Page 105 of The Duke's Indecent Match
“As he did not have the means to pay for the vowels he owed me, he offered your eldest sister.Julianna, I believe her name is?”Carmathen tilted his head.“My understanding is that she’s not out in Society yet, but she is old enough to be.Dowry free, of course.”
“You want my sister as your wife?”Nathanial sputtered.That was the only way he could describe the way the words came out of his mouth.He felt like strangling his father.But someone had already blown the bastard up.
Once more, Nathanial could only wish that someone had done it sooner.
“Well, I do need a wife and an heir, eventually.There was a certain appeal to avoiding the marriage mart altogether.And your father described her as beautiful and biddable.”
“Well, he was half right,” Nathanial drawled.Biddable?Julianna?His father must have been desperate.
“Given the family’s financial circumstances have changed, and you began paying off the debts, and since you did not answer my steward’s note, I wondered if you even knew of the vowels your father left with me.Not just me, by the by.Our last game was with Cornwall and Trent, though neither of them was promised a sister.Just me.”That flashing grin again.Carmathen was amused.Nathanial had never been less so.“I decided to come in person to discuss the options.”
“Options?”
“In case you wanted to pay off the amount your father owed me, rather than providing me with a bride.”
Nathanial nearly collapsed with relief that Carmathen was going to be reasonable.Of course, that was the first thing he would have offered, but he had no idea how intent Carmathen was on having Julianna as his bride.He could not imagine the two had ever met.Julianna had certainly never mentioned an engagement.
Likely, her father had not told her either.
“Yes.That would be preferable to everyone involved, I believe.”He eyed Carmathen.“Especially if you are looking for a biddable bride.”
“Ah, so she is beautiful.”Carmathen chuckled, leaning back in the chair.“I did wonder which half your father was right about.”
“Beautiful and strong-willed.I don’t believe the word ‘biddable’ has ever been used to describe her in her entire life,” Nathanial said dryly.In fact, just hearing the adjective would have Julianna spitting fire.
“Well, then.I’ll be happy to take the money and consider it a lucky escape.”
Carmathen also knew the amount due to Trent and Cornwall.The latter’s name kept sticking in Nathanial’s head.Something about it was ringing a bell, but he could not fathom why.
As usual, the amounts were astronomical.Not the kind of money he carried around with him.Especially with what his father owed Carmathen.If Nathanial had not immediately sunk money into the estate and investments… but once he’d had a return, he would be able to pay off the vowels he had to hand over to Carmathen.The man offered to take Julianna off his hands again, biddable or not, but Nathanial refused.
Not if there was another option.
That had been the whole point of his own marriage—to allow his sisters their choice.Not for Julianna to be bartered off due to his father’s gambling.
“I suppose I shall be patient a little longer.”Carmathen patted his pocket where he’d put Nathanial’s note.“I certainly will not need a bride before next Season at the earliest.”
Nathanial glowered.Carmathen was enjoying himself far too much at Nathanial’s expense.It might even serve him right to saddle him with Julianna.She’d make his life a misery.
But he could not do that to his sister, even if Carmathen deserved it.
“You’ll have your money,” he growled.“As will Trent and Cornwall.”
“Cornwall may forgive the debt,” Carmathen commented.“He was the one who invited your father to the hunting lodge.He got sick before the trip.Devil’s own luck, that one.You could always try to appeal to his guilt.”
That was it.That was where Nathanial had heard the man’s name before.He just had not realized that his father had owed Cornwall money.
The man had not been on the trip, so it was likely no one had spoken to him about the explosion and fire.A trickle of awareness spread down Nathanial’s spine.Someone needed to question Trent.
As his mind whirled, Carmathen’s gaze unfocused, and he turned his head slightly.Before Nathanial could ask what he was about, the man sprang to his feet and was across the room in the blink of an eye, opening the door that he’d come through previously.
Nathanial’s wife and sister tumbled at his feet, Kalina tripping over Julianna, in a whirl of fabric and skirts.He shot to his feet, fingertips on the surface of his desk, staring with his mouth open.Had they been listening at the door?
Kalina
Listening through Nathanial’s study door had been frustrating, but too tempting to resist.Julianna had the better perch, with her ear to the keyhole rather than trying to listen through the thick wood.Kalina could only catch so much.
Enough to hear that Nathanial’s father had owed the man inside money.And others.The man would have never been able to pay such sums back.Had he planned on leaving all his financial troubles to Nathanial?She had not had the opportunity to meet the old duke, and now she was glad of it.
