A Lord Rotheby's Influence Bundle by Catherine Gayle

Author:Catherine Gayle [Gayle, Catherine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Night Shift Publishing
Published: 2013-06-22T14:00:00+00:00

Alex watched Grace walk away and fought the temptation to follow her. Ah, the cut direct. He would grant her this moment of victory. “But I shall see you at the altar, my dear.”

Her reputation would suffer even more for returning to the ballroom alone, but that would soon enough be repaired. Grace would be his wife. She just needed to understand she had no alternative.

His determination that she needed his protection grew stronger than ever. Since she had been compromised before coming to Somerton, word of her disgrace might already be all over London. For that matter, word could have spread to the furthest outreaches of England.

There was no time to waste. He needed to act, and quickly.

Since he already planned to travel to London with Gil in the morning, he decided to continue with that course of action. He would visit with the Marquess of Chatham and explain the situation—short of some of the more sordid details of their encounter. But he must make it clear she had been compromised, and he intended to do the honorable thing and marry her.

Alex needed to convince the marquess that a marriage to him was the best option.

Convincing Grace could come later.

He would obtain a special license in London. Maybe Peter could do that for him. Alex had no idea how difficult it might be to convince Chatham that he was the man his daughter should marry. Sir Laurence had divulged little in their interview, but he got the impression that he did not think highly of Chatham.

Alex quit the Assembly Room without looking back. He needed to prepare for the morning’s journey and to think.

~ * ~

The road to London was difficult. The entire southern part of the English countryside was experiencing a torrential downpour during the three days Alex and Gil spent traveling. Several times their carriage became stuck in muddy ruts, so he had to assist the driver and footmen to free a wheel in the rain. He felt like a blasted pig that had gleefully rolled around in the sty.

On top of that, Gil’s illness continued to grow worse. His coughing fits were more frequent and more severe, and Alex often saw spots of blood on the viscount’s handkerchief. There could be no more denials. He was certain his friend suffered from consumption.

All the more reason he wished Gil would have stayed in Somerset. Whether in Bath or in Somerton, Gil would not be on the road to London and fighting his sickness in a cold, wet, cramped carriage.

Alex worried.

He worried that the viscount would not make it back to his beloved Roundstone Park. He worried that the Marquess of Chatham would not see things his way. He worried that he had left Grace with child. Not that he would not want a child with Grace. But there were already too many things making her life difficult.

If the marquess were to deny him…Alex shuddered. He must find a way to marry her. Someway, somehow, he would marry her.

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