What a Vulgar Viscount Needs (Romancing the Rake 5)

“Nonsense,” her father waved his hand. “Your company is always wanted here and soon it will be wanted in London too.”

“Soon? London?” she asked, her entire body going still.

Her father nodded. “I was going to surprise you girls but the arrival of so many gentlemen interrupted my announcement. Your aunt, the countess, is taking you to London. You’ve missed the start of the season, of course. But you’ll catch most of it. And she’s even lined up some events for you to showcase your talents.”

Cordelia swallowed, her hand gripping her fork going white. He knew the feeling. His stomach was turning again. He gave his head a shake. It wasn’t his business.

“You mean play in a drawing room for lords lined up as potential husbands.” Cordelia’s voice had dropped low.

“Precisely,” her father answered. “We can’t have you being the only unwed Moorish.”

“Why not?” she fired back. “What’s wrong with remaining unwed?”

Her father blinked several times. “You were meant to marry.”

Cordelia rose from her seat and Ash had the urge to rise too, reach out and touch her. “I don’t want to marry. I want to be a musician.”

Mr. Moorish rose as well, his mouth pinching. “You don’t know what you ask.”

“I think I do,” she answered, straightening.

He shook his head. “Your mother saved me, Cordelia. Try and entertain the possibility that you’d be happier married. At least try before you make your decision.”

Those words reverberated through Ash. Just once he wished he could entertain being saved from his dark, troubled past.

Chapter Six

Cordelia stared at her father, completely aware of Ash’s silent presence.

Ash was the one other person in the world who knew she did not wish to marry. Odd, he’d gotten to witness this conversation. The one where she was being shipped off to London like luggage. Not that she d

idn’t wish to go, but not like this. She wanted to go as a musician not as a debutante. “So, not only do I not get a say in my own future, but I’m going to miss my sisters’ weddings. All four of them.”

Her father winced at that. “They’ll understand. You’ve your own future to find.”

Cordelia shook her head, fighting back tears that clouded her eyes. “And now, because they’ve all found husbands, I’ll have to go alone. With Aunt Mildred.” Not that there was anything wrong her aunt or her four dachshunds. But in truth, she loved her dogs and only tolerated her nieces.

Her father leaned down, spreading his hands out on the table. “It won’t be that bad Cordelia. I know it would have been more fun if you’d all gone but—”

“I don’t want to go,” she whispered because she couldn’t make any more sound come out of her throat. “I won’t go.”

Her father looked to the table. “You will.”

“Why?” she choked out, a single tear escaping her eye. She swatted it away, damning water for leaking out of her eyes now.

“Because music is a beautiful hobby, but marriage is the backbone that life is built on.”

“If I were a man,” she started, but her father rapped the table.

“You would still marry,” he said, then straightened. “And you would have to utilize your skill to provide for your family. But still, it would be a means to an end.”

Words crowded her mouth. Her father loved his business. It was not just a means to an end. “Plenty of people are passionate about their work.”

Her father frowned. “And you will be passionate about your hobbies.”

She stared at him. Her father rarely took a hard line on any topic and she’d been convinced he wouldn’t on this one. What had changed? She fisted her hands. “I’m not going.”

“You’ll go,” he answered. “This is not a choice.”