning.
“What is it, Your Lordship?” Jeremy asked, entering the room.
Michael was the only person Jeremy addressed with any level of respect. Even Hamilton, who funded all of his ventures, wasn’t treated with this much obsequiousness.
“Watch her,” Michael said. “Do not let her leave this room. Do you understand?”
Jeremy nodded.
“I’ll be back in a few minutes. I don’t want her to leave.”
“She won’t,” Jeremy said.
She looked from her cousin to Michael and back again. Did they honestly believe they could keep her prisoner? What utter foolishness. Michael may not like the idea that she’d broken their engagement, but he was going to have to accept it.
Once Michael left the room, Jeremy moved to stand with his back to the door, his arms folded.
“You can’t be serious,” she said. “Step aside, Jeremy.”
