Chapter 32 #2
He pulled her closer, his mouth claiming hers with a heat that cared nothing for who might see through the carriage window.
But eventually, reason asserted itself. Perry loosened his hold so he could look her in the eye.
“Are you certain you want to speak with your parents? You don’t owe them any explanations. ”
This she knew. She was not there to make any explanations.
It was too much to hope anything she said would make her parents accept her decision so quickly. All she could do was tell them herself, before they heard it elsewhere. Hoping that, in time, royal approval of Peregrine might soften their old hatred.
“I will not have the announcement at St James’s marred by surprise or scandal,” she said. “So, yes. I’m certain. I would rather they hear it from me tonight.”
Her parents were expecting her. Alone, but only because she had failed to specify otherwise.
Bennett, her parents’ butler, opened the door when she rang the bell. He welcomed her inside, keeping his expression free of all opinion when Perry followed behind. After he closed the door, he bowed low.
“Well met, Your Grace. It is nice to see you looking so lovely after all this time.”
“It is ‘my lady’ now,” she corrected him in a soft voice. She flashed him a smile and patted Perry’s arm. “The official announcement will come tomorrow.”
Bennett, the dear man, followed her cues and offered them both his heartfelt congratulations before showing them into the drawing room where her parents awaited.
As before, Charity entered first. Her father stood near the mantel, gazing into the empty hearth as though he might find the answers to life’s greatest questions lying there.
Her mother already had a scowl on her lips, and she opened her mouth to no doubt harangue Charity for taking so long to present herself to them.
But those words died before they made it out, burned into ashes when Perry entered the room.
“He is not welcome here,” her mother said, leaping to her feet. She pointed at the butler. “Escort the traitor’s son out immediately.”
Peregrine stiffened, but his face was blank. Anger burned through Charity. “This man you keep showing such disrespect to is my husband,” she informed her mother. “That is what I wished to tell you in private.”
“You married him?” Lady Cresswell squeaked and then swayed.
“If it has not been announced, it can be undone,” her father said, catching his wife by the shoulders. It was as though he was saying it as much to himself as to keep Lady Cresswell from swooning.
“This is not a conversation fit to have in front of… that man. What will everyone think of us? Send him away!” Lady Cresswell complained to her husband. “Bennett! Remove him from this house!”
To his credit, Bennett did not do as her ladyship ordered. Instead, he feigned deafness and backed out of the room, closing the door on his way out.
Lord Cresswell glanced between his wife and his child, sizing up his choice, and then turned a frown on Peregrine.
That, more than any words could say, snuffed out whatever hope remained in Charity’s breast for reconciliation.
They were not even willing to listen to what she had to say before turning their backs on Perry.
They were too concerned with how the ton would perceive them to stand up for him.
Just as they had refused to stand up for their daughter.
Nothing, not even a royal command, would make her parents admit they were wrong.
“Sit down, Mama!” she commanded. She, who had never once raised her voice in this home, stunned both her parents into complete silence. “Sit, the both of you. We do not intend to stay long, but you will hear me before I go.”
Charity drew in a deep breath and willed her pounding heart to slow. She could do this. She had to, for the sake of their future family. She would not allow the hate from the previous generation to spread into the next.
“Mama, Papa, I have not come here to offer you any explanations or apologies for my behaviour. I am here out of courtesy, nothing more. Tomorrow at St James’s, the Prince Regent and the Queen will announce that Lord Fitzroy and I are married, having witnessed the ceremony themselves.”
She paused then to offer Perry her hand.
He slid his fingers through hers, lending her his support.
“I married the Duke of Atholl. As his widow, I earned the right to make my own choices. And I choose him.” She held up their joined hands.
“He is more important to me than the opinion of whoever disapproves. We will not be separated.”
“You will ruin us,” her mother spat. “As soon as you see the ton’s reaction to this news, you will regret this. You will see.”
“The only thing I regret is listening to you in the first place. You two tried your best to poison me against Perry, for no crime other than his name.”
“He did not search for you when you disappeared,” her mother reminded them hatefully. “He did not denounce his mother.”
“You did not search for me either,” Charity said in a pointed tone.
“I will forever wonder whether you understood, somewhere deep inside, that it was Marian enacting her revenge.” She swallowed as another thought occurred to her.
“That you didn’t look because it was better if I eloped and was never seen again.
Or better if I had died, because then you would not have to deal with the damage to your status. ”
The expressions on her parents' faces… told her everything.
Charity summoned all the poise of the duchess. “You have forfeited the right to have any say over my life, and your place in my future.”
Lord Cresswell stuttered, but it was her mother who Charity watched. Lady Cresswell’s face drained of all colour, even her lips bloodless. She made to rise from her seat.
“No, Charity, you cannot—”
“But what of your title?” her father asked. “Your hard-won place in society? He lowers you, Charity.”
“He lifts me up.” Charity tightened her hold on Perry’s hand, making clear her allegiance.
Lady Cresswell trembled, but the flush staining her neck and cheeks proclaimed it as fury and not fear. “There is no turning back from such a choice, Charity. We will cut you off, disavow you to all who ask—”
“I do not care, Mama. Do whatever you want. If you cannot accept this man, who risked his life to save mine, and now holds my heart, then consider the blood ties between us to be cut. My loyalty is to the family he and I will make together.”
Her words finally roused Lord Cresswell from his silent stupor. He rose from his seat and marched over to point his finger in Perry’s face. “Have you nothing to say about this? Are you going to allow her to keep our future grandchildren from us?”
“You care about my opinion now?” he asked, looking amused. “My wife is more than capable of making her own decisions. I support her in all things, including this.” Then, dismissing the man entirely, he turned to Charity and asked, “Have you anything else to say, my darling?”
“No,” she answered, letting her final word ring in the air.
“Shall we take our leave then? Good day, Lord and Lady Cresswell.”