Page 52 of One Scandal Too Many
“The answer is simple. He didn’t.” Charlotte did not like this at all. “He is here for another reason. I’m afraid it will be one that I do not like either.” Her father never did anything unless it benefitted him. She decided while she was at Havenwood that she had to accept he would never truly love her. She was a tool for him to use. Nothing more, nothing less.
“You’re right,” Declan conceded. “We need to face him. There is no time like the present to tell him about our marriage.” He pulled her hand into his and squeezed. “Remember that I love you. We are in this together, you and I. I will not allow him to separate us.”
She smiled. “I know. I love you too. We can make it until the end. We are forever.”
“Yes, we are,” he agreed. “Now let’s go inside. There will be a lot of questions. But there is only one answer we need to give them. We are married. The rest of it they do not need to know. Not even the fact we spent the night in the cottage first.”
“That is just between us,” she agreed. “I won’t say a word.”
They rode their horses up to the front of the house. Declan dismounted and tied his horse to the post, then helped Charlotte off of Kallippos. He tied the mare next to his stallion, and then they walked into Havenwood. They were greeted immediately by one of the instructors. Miss Spencer rushed over to them. “Charlotte,” she exclaimed, then hugged her. “Thank goodness. We were so worried.”
“I’m all right,” she said as she hugged Miss Spencer. “I’m only here to gather a few of my belongings.”
“You cannot leave,” Miss Spencer said. “Your father is here. He’s taking you home.”
“I am not going anywhere with my father.” She stared at Miss Spencer mulishly. Her father’s house would never be her home again.
“I’m afraid that is not your decision,” Miss Spencer said. She glanced at Declan and frowned. “My lord. Were you with Lady Charlotte?”
“I was,” he said. “And you’ll address her as Lady Easton. My wife deserves your respect.”
Miss Spencer frowned. Then nodded slowly. “You eloped. We had wondered where you disappeared to after the hunt. Wesearched but found no signs of you anywhere. It was suspected you were with the marquess, but we couldn’t be certain.”
“When did my father arrive?”
“About an hour ago,” she said. “He’s not going to be happy.” Miss Spencer wrung her hands together, her anxiety evident as she glanced around them.
“He never is.” The duke was a dictatorial arrogant arse.
“Charlotte,” the duke barked from behind her. “Where have you been, girl?”
Slowly, she turned to meet her father’s gaze. He stared at her as if she were a bug he would squash at the first opportunity. It made her skin feel as if something crawled over it. “Hello, father.”
Declan came to stand by her side. He put his hand at the small of her back to reassure her. “Hello, Your Grace,” he greeted her father.
“And who are you?” the duke demanded.
“I am the Marquess of Easton,” Declan told him. He sounded as authoritative as the duke. That was one thing they had in common. Enough arrogance to spare. He boldly met her father’s gaze and declared, “I am also your daughter’s husband.”
“That is preposterous. I never consented to any marriage.” He motioned toward Charlotte. “I’ll have it annulled once we return to London. That’s why I am here. It’s time for you to meet your fiancé. All the contracts have been signed. You’ll marry properly once the banns are read.”
“No,” Declan said. “An annulment is impossible.”
“Because you soiled her?” The duke laughed. “She doesn’t need to be a virgin. Danderfield will take her as she is. He might even prefer that she was enceinte. He failed to have a child with his previous wife.”
Her father intended her to marry an old man. Of course he did. Charlotte wasn’t even remotely surprised. “What myhusband means, father, is there are too many witnesses to our wedding. It can’t be annulled, and we both know a divorce is too expensive to obtain. I’m staying with my husband. I’m married. Nothing you do can change that.” She jutted her chin out in defiance. “Accept it.”
“I accept nothing,” he nearly spat out the words. “You want this scoundrel. Well, you can have him, but he will not get even a shilling of your dowry. I didn’t approve of the marriage. You’re cut off from everything. In fact, I will formally disown you.”
She shrugged. “If that is your wish.”
“You are an ungrateful child. I’m done with you.” Her father pushed past her and nearly knocked her to the floor. Declan caught her before that could happen. She should have been sad that her father didn’t want a relationship with her, but she was glad he’d decided to put up that barrier. Her life would be far easier without having to try to please her father. Charlotte didn’t know why she had even tried before. Clearly, she would never meet his expectations, and she finally accepted that. Her father had never loved her. She was nothing but a tool he could use for his own means.
“I am sorry, darling,” he said. Declan had a pained expression on his face. He hurt for her, and she loved him all the more for it. “Your father...”
“Is not important,” she interrupted him. “We knew he would be like this. It’s done.”
“It was still difficult for you to endure.” He lifted her hand and kissed her palm. I’d rather you didn’t have to go through it at all.”
