A Gentleman's Curse (Avenging Lords 4)
Page 99
“And stationery? Might you have need of a new quill?” Dariell came to his feet. “I’m told Mr Higson has a remarkable skill in chirography.”
Mr Higson? It could not be a coincidence.
Lockhart narrowed his gaze. “Clearly you are party to a secret and intend to tease me to the point I might lose my mind.” Snippets of conversation came flooding back. Claudia’s desperate interest in the stationery shop, her questions relating to forged signatures. “If this is about Claudia, then I deserve to know.”
“Because you love her?” Dariell probed.
“Yes, because I love her.”
“And yet she did not tell you about the deceitful devil she has promised to marry.” Dariell snorted. “Well, that is what the contract says. I have seen it for myself. Though how she expects to marry this fellow when she loves you is rather perplexing.”
A black cloud descended to obscure Lockhart’s vision. His h
eartbeat thumped so loud in his ears he convinced himself he’d misheard.
“I beg your pardon?”
“Miss Darling is being blackmailed over her father’s debt. The lady accepted your proposal to avoid marrying Mr Thorncroft. Fifteen hundred pounds or her hand in marriage, that is how I read it.”
Lockhart swallowed past the lump in his throat. “And you know this how?”
“Emily sought my advice. She believes this fellow will find any means necessary to marry her sister.” Dariell strode towards the door. “Of course, Miss Darling faces a dilemma considering the fact she did not take her fee.”
“It’s not a damn fee. It’s the money I agreed to pay her for her assistance.”
“Yes, the money she was going to use to pay the debt. Strange that she did not take it.”
Numerous questions bombarded his mind.
A plague of emotions sought to torment and harass.
Why had Claudia not trusted him with the truth?
Why in God’s name had she not taken the money?
“You obviously know more and intend to dangle the bait and wait for me to snap.”
“One cannot put a price on love.” Dariell smiled. “Love is simple. People make it complicated. And while I would prefer to leave you to come to the same logical conclusion, time is a constraint. But I will give you a moment.”
Silence descended.
Dariell folded his arms across his chest and stared while Lockhart sat on the bed, lost in thought.
The simple truth was that he loved Claudia Darling to the depths of his soul. He didn’t care about the money. Taking the fee would have made their time together seem like just another contract, a business deal for their mutual benefit, and it was so much more than that.
He did care that she had not told him about this bastard Mr Thorncroft. Men could be devious. They knew how to take advantage of unmarried women living alone. Then again, Selina had almost destroyed his life. Deceit lived in the hearts of the wicked, regardless of gender. But there was not one deceitful bone in Claudia’s body, and so he had to do what she’d asked.
He had to trust her.
Lockhart cleared his throat. “Put simply I love Miss Darling. I intend to marry her and will bring the devil’s wrath on anyone who seeks to prevent our union.”
“Excellent.” Dariell clapped his hands. “Hurry. Get dressed. Our friends will meet us in New Bond Street. I called on Greystone en route, and he will rally Drake and Valentine.”
“Is that necessary?” Did it take five men to descend on Mr Higson?
“Oui, we will need an army when we launch our attack.”
Chapter Twenty-Three