She straightened, startled at the accusation. “I didn’t love Cam, Papa.”
“What’s that got to do with it? You could have been a duchess and now you waste yourself on a bankrupt nothing like Wilmott. You played it too haughty with Sedgemoor and you acted the hussy with Tranter. Wilmott is welcome to you.”
“Hold your tongue,” Elias growled, placing his arm around Marianne’s trembling shoulders.
“Be buggered if I’ll take any insolence from you.”
“I’ll be as insolent as I like if you insult my intended bride.”
“Papa…” Marianne began, desperately wanting to make him understand, knowing that the words to persuade him didn’t exist. In making herself a public spectacle, she’d hurt him. He’d never forget that blow to his pride. His resentment would always outweigh his love for his daughter.
“You lost Sedgemoor and you won’t have Desborough. Well, I won’t have you.” He shot her a scathing glance and stumped out of the room, slamming the heavy door after him.
As the bang echoed, Elias turned her into his arms. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. He’ll come around.”
“No, he won’t,” she said in a broken voice against his shirt front. “You heard him. He’d rather throw my dowry in the North Sea than give it to me.”
“For the thousandth time, I don’t care about the money. I care that he’s your father and you’re his only child and he’s tossing you away like a worn-out shoe.”
Elias’s outrage on her behalf went some way to restoring her spirit. Her old life as the perfect daughter was over. A new life as Elias’s loving wife beckoned. Already it promised more interest and fulfillment than she’d ever known. She raised her head and realized that she and Elias were the focus of attention.
Desborough approached and bowed. “Lady Marianne, your father is unjust.”
She extended her hand and he raised it to his lips without kissing it. The courtly gesture was somehow exactly right.
“You don’t deserve to be mixed up in what’s sure to be the tattle of the town. I’m sorry, my lord.”
Surprisingly, he smiled. “If I survived Lady Sophie jilting me, I’m sure I’ll survive this.”
Marianne winced. “You humble me.”
Desborough cast a glance toward Elias and spoke with an extraordinary lack of pique, considering the circumstances. “This is the best outcome. I wish you every happiness.” He bowed again and left the room.
“That was well done,” Sidonie said.
“It was,” Hillbrook agreed. “I hope it’s third time lucky for him.”
“He needs to find a nice woman past first youth who will appreciate his qualities as a man, rather than his appeal as a marital catch.” Sidonie turned to Marianne and Elias. “I do so hope you’ll get married here.”
Marianne glanced at Elias. “That’s very nice of you.”
Sidonie smiled. “Don’t you understand? You’re our friends. We’d count it a privilege to host your nuptials.”
“If the weather cooperates, I should be back by the end of the week,” Elias said to Marianne. “I don’t want to wait to make you mine. And thanks to Tranter’s outrages, the sooner we’re wed, the better.”
She smiled back, although her father’s wounding repudiation rang in her ears. “I’ve cast my bonnet over the windmill. There’s nothing to be gained in delay.”
“And much to be gained with swiftness,” he said in a low voice. He meant that she’d come to his bed all the sooner. The thought filled her with nerves and excitement.
“Then we accept with pleasure,” she said to the Hillbrooks, stepping out of Elias’s hold, but remaining at his side.
“Lovely,” Sidonie said, hugging her.
“You and this louse will leave at first light.” Hillbrook hauled Tranter up, maintaining brutal possession of his arm. “I hope you’re not planning any more high jinks, my lord. I’ll trust you to walk out of this room without coercion.”
When Lord Hillbrook released him, Tranter was wise enough to keep silent. Sidonie headed for the door. “Tomorrow, we’ll plan the wedding. What fun, Marianne.”
Marianne frowned. “Surely we’ll only have a small ceremony.”