Chapter 10 #2
“We didn’t have a chance to look through the house,” Darius admitted. “I convinced Doyle to go to the Crell house on very little evidence, and it was already questionable to barge into the home on just my word.”
“Doyle doesn’t think you are lying, does he?” Meredith asked. “I thought you worked with him. He should know you would never lie about something like this.”
“He believes I saw what I saw last night, but without proof he cannot arrest anyone.”
“Then Crell will get away with his crime.” Mrs. Petersham’s brows knitted together. “There must be something we can do.”
“At the moment, there is nothing. For now, we must go about our day as we had intended. Meredith, I believe you are supposed to ride in the park this afternoon with Mr. Evers. Please ready yourself, as we must leave soon. Mrs. Petersham and I shall wait for you.” Since they were planning a ride, he wasn’t concerned that he was a bit sweaty.
He took his riding coat when Chelsea gave it to him and put it on.
Meredith’s face, which was already crestfallen, now turned bleak.
“Do you not like Mr. Evers?” Darius asked. “We can make an excuse if you wish to cancel your ride.”
“What? Oh no, he is a fine man. I just can’t imagine being out in the park enjoying myself while Crell gets away whatever he’s done to Mrs. Crell.”
“Sometimes the world is most unfair. However, we will not give up,” Darius promised her. “Sometimes, time is required for an opportunity to present itself. In the meantime, you have a husband to find.”
Meredith’s shoulders slumped as she turned to go upstairs, resigned to their scheduled afternoon plans.
Mrs. Petersham was already wearing her riding habit and thus had no need to change. “Your Grace. I wonder if we might have a word in your study.” Mrs. Petersham asked once Meredith was out of sight.
“Of course.” He escorted Mrs. Petersham to his study and closed the door. When they were seated, he waited, more than a little curious about what she wished to say.
“I may be overstepping my bounds, but you are young and unmarried. Have you considered marriage?”
Darius chuckled. “Meredith is the one in need of a spouse, Frances, not me.”
“You are opposed to marriage then?”
“Opposed?” He leaned back in his chair. “Not at all. Rather, I hold it in high esteem. It is something quite sacred to me. My parents were a love match, you see.”
“And you want a love match for yourself?”
“Yes,” he answered honestly.
“Then forgive my continued overstepping, but… have you considered marrying Meredith?”
Darius his chest tightened. “I won’t lie and say that there haven’t been moments where I’ve imagined that as a possible future. But I cannot.”
“Oh? Why not?”
“Because she is not suitable.”
Mrs. Petersham’s brows rose. “How so?”
“Her family history. You must understand that there are expectations at my station, and not everyone in my position is lucky enough to be allowed a love match. If the burden lay only on my shoulders, that would be one thing. As much as she would make a perfectly suitable wife…a titled lady…a duchess, is another matter entirely. My duchess must have an impeccable family history, or she will not survive the scrutiny of society otherwise.”
Mrs. Petersham frowned as she stared at him. “She would face criticism for being an illegitimate child with no parents of consequence, is that what you mean?”
“Yes exactly. The haute ton can be cruel. More than cruel. I’ve seen women cut down to size in the middle of a ballroom and were never invited to attend social functions again.
I’ve seen men lose their honor on a turn of a card and found dead the next morning by their own hand because the disgrace was too much to bear.
There will be those ready to destroy her simply because I chose her.
I have no power to protect the woman I love from that fate.
There would be too many times she would be away from me.
And if she is hurt because she married me?
I couldn’t live with myself, Frances. That’s the truth of it. ”
Frances was quiet a moment, her expression now pensive, rather than accusatory.
“As I recall, Lady Kentwell was a clerk’s daughter, and she has been received quite well as a countess. Do you think it’s possible Meredith could be welcomed in as easily as Lady Kentwell was?”
“Lady Kentwell is not illegitimate.” He winced at his own words, but they were true. “And Kit is far more intimidating than I am. No one dares to breathe a word against his wife for fear that he will resort to his barbaric ways from when he was a convict in Australia.”
“Forgive me, Your Grace, but you have more weapons at your disposal than your good looks and a rapier wit,” she replied smoothly.
“You have just as much influence as Lord Kentwell, and you can be just as dangerous. You are also a favorite of the Prince Regent, are you not? Does none of that help your cause?”
