Page 25 of The Duke of Scandal

There was a plaintive tone now in the young man’s voice. Edward turned, hopeful that the flare of anger had passed and perhaps he could reason with him.

“Security. Stability. A freedom from work that no woman of noble birth should have to endure. Come back to me when you have truly established yourself. When you can show me staff that can do the work that I believe Rebecca would be forced to do.”

“And you would consent?”

Edward would not lie. He hesitated, knowing that he would still not allow Rebecca to marry so far beneath herself.

“I thought not,” Lucius said with scorn.

Edward felt the white-hot stab of anger at the tone and cast aside the chair he had been holding onto.

“Get out,” he grated. “I will not be spoken to like that in my own house and by a man who seeks a boon from me. How dare you!”

Lucius’ fist thudded into the tabletop with a crack.

“I will not allow you to stand in the way of Rebecca’s happiness. I will not give up.”

Edward took a deep breath. “You will never be given consent to marry my sister. You are dismissed from my employ. I want you off my property immediately. If you are still here by the end of the hour…”

“Don’t worry. I am going. But, you have not heard the last of this. I will not give up Rebecca, no matter how hard I must fight for her and no matter the consequences.”

Lucius turned and stalked from the room. The door that led from the kitchens to the stables slammed behind him. In an adjoining room, Edward could hear the cook and maids whispering to each other. It was the final insult.

“Stop gossiping in there and either get back to work or to your beds!” he roared as he walked back towards the main body of the house.

His first instinct was to go to Rebecca, to recount the meeting with Lucius Worthingham and tell her that she would never set eyes on the man again. As he reached the top of the servant staircase, he paused.

No, that would be cruel. She may not have known that it was that young pup’s intention to come and see me. If not, she will be happier in ignorance. Perhaps when contact with him ceases, she will forget him. I must bring her together with Grantley so he can charm her. She will surely realize that a marriage so far beneath her would be impossible. Surely!

His next thought was to go to the guest wing and take out his anger on the rest of the Worthingham family. However distantly related they were to the young vet, there was still a connection there.

And if I throw them out into the night, then I am a poor host and can hardly claim the rank of gentleman. Papa would have tanned my hide for such an act.

He took the steps of the main staircase two at a time as he ascended to his own rooms. The anger that boiled in him needed a release. An hour or two of sword practice in the Long Study would serve. And heaven help any who interrupted.

CHAPTER 16

Rebecca stifled a sob as the conversation between her brother and Lucius continued. She had known that Lucius would be petitioning Edward for her hand in marriage. Part of her had known the request would be rejected out of hand. But another part said that Lucius would persuade Edward. That the quality of his character would win through. There was a small pantry behind the kitchen. A small, metal grate set low in one wall connected to the kitchen itself.

She had quietly made her way through the servant’s wing into the pantry, knowing it would not be entered by the cook or her helpers so late at night. Then, kneeling on the stone floor, she had put her ear to the grate. It was a secret she and Edward had discovered in their childhood, whatever was said in the kitchens could be heard perfectly through the grate. Horror grew in her as she heard Lucius’ pleas cruelly rejected by Edward.

Every argument her lover put forward was dismissed. Edward didn’t even seem to be listening to what Lucius had to say.

If he was prepared to be reasonable, then he could not withhold his consent. How could he?

Answers eluded her. There was no way she could conceive that Edward could refuse. Yes, he’d had a knee-jerk reaction to the news that she had chosen herself a husband, and it was not Philip Grantley. But, she had thought, hoped, that he would come to his senses, realize what would make her happy and that would be his chief concern. Instead, she listened to Lucius becoming angry and feared for him as she recognized the signs in her brother of similar anger. Edward could be frightening when roused.

Then they had parted. The sound of a door being slammed signaled the departure of Lucius. A roaring bellow directed at the servants preceded a slammed door that announced Edward’s return to the main body of the house. For a long moment, Rebecca crouched beside the grate, tears spilling from her eyes and hands clamped over her mouth. Then she rose, leaving the pantry and making for the stable door.

Along the passageway, she brushed past a scullery maid who dropped a quick curtsy. The girl dropped her head to hide the look of surprise and shock at seeing one of those from upstairs and in such a state too. Rebecca didn’t care.

I hate being one of them from upstairs, as I’ve heard the staff call us. I’m sick of my life being dictated by the name of my family. I’m sick of duty! I want to be free to live the way I want!

She burst through the door that led out into the stable yard and immediately headed for the stalls that lined one side of the yard. A gentle, glowing, orange light could be seen coming from there. Entering the stable, she saw Lucius in the act of saddling his horse.

“Lucius! I heard everything!” she blurted, running to him.

Lucius enfolded her in his arms, stroking her hair and kissing her forehead.

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