The Heiress - Lynsay Sands [93]
“About what?” she asked uncertainly.
“Your father’s gambling,” he said apologetically, and then turned to her father. “I happened to have a lucky streak at the tables the other night. Unfortunately, Cerberus did not have the cash on hand to pay my winnings and instead gave me your marker and suggested I collect from you. Of course, now that Suzette has agreed to marry me, I would feel an ass demanding the payment and—”
“Marry!” Lord Madison gasped, his eyes shooting to Suzette.
For her part, Suzette just glanced from one man to the other uncertainly. She felt as if the ground were shifting under her feet and wasn’t certain what to think. Settling on Jeremy, she asked, “You gamble?”
“Not usually, no. But some friends convinced me to accompany them and as I say, I had a streak of luck.” He shrugged, and then added apologetically, “I had no idea your father would have trouble paying until you explained why you needed to marry, else I surely would never have accepted the marker in lieu of payment from Cerberus. I understood your family was well off.”
“There is no trouble paying,” her father said grimly. “And there’s no need for Suzette to marry. I have the money at the inn.”
Suzette glanced at him with surprise. “You have the money? Where did you get—”
“I sold the townhouse,” he admitted grimly.
“Oh Father,” she said with dismay.
He shrugged. “We don’t use it much anyway, and it is better than seeing another of my daughters forced into a bad marriage.”
“Well,” Jeremy said wryly. “All’s well that ends well then.”
“Yes,” her father said grimly. “Come back to the inn with me and I shall pay you at once and finally be free of the damned thing.”
When Jeremy nodded agreeably, Suzette’s father took her arm and turned to lead her back to the path.
“I cannot tell you how relieved I am that it has all gone so well,” Jeremy commented, falling into step behind them. “I will admit I was a bit concerned that you would balk at paying the marker and the interest.”
Her father froze at once, his fingers digging into her arm.
Suzette glanced to him worriedly. “Father?”
Turning slowly, he narrowed his eyes on Jeremy. “Interest?”
“Yes.” Lord Danvers appeared surprised at his reaction.
“What interest?” her father asked grimly.
“Well, let me see, when I won the marker two nights ago it was worth double what you originally signed for. I suppose it would be more than that now. However, I think I can dispense with the interest earned since then. It does seem ridiculously exorbitant for just a week’s time. So just the amount I was to win would suit me fine. It shall keep the creditors at bay and give me plenty of time to find another bride.”
“Double?” her father asked, sounding faint.
Jeremy’s eyebrows beetled with concern. “Surely you aren’t surprised? You did read the marker before you signed it?”
Lord Madison dropped her arm and Suzette peered at him with concern. It seemed obvious that her father hadn’t read the marker, but then if he’d been drugged and basically robbed, she supposed he wouldn’t have. Certainly, the amount had taken him by surprise and left him looking pale and old. He didn’t have enough money from the sale of the townhouse to cover it, Suzette realized.
“It’s all right, Father,” she said quietly. “Jeremy said he would forgive the marker if we married and that is what we shall do.”
“I am most amenable to that, my lord,” Jeremy said quietly.
“No,” her father said faintly, and then grabbing her arm again he said more strongly, “No. Come. We will talk to Richard first.” He had only taken two steps before he paused abruptly and muttered, “They aren’t here. They have gone to make Daniel—they should be back soon.”
“They should have been back two hours ago,” Suzette said grimly, silently finishing off the sentence in her head. They have gone to make Daniel marry her? Fulfill his promise? She had thought they had gone to ask him why he had rejected her, but instead she was suddenly sure they had gone to basically force him to wed her. What a choice. Life with a man who seemed nice enough,