“I came to speak with you about the wedding,” Nicholas replied. “I could not help but hear you and your daughter shouting at each other.”
Witham’s face turned crimson as he glared at his daughter. “I apologize, my lord. Justine seems to be mistaken about her duty.”
“Is she?” Nicholas turned to Justine with a gentle smile. “Miss Littlebury, is it your contention that you no longer wish to marry me?”
Justine nodded. “I am truly sorry, my lord. I thought I could be happy as a duchess.” She looked down at the rug. “But then I met Mr. Heston. I am in love with him.”
“Love,” Witham sneered. “Being a duchess is far more important than love.”
Nicholas looked over at Witham. “I would have to disagree. Love is the most important thing. Miss Littlebury, if you would prefer to break the engagement, I would accept your request and harbor no ill will toward you or Mr. Heston.”
“You would?” she replied with awe. “My father told me you would never allow this to happen and that you would call out Heston.”
“Our parents decided we should marry and forced this situation upon us both. I am not in love with you and nor will I ever be. You deserve a man like Heston who will love you.”
“Thank you, my lord. You are more than kind,” she said with a little sob.
“This is not up to you both to decide,” Witham tried again.
“Yes, it is,” Nicholas declared. “Besides, Lord Witham, if you remember, I asked you to keep a chaperone with your daughter at all times. That was not done and I have it on good authority that your daughter and Mr. Heston were seen alone on the terrace of two balls.”
Witham glared at his daughter. “Is this true?”
“Yes,” she answered defiantly.
“Mr. Heston, do you plan to marry Miss Littlebury?” Nicholas asked before Witham could regain his voice.
Mr. Heston cleared his throat and finally stepped forward. “I should like that very much, my lord.”
“Very well, it is settled.” Nicholas turned to Witham. “Your daughter will marry Mr. Heston. With your blessing, Witham. I believe if you offer him the same contract as you did me, he will agree to marry your daughter.”
“I will not have him for my son-in-law. My daughter will marry a peer.”
“My lord,” Mr. Heston said, “I believe it is in your best interest to allow me to marry her. At this moment she might be carrying your grandchild.”
Witham grabbed a chair for support. “You and he,” he sputtered.
“Yes,” Justine said with a defiant grin.
Witham went to his desk and pulled out the betrothal contract. He handed it to Nicholas. “Destroy it.”
“I shall do just that,” Nicholas said. He pocketed the contract and left the three to their business. Now he only had his own father to deal with.
After a short drive to Grosvenor Square, he was ready to face the duke. He walked into the house and the butler escorted him to his father’s bedchamber. The duke’s face was more pallid than Nicholas had ever seen.
“You don’t need to look at me that way,” his father complained. “I’m not dying yet. Just tired today.”
He bit back a stinging retort. “I only came to give you some bad news, Your Grace.”
“Oh?”
Nicholas pulled out the betrothal contract from his pocket and showed it to him. Then he ripped the document down the middle. “I will not be marrying Miss Littlebury.”
His father struggled to a sitting position. “You broke the engagement?”
“Actually, no,” Nicholas said with a hoarse laugh. “Miss Littlebury did. Apparently, she could not keep one section of the contact that I insisted upon.”
“What was that?”