Page 91 of Intolerable
Perhaps he ought to wait to see her until tomorrow. He’d show up at the earliest acceptable time before any other suitor could call.
And then what? Fight with her father, who would certainly try to throw him out? The duke didn’t want Ruark courting her, let alone marrying her.
Wait. He needed to woo the woman before he could even consider convincing her father. If he couldn’t win Cassandra, nothing else mattered.
Bartholomew appeared in the doorway. “I beg your pardon, my lord, but there is a Mr. Dodd here to see you.”
What the devil was Mort doing here? “Show him in.”
The butler left with a nod and returned a moment later with Fred, not Mort, in tow. When Bartholomew had gone once more, Ruark beckoned Fred into his study. “I hope you haven’t come to try to tell me I have to fight tomorrow. I know Mort found a replacement.”
“He did. However, I am in desperate straits.” His mouth pulled into a tight grimace. “Glastonbury’s opponent was injured tonight and can no longer fight tomorrow. Fight for me and I’ll pay you, win or lose.”
Ruark struggled to pull his brain from Cassandra and process what Fred was saying. “I don’t need the money.” In fact, he’d planned to give all his winnings to the Asylum for Orphaned Girls.
“Then what do you want?”
Cassandra’s face rose in his mind. But Fred couldn’t deliver her.
“Nothing.”
Fred scowled. “Damn it all, Wexford, I need a fighter to go up against Glastonbury.”
Ruark arched a brow at the man. “You recall that Glastonbury beat me very recently?”
“Yes, which is why I thought you might want vengeance.”
“Actually, thereissomething I want. Why did Glastonbury suggest this prizefight? I overheard the two of you talking.”
“That’s none of your affair.” Fred’s scowl deepened.
“Do you want me to fight or not?”
“Ineeda fighter.” Fred swore. “I didn’t tell you any of this, understand?”
“Tell me.”
Fred exhaled as he twisted his hat in his hands. “He came to me asking if I’d put on a prizefight with him as the fighter. I was shocked a viscount would want to do such a thing, but then he said he needed funds. We made an arrangement. It sounds as though you already know about that.”
“He’s getting substantially more than you’d offered to pay me. Was he going to get that amount win or lose?”
“Yes, but he was going to win.”
A prickle of unease dashed up Ruark’s spine. “Are you saying that because he’s an excellent pugilist, or because the bout was fixed?”
Fred didn’t answer, but he didn’t have to. Ruark saw the flash of discomfort in his gaze before he looked away.
“Am I supposed to lose to him?” Ruark asked incredulously. “What about my vengeance?”
“No, you can win!” Fred said earnestly, taking a step forward. “I’ve seen you fight. I don’t know what’s been wrong with you of late, but you can beat him.”
He’d been distracted by Cassandra. And he had no expectation that wouldn’t continue. But what if he was able to convince her to marry him? Perhaps then he’d be able to focus. Perhaps hecouldwin. He had to admit to a certain desire to beat Glastonbury. Not because Ruark had lost to him before but because the man hadn’t been honest with Cassandra as to why he wanted to wed her.
Ruark’s hypocrisy was rather difficult to swallow.
“You’re considering it.” Fred watched him expectantly, his expression full of hope.
He was. Until he thought of Cassandra. She wouldn’t want him to do it, not with her difficulty with blood. She’d indicated it was a problem for her when she’d discussed Glastonbury’s suitability.
