Page 116 of Courting Scandal With The Duke
‘This is nonsense,’ Barbara said.
‘You wrong me, Barbara. I would very much like to wed you. And you need have no fears for your reputation in my country. No one will know or care about what has happened in England.’
‘I care,’ she said sharply. ‘And even if I did not, I won’t marry you, Charles.’
‘You will,’ Father said with a smile that was all teeth and a hard expression in his eyes.
She had never heard her father sound so implacable.
She stiffened. ‘No one can force me to marry. Not here in England. It is against the law.’
Her father shrugged. ‘So they say.’
She looked at her brother-in-law. There was a smidgeon of regret amongst the triumph. ‘I am sorry, Barbara, but I need my family’s jewels, and this is the only way to be sure of them.’
An awful thought occurred to her. ‘Did you arrange for someone to enter my aunt’s house, to try to steal them when I first arrived in London?’
He winced. ‘It was not my best idea. As your father pointed out, if I stole them from you, I would never be able to use them as collateral. So, while I would have preferred another way to regain my family property, this is the only option.’
She backed away from him. ‘Of course it is not. Take them. They are yours for the asking.’
He prowled closer. ‘I cannot risk you trying to take them back at some later date, because of that ridiculous settlement my brother made.’
‘I won’t. I swear it.’
‘Well, if it was only you, I might trust your word, but your father is another matter.’
She wouldn’t trust her father either.
She eyed the door. Father was standing in front of it. She would not get past him.
Perhaps a window?
Charles took another step closer. ‘It is a fair offer, my dear. You will have everything you need. We are friends. You will not find me a badhusband; I am not like my brother. I will not disrespect you. And you will not have to face the consequences of your terrible behaviour.’
‘I do not have to face anything. I have no intention of returning to London.’
‘And how will you live?’ her father asked.
‘I have saved up some money. And I will receive the settlement from my first marriage in four weeks’ time. On my twenty-fifth birthday. You know this.’
Her father grimaced. ‘That money is spoken for.’
Her gaze focussed on him and his defensive expression. ‘How can it be spoken for? You have no right to use that money. It is set aside for me.’
‘Whatever I have done has been for your benefit. You should be thanking me.’
She glared at him. ‘When did you do anything that was for my benefit? Never.’
Father’s face reddened. ‘That is no way to speak to your father, girl.’
Charles put up a hand. ‘Enough. You squabble like children.’
She turned on him. ‘This is nothing to do with you.’
His expression darkened. ‘It has everything to do with me. I have agreed with your father to relinquish any claim to that money, in return for your hand in marriage and my family jewels.’
She stepped backwards, trying to get closer to the window. ‘Are you saying that you stole my money, Father?’
