The Sherbrooke Bride - Catherine Coulter [21]
“Oh Papa, I knew, I knew, but I wanted . . .” Her father chuckled and shook his finger at her. “You too realized what Lord Rathmore would do, my dear?”
“Not that they would go to Gretna Green, but perhaps that they would refuse to go along with the wedding . . . I can’t lie to you, Papa. But I hadn’t realized that you also—”
Alexandra stood there, wringing her hands, her distress enough to make any fond parent soften. Her guilt was growing, not subsiding. The duke watched her for a moment, then said, “Yes, I knew Tony wanted Melissande and that she wanted him. I have never before seen two people more enraptured with each other so quickly. Tony is a fine young man—intelligent, witty, and blessed with good looks, an important ingredient to females. Further, he is nearly as rich as the Earl of Northcliffe. Doubtless he will offer a settlement to rival his cousin’s; indeed in his letter he gives me his assurances. I imagine his guilt must prick him sorely, as I said—much greater than yours, Alex!—for did he not betray his cousin and take the woman the earl had chosen away from him? Ah yes, he despises himself for what he has done, now, of course, that he has done it, and there is no going back. Conscience, I’ve found, is all the more potent once the deed is done and irreversible. But despite this lapse, this quite unfortunate behavior, the viscount appears an honorable man. He will bring Melissande back here, and very soon. She, the minx, won’t want to see us because she knows she’s disaccommodated your mother and fears a great scold, but her husband will force her to come.” The duke smiled into the distance. “Tony Parrish isn’t a man to be wound around a woman’s finger even though the woman is so beautiful it makes your teeth ache just to look at her. Aye, he will bring her back regardless of her pleas and her tears and her sulks.”
“But I did guess, Papa, I truly did.” There, it was out, all of it. She stood stiff and miserable, waiting for the parental tongue to flay her.
The duke took his daughter’s hand and raised it to his lips. “All I regret is the immense bother occasioned by this irresponsible act. It is never a father’s wish to have any of his offspring wed across the anvil in Scotland. A duke’s daughter, in particular, isn’t supposed to behave with such a lack of propriety.” The duke paused then, and a myriad of expressions crossed his face. He said abruptly to Alexandra, “You want the earl so much, then?”
“You guessed that as well? Oh dear. It is revolting. I am as transparent as the fish pond.”
“You are my daughter. I know you and I am rather fond of you.”
“It’s true. I have loved him, Papa, for three years, but now . . . now, I will not even have him as a brother-in-law.”
She looked up at her father, desolation and pain in her fine eyes.
The duke said abruptly, “I just received a letter from your brother. I will tell you the truth, Alex. Even the settlement Tony will doubtless provide won’t save this family. Your brother has left England in disgrace, on his way to America, he writes. He leaves immense debts behind him that will bankrupt me utterly. Even Tony’s settlement, generous though I know it will be, won’t settle the debts. I’ve been wondering what to do, thinking, worrying, struggling, but now . . . ah, now perhaps there is a ray of light.” He turned on his heel and left the library, leaving Alexandra to stare speechlessly after him.
In approximately one hour Tony Parrish and his new viscountess would arrive at Claybourn