Page 71 of The Viscount and the Vicar's Daughter
He rubbed a hand across the nape of his neck, not wanting to say anything to set his father off while the other guests were still here. “She is special. That’s why I’ve promised to help her once her father passes. In truth, I have been selfishly holding my breath in the hope he hangs on until after this house party, his health is that dire.”
“We are indeed sorry to hear this,” his mother said.
“I’ve had the vicar’s regular housekeeper sleep in at their home while Viola is here. I’ve also sent one of my maids there every day to assist the woman. My estate manager checks in on the vicar constantly and reports back to me.”
His mother spoke up again. “Oh, dear. The poor girl must be having an awful time of it if what you say is true. Is he truly at death’s door?”
“I am no physician, but he has weakened considerably over these past few months. If he continues to worsen at this pace, then yes, he cannot be far from it.”
Daisy sighed. “Laurel and I come from a big family and always have plenty of support. I hate to think of her as all alone. Does she have siblings or other family to help her out, Alex?”
“No. Once he passes, she will have no one.”
His father cleared his throat. “She has made a good impression on us all, but let us get to the crux of the matter. Alex, you have three beautiful young ladies from wealthy, titled families here to choose as your bride. You cannot disgrace us by marrying Miss Ruskin.”
Alexander tensed immediately, clenching his teeth to restrain his temper. In truth, he rarely angered, but Viola was someone special and he had no intention of passing her up because his father was too blindly stuck in his old ways to see her worth. “I will not discuss it, Father.”
“Indeed, you will. You have been paying far too much attention to the girl and it is time you understood that men in our position do not marry that sort.”
“Just what sort is she? Intelligent? Kind? Thoughtful? I can assure you, if you persist in pressing the matter, I will get on bended knee this very day and propose to her.”
His father was fuming again. “I will not have you defy me!”
Alexander was also getting hot under the collar. “And I will not have you threaten me.”
“Ah, the joys of family reunions.” Gabriel strode over to his wife and took her hand. “Father, need I point out that neither Daisy nor Laurel come from titled families? Nor was I a prize when Daisy fell in love with me. In fact, I had the worst reputation imaginable. Even you believed I was an utter disgrace. But she saw me for the man I truly was. She makes me happier than I ever dreamed possible. I cannot imagine my life without her.”
“I can say the same about Laurel,” Graelem said. “I was an oaf who trapped her into marrying me for the sake of an inheritance. We Daynes are not so high and mighty as you seem to think we are. But we do marry for love, and I do not see how it is fair to deprive Alex of this same joy we have found with our own wives.”
His father appeared more resigned than appalled as he said with little conviction, “But she’s a cook.”
“Best in all of England, I’ll wager,” Alexander’s grandmother intoned. “Sit down and stop your blustering. You may be Earl of Trent, but I am still your mother and not above putting you over my knee.”
Alexander stifled a grin.
He adored his grandmother.
His father now turned to him. “If you are in love with her, then why go through this charade of a house party?”
“Because I am an idiot and did not know I was in love with her at the time. It has been two years since Jillian passed, but I remained too clouded in memories of her to see what was before my very eyes.”
His mother emitted a ragged sigh. “My dear, you have had a rough time of it.”
“Others have it far worse. But my wife and daughter were an important part of my life and I still feel their loss acutely. However, it is Father who convinced me it is time to move on.” Alexander crossed his arms over his chest and now spoke directly to his father. “It is you who made me realize how much I cared for Viola. Had you not pounded into me the need to find myself another wife, I might have remained in my fog for years longer.”
“But she is merely a vicar’s daughter,” he shot back, his anger clearly waning. “And you have beautiful daughters of the highest ranking members of society under your very roof.”
“I cannot wait to be rid of them. Nor will I say anything to Viola even after they are all gone. She will never accept to leave her father in his condition. As important, she does not know me well enough to trust that I love her and truly wish to marry her. The girl will take a bit of convincing.” He winced. “A lot of convincing. But this is not the time.”
“I have nothing against her, Alex. She is everything you say. But do not expect me to be pleased about it. My greatest fear is that you will wake up one day and come to regret your decision. She has not been trained to enter society. These diamonds you’ve invited here, had they an inkling she was their true competition, would eat her alive.”
“All the more reason I would not offer for any of them. I have no desire to be drawn into their petty schemes and squabbles.”
“There is more to consider, for she will not only have difficulty making her way in our society, but she will find herself resented by your own staff. How will she gain their respect and that of the townspeople when she is one of them? And now she will put on airs and strut around town as though above them all? They will not stand for it.”
“Viola does not strut or put on airs. She will be an asset to me because she understands their needs better than any of us could. As the vicar’s daughter, she has been paying calls on the sick and needy in our village for years now. What difference if she makes those same calls as my viscountess instead? Do you think anyone will care? Enough, Father. Let us enjoy the day. These guests are only here for the weekend which is already half over.”
He walked out along with his family to join the others who had lingered around the breakfast table and were only now getting up.
