Chapter Eleven #3
In fact, that could be the very reason that Peter wanted to see her now, to let her know that he invited Drake to another event. One that she would be expected to attend, too. Her heart skipped a beat at the prospect and she couldn’t stop herself from smiling.
She would agree to go. There was no reason not to. Furthermore, how else was she going to figure out if she was in love with him or not?
Upon arriving at the study door, she knocked and waited for Peter’s response before opening the door.
‘Hello,’ he greeted from where he sat behind his desk.
‘Hello.’ She entered the room and closed the door. ‘You wanted to see me?’
‘Yes, I wanted to let you know that a donation has been sent to the social program that you’d heard about from the Duke and Duchess of Turnbill.’
She’d been certain that he would make a donation and was overjoyed to know that he had sent one so quickly. ‘That’s wonderful, thank you.’
‘Thank you for bringing it to my attention again. I meant to provide our contribution earlier and it slipped my mind.’ He leaned back in his chair and gestured a hand towards the chair beside her. ‘There is something else that I’d like to discuss with you.’
‘All right.’ She sat, and tried not to disclose her excitement to hear what event she and Drake would be attending.
‘When our father died, I was at a loss as to how to fill a role that consisted of being both your brother and your guardian. I consulted our siblings and have appreciated their input and support over the years, but recently, I realised that I’ve never consulted you. Never asked you what you wanted.’
Surprised, but also pleased, she nodded. ‘All I’ve ever really wanted, was to make my own decisions about my life.’
‘Such as?’
‘Well, I didn’t want to be sent away to school, and I don’t want potential husbands paraded before me.’
He lifted a brow. ‘Every child needs an education, and despite what you think, we thought you might enjoy having friends.’
She sighed, having hoped this conversation might be different from those she’d had with Janine and Diana. ‘I know every child needs an education, but I could have obtained that here, and met friends that lived nearby.’
‘What about marriage? Is that something you want?’
‘Yes, someday I’d like a family of my own.’
He nodded. ‘It is my responsibility to help you obtain what you want, and I’m willing to do whatever it will take, but I wanted to talk with you before I came to any conclusions.’
A tiny shiver rippled up her spine. She was also confused. ‘Conclusions?’
‘Yes. Diana has come to the conclusion that you are quite smitten with Captain Taylor, and—’
‘Diana needs to worry about her own husband, rather than finding one for me,’ Meridith interrupted, quite miffed at Diana for talking about something that clearly did not concern her.
‘Do you not like Drake?’ Peter asked. ‘From what I saw last night, I—’
‘Yes, I like him,’ she interrupted again. ‘He’s a very likeable person. But that doesn’t mean I want to marry him. He certainly doesn’t want to marry me. He doesn’t want to marry anyone and told you that himself.’
‘People can change their minds.’
She held her breath against the way her heart began to race.
‘My responsibility is to you, Meridith, and though I am proud of you for what you did concerning the incident the other night, just as there were consequences for the boys responsible, there will be consequences for your actions. I’m concerned about your reputation.
Anyone who reads the papers knows you and Drake were alone together searching for Hugo. ’
She should have known this conversation would be coming. ‘It wasn’t just the two of us. There were bobbies and other citizens.’
‘Exactly,’ he said. ‘People who can prove the two of you were alone most of the time.’
She couldn’t believe what she was hearing or what Peter was implying. ‘You can’t expect Drake to marry me because of that.’
‘Reputations have been ruined by less,’ he said, glancing down at his desk.
She followed his gaze to an envelope sitting there. Disdain instantly rose up inside her at the sight of handwriting she’d often seen before. ‘Karl Harding? You’re worried about what Karl Harding thinks?’
‘His family—’
‘I don’t care if his family is royalty or not.
He’s an arrogant bigot and is angry because I refuse to accept any of his invitations.
’ Fury rose up inside her, as did fear, because she suddenly understood one thing.
Not everyone married for love. There were plenty of marriages that happened by force. ‘Please, Peter, don’t do this.’
‘I haven’t done anything, Meridith, but this is serious, and something we need to address. As you said, Drake has informed me that he isn’t interested in marriage, but he has also offered me a partnership between our shipping companies. It’s a collaboration that he needs, and—’
‘No,’ she said, understanding what he was about to say. ‘You can’t force him to marry me in exchange for a partnership. That’s not right. It’s not fair.’
‘Life isn’t always fair.’
She stared at him, shaking her head and fighting back tears.
‘He needs a partner.’
‘I won’t do it. I’ll… I’ll move to Chesterfield, live there. I’ll—’ She didn’t know what she’d do, but she wouldn’t let anyone force Drake into marrying her.