Page 35 of For a Lady's Fiery Heart
She thought for a moment, wrapping her arms around her middle. Walking a few paces away, he decided it was best to give her space. He had not seen her even close to this angry since their second meeting, after the dinner party his father had given to introduce them. Caroline stopped pacing after a few minutes, tapping her foot on the ground.
"And so, you would allow my father to ruin himself without lifting a finger? You realise that if you are bent on 'teaching him a lesson', it will not only be my father who suffers but my mother and sister."
James had to choose his words wisely here. He was not about to back down from his convictions, but he also wanted to handle the delivery with tact. He deeply cared for Caroline, and that care only deepened daily. He did not want to cause her more pain than she had already endured. However, he could see no other way to help Lord Chesterfield know the error of his ways.
"Am I wrong?" James asked simply.
Caroline looked as if she was engaged in a battle with herself. Would she even admit it if she thought he was in the right? He waited a second longer before he softened and reached for her hand. She jerked it out of reach before he had the chance to intertwine his fingers with her. He let his hand fall back to his side and waited.
"I cannot just let them flounder. They are family, James," she said with anguish searing her tone. "I have the means to help them, and I cannot stand by and watch while they suffer."
"Then you will have to contend with his begging for the rest of his life. If you continue to enable him, he will continue to hound you. You enable his bad behaviour by your refusal to let him own his mistakes, Caroline."
She turned on him, crying all the more. "Then you wish to see my father taken to debtors' prison?" she screeched. "My mother would never survive that place. And Grace–" her voice broke. She shook her head, looking up at him as if he were the worst criminal in the world. "I cannot."
Caroline turned and ran down the hall, leaving him alone. He felt emotionally and physically exhausted. Why had their lovely week together had to be overshadowed as soon as they returned home? He let out a long sigh and headed back down the hall toward the study. His father was still in his chair, stewing.
He looked up at James as he entered. "I am willing to bet that did not go well?" his father asked.
James let out a sigh and collapsed into a chair. "And I thought I was going to return and be able to share happy news."
His father perked up at this. "Oh, well, then you have a report for me? Is it not as bad as we thought it would be?" he asked.
"No, it is bad. Worse, really. However, Caroline and I had a wonderful time together. You were right about it being like a wedding trip," James said.
"I should like to take her on an extended tour of Europe when the weather cools." He sighed again, remembering that he was in an argument with his wife. "That is if she ever forgives me."
His father waved him off.
"All women are emotional. That is why one should never let them handle the household finances," he said.
He stood and came around the desk, pinning him with a serious stare. "Did you tell her that she would not get any more money out of the Deveroux estate?" He clapped his hands in front of him, waiting eagerly for the reply that he no doubt expected to be in line with his thoughts.
"No," James admitted.
"I asked her if she thought I was wrong not to want to give him more money. She did not admit it outright, but I could see she was battling with the idea."
James sighed, burying his head in his hands. He was starting to feel a headache pounding behind his eyes. It had begun as such a wonderful day. Life had seemed so full of possibilities when he had awakened that morning on the settee. He thought he and Caroline might be close to becoming a real married couple. But now, he seemed further away from that dream than ever.
"So she did not answer your question?" his father asked, rubbing his fingers along his square chin. "Let her stew for a few days, and she will return to beg for your forgiveness." He went back around the desk as if he had given the sagest advice of the age. There was no more need for him to provide any other for the rest of the century.
James shook his head. "I am not going to play these games with my wife," he replied. "I will give her some time to calm down, and then I will go and speak with her. She needs to see that she cannot always swoop in and save her father. He will never learn otherwise."
"You do not have to explain it to me. I am on your side," his father said. "Trust me–she will not want to listen to you. Women have a nasty habit of wanting to be right all the time." His father took another breath and looked at James like a foolish schoolboy. "You are young, my son. Take my advice, do not let her nag you about the money. Be firm. She needs to know that you mean what you say."
James did not want to argue with his father. He would handle his marriage in his own way. Perhaps it was not the right way, but at least he and Caroline would figure out their relationship together. "I will go and speak to her." James turned and started to head out of the room. However, his father had not finished, apparently.
"Beware, son. Women are conniving and persistent. Do not let her wear you down," he said with a firm nod.
James nodded in return but said nothing. He had been too young to know from first-hand knowledge, but if this was how he had treated his mother, he was sure that things had been rough. His father was stubborn and immovable.
His mother had been sweet and kind, from what he could remember. He did not want to be the kind of husband that gave an ultimatum. But he also did not want his father-in-law knocking on his door every few weeks, begging for money. If James allowed that, they would find themselves in the same predicament Lord Chesterfield had placed his family in ten years prior.
And James would never allow Caroline to go through an ordeal like that twice in her life. How could he make her understand that he would never withhold help from her father–or any of her family members–out of spite? He genuinely wanted to help.
However, sometimes it required some hard decisions when it came to dolling out tough love. He only hoped that Caroline would see his intentions were the best for her father.
Chapter 20
