Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 97740 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 489(@200wpm)___ 391(@250wpm)___ 326(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97740 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 489(@200wpm)___ 391(@250wpm)___ 326(@300wpm)
That’s funny, because I feel positively ill.
‘What about me?’ Clara gripes, and I know not why because she would rather shovel horseshit than socialise at Almack’s.
‘Perhaps in a year or two.’
I look at Father’s study door as my lips twist in contemplation, and then glance around to see if I am alone, which, much to my relief, I am. Creeping forward, I push my ear to the wood, but flinch when there’s a rather aggressive bang at the front door. ‘For heaven’s sake,’ I breathe, my palm on my chest where my heart booms with fright. Is everyone around here determined to kill me with fright?
‘Melrose! Melrose, open up this minute!’
My teeth clench and my nose wrinkles in distaste, as I wonder what Lymington could possibly want, and so urgently? I know not, but I am positively dying with curiosity, so relieving Dalton of the task, I open the door. ‘Your Grace,’ I say, though it is through my teeth, which are still, quite painfully, gritting. He looks me up and down and, downright rudely, it must be said, pushes past me without an invitation to enter.
‘Melrose!’ he barks.
Father’s study door swings open, revealing Frank. ‘Your Grace,’ he says, looking somewhat confused. And perhaps a little worried.
Frank too gets shoved aside by Lymington, this time by his walking aid. ‘What is the meaning of this?’ he yells, waving his wooden stick in the air threateningly. ‘We had a deal. Age might be taking my sight, Melrose, but it is not taking my mind. We agreed it would be announced today! Where the hell is Porter?’
With eyes as wide as the Thames, I watch as Lymington stamps around Father’s office and Father follows, trying to appease him. ‘Unfortunately, we cannot locate him at present, but Frank here has our lawyer paying a visit to his home. He will be fired, mark my words.’
Fired for forgetting to have a marriage notice printed? Surely not? I do not like Porter, be sure of that fact, but his lapse does not warrant Father’s intended course of action.
There is another knock at the door, this one decidedly calmer and polite, and I open it again, still struck somewhat dumb.
‘Miss Melrose,’ Mr Casper says on a nod, his kind eyes smiling. ‘I am here to see your father.’
‘You had better come in,’ I say, opening the way to Father’s lawyer as the shouts emanating from Father’s office get louder. The whole street must be able to hear! ‘I fear it could get physical, Mr Casper.’
‘Oh dear,’ he says, hurrying past me and disappearing into Papa’s study. ‘Calm down, gentlemen,’ he placates, setting his work case on a chair by the fire. ‘I have spoken with Porter’s wife, and she has helpfully shared his whereabouts.’
‘Well, where the flaming heck is he?’ Father bellows as I wonder if I have ever seen him so distressed. I think not.
‘In York.’
‘What?’ Frank blurts.
‘What?’ Father mimics.
‘York?’ Lymington barks. ‘What business does he have in York? He should be here, seeing to this business!’ Pointing his walking aid at Father, Lymington steps forward threateningly. If I was not so shocked by this whole unfortunate matter, I would laugh at the frail old man. Father could flick him over with his little finger! Of course, he would never, but something unsettling within is telling me the Duke’s status is not the reason.
The deal.
‘If,’ the old ogre goes on, ‘I do not see an announcement by morn, I will end you, Melrose. End you!’
‘The date is set,’ Father says. ‘I have signed the contract, agreed to all of your terms! The arrangements are being made.’
They are? Why do I not know of these arrangements? After all, it is me getting married. And what of this contract and terms. What terms? This is not simply my life being given away. It comes with certain terms, and I expect they are not of the traditional variety.
Lymington snorts. ‘Make it happen, Melrose. I don’t mind ruining you if you fail.’ And with that, he storms out, barking an order for his manservant to follow.
‘Oh dear me,’ Mr Casper sighs. ‘I can’t say I was confident this deal would run smoothly.’
I am in Father’s study before I can convince myself to consider my options. ‘I want to know of the terms.’ And the thoughts are tumbling out of my mouth too.
‘Not now, Eliza,’ Father sighs, waving me off. He looks exhausted.
‘Yes, now.’
‘Eliza,’ Frank warns.
‘I’ll be going,’ Mr Casper says, making a hasty exit. My worry heightens. For a lawyer, a man trained to challenge people, he looked rather troubled at facing an argument.
I close the study door in demonstration. I am not moving until I have my answer. I can see with satisfying clarity when Father’s face softens that he has grasped the strength of my determination. He’s looking at me like he used to look at me as a girl, when I would present him with a detailed report on whatever interested me that day. ‘Eliza,’ he says, coming at me with open arms. ‘This is everything I’ve dreamed of for you. And Frank and Clara. A secure future!’