A Gentleman Never Tells(26)
It was clear the viscount didn’t intend to let her get the best of him again, so she simply asked, “What did my father say to you?”
“Don’t you know?”
“Of course not, my lord. How could I possibly know what either of you said when I wasn’t allowed to be in the room while my future was discussed and, I presume, settled?”
His smug expression faded, and he gave her what looked to be a reluctant nod. “I take it you do know your father was unable to talk the Earl of Austerhill into continuing with your wedding plans to his son.”
Suddenly feeling calmer, Gabrielle loosened the tight hold she had on the ends of her shawl and relaxed a little. “Yes, and that suits me, but what did Papa say to you?”
“What I expected; that we must marry.”
“I was afraid of that,” she said. She inhaled deeply, trying to renew her strength to fight this now with Lord Brentwood. “I hope you held your ground, remained firm, and told him I was not compromised, and you have no intentions of marrying me under any circumstances.”
A half grunt, half chuckle passed his swollen lip, making his smile lopsided. “No, I didn’t.”
He spoke so quietly she was stunned for a second. Her gaze searched his face. “But surely you don’t want this marriage forced upon you any more than I do.”
“No, I don’t. But after long and somewhat rancorous negotiations, we finally settled on terms of a marriage contract. The conclusion is I will live by my honor, do my duty, and marry you, Lady Gabrielle.”
She winced inside. He might have tried to spare her feelings by calling it his duty and honor, but she knew what that really meant. Staunton was going to marry her for financial reasons, and now Lord Brentwood was going to marry her because he was being forced. She didn’t understand this honor he talked about.
“If you feel you were trapped by me, why would you agree when you know I was not compromised?” she asked.
His eyes narrowed, and he took a step closer to her. “There are a number of reasons, Lady Gabrielle, not the least of which is the fact that your father is a very powerful duke who knows the King well and considers him a friend. He is well liked and often sought out for advice by the prince. Your father is admired, respected, and feared by many throughout London.”
“So you agreed to marry me because you are afraid of my father?”
Lord Brentwood snorted with derision, and a low chuckle passed his lips. His gaze held firmly on hers. “I am afraid of no man.”
“You say that, yet you ran from my father and his men this morning in the park.”
Suddenly, the viscount was so close she could feel his breath and almost taste his anger. “Do not doubt my courage.” His words were biting. “I ran to find my mother’s dog. When I pulled you into my arms, I let go of Prissy’s leash. She wandered away while you held me bewitched by your charms. I heard her yelping in pain, so I ran to help her, but your father’s men caught me and stopped me.”
Gabrielle swallowed hard. She would have done the same thing had it been Brutus who needed help. But, obviously, if Prissy had been given the kind of training Brutus had, she would have never left her master’s side.
“Oh, I see. I didn’t know,” Lady Gabrielle said without rancor but also without apologizing for misreading the situation. “As you know, it was chaotic after my father and Lord Austerhill arrived, and I’m sorry to say I didn’t notice she was gone. What was wrong with her?”
His eyes darkened as quickly as blackness filled a room when the light was extinguished. “I have no idea. I searched for her after you, your father, and his men left, but I couldn’t find her.”
She lifted her chin in surprise. “You left the park without finding her? Your mother must have been beside herself when you came home without her darling dog.”
He seemed to relax a little, though he stayed very close to her. “I’m sure she would have been if she were still living. My mother died more than two years ago.”
And still he walked her dog.
Gabrielle softened. “Prissy seemed to be very brave. I’m sure she’s fine and that she’ll find her way home soon.”
Lord Brentwood looked away from Gabrielle for a moment, and she saw it truly disturbed him that the dog hadn’t been found. Knowing how she loved Brutus, she couldn’t blame him. She felt ashamed for having as good as accused him of being a coward for running away in the park. She didn’t think that was true and wouldn’t have even said it in the first place had she not been at the point of madness over the entire day.