“A royal’s favor can vanish in an instant. I could not risk a marriage simply because a prince decided to favor me for a time.”
Mrs. Petersham stood up. “Well, I confess I am disappointed. I believed you were made of sterner stuff. If that is your answer, then I believe that either Mr. Evers or even Mr. Burville would make a good match for her. Both gentleman have shown an interest in Meredith which is a good indication of their intentions, and I will encourage her to consider one of them. You may not have the resolve to love the girl and marry her, but I believe one of them would.” With that parting thought, Mrs. Petersham left the study.
Darius sat there, knowing she was quite right.
But damn, the thought of Meredith marrying anyone felt like spikes being driven through his body.
Mrs. Petersham would have him throw Meredith to the wolves, and he knew he was right in what he’d said.
Meredith as a duchess would suffer. As a wife to a gentleman such as Warren, she would have no title but vast wealth.
She would draw less ire from the aristocrats for marrying above her station.
He had sudden visions of Meredith in Warren’s arms, riding across the grounds of Warren’s country estate, Snowshill Manor, with Warren at her side.
Meredith holding a child with jade green eyes, just like Warren’s. A child that he wanted to be his. To have his blue eyes and Meredith’s stunning face and her gentle laugh…
Darius slammed his fist on his desk so hard it felt like he’d crushed every bone in his hand.
“Christ.” Pain radiated up his arm as he stood. He was still rubbing his fingers when he met Meredith and Mrs. Petersham in the entryway.
“Did something fall in the study?” asked Mrs. Petersham.
“No.”
Meredith’s head tilted. “Oh? I swore I heard a loud—”
“Shall we get this over with?” he asked with a growl as he escorted them to the door.
He was once again in a foul mood. He couldn’t have Meredith and he would spend the next couple of hours watching Mr. Evers court her. The Inquisition could not devise a more devious torture.
Mrs. Petersham gave him a sphinxlike look that he could not read as she passed him out the door. Darius gritted his teeth. What was it his father used to say?
He must grin and bear it even if it bloody well killed him.
* * *
“How are you finding London, Miss Montague?” Jordan Evers asked Meredith.
The gentleman accompanying her on a ride was one of her first suitors and one she liked quite well.
He was a second son to a baron and quite wealthy from successful investments, but what Meredith cared about was his kindness and his genuine interest in her.
It also didn’t hurt that he was quite handsome.
Their horses walked side-by-side in Hyde Park.
Meredith didn’t have to strain too much to look up at the gentleman beside her because she sat atop a tall, impressive mare rather than one of the smaller mounts most ladies rode.
Darius didn’t possess any dainty geldings or mares.
When she’d seen his groom bring around this roan-colored mare, it had dwarfed its handler.
She had needed a bit of help to mount the horse, but at the moment she was glad for its height.
Meredith turned her focus back to Mr. Evers’s question. “London? Oh yes, I like it very much. It is busier than I’m used to, but I feel as though I’m settling in.” That wasn’t entirely a lie. She was enjoying the bustling pace a bit more now that she didn’t feel so lost and hopeless.
“That’s good to hear.” Mr. Evers offered her a warm smile and briefly glanced behind them. Darius and Mrs. Petersham were a short distance away riding their own horses, providing a discreet escort for her and Mr. Evers.
“Pardon me for saying so, but Tiverton looks ready to murder me,” Mr. Evers mused.
Meredith’s face heated. Darius was being overprotective. Her first instinct was to blame herself, but for the first time in her life she stopped herself. Why should she feel responsible for what Darius did and how he acted? No…if there was guilt at play here, it fell upon his shoulders alone.
“He is overprotective. I think perhaps because he’s never had a sister or other female relation to usher into society. I believe he is a bit…baffled as to how to act.” This was true enough. He would have had more practice if he’d had a sister or even a cousin to chaperone before now.
“I could understand that, but I swear, the way he looks at you at times…” Mr. Evers seemed to realize what he was implying and cleared his throat. “Forgive me, I mean no offense, but is there an understanding between you and Tiverton?” Evers kept his voice low so as not to be overheard.
“An understanding? No…” Meredith wished with all her heart there was but there wasn’t. There never could be.