Desires of a Baron by Gordon Rose

Author:Gordon, Rose [Gordon, Rose]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Parchment & Plume, LLC
Published: 2014-05-13T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eighteen

“Which would you like to hear first, Lord Norcourt? The good news or the good news?” Mr. Appleton asked as soon as Giles entered the room.

Giles took his seat. “The good news?”

“It’s all good news,” Mr. Appleton assured him with a chuckle. He twisted his lips. “Well, it wasn’t all good news at first, but it is now.”

“What does that mean?”

Mr. Appleton put his booted ankle on top of his knee and ran his thumb along the edge of the papers in his hand. “I’m sure this won’t come as any surprise to you, but Lord Cosgrove meant to take advantage of you.”

A hard knot formed in his stomach and the blood drained from his head. Though why he had any reaction to something he already suspected, he didn’t understand. “I assumed so. He threatened to start selling my properties if I didn’t have a wife and an heir by the thirtieth anniversary of my birth.”

“It appears he’s already tried.”

Giles involuntarily snapped the quill in his hand. “Tried?”

“He was unsuccessful.”

“Unsuccessful,” Giles repeated slowly.

“The other man’s solicitor advised him against the transaction. Which is good or we’d have an entanglement.”

Giles idly picked at the dried paint on his fingers while the man continued. He didn’t want to admit as much, but he wasn’t entirely sure he knew what an entanglement was or how one would respond to it.

“He won’t be able to do so if you’re still unwed on your thirtieth birthday, either.”

“But he told me my father’s will stated that he should use any means necessary, including depleting any asset and accounts not entailed to the barony to make me see reason.”

“That’s because he wanted to bully you into doing what he wanted.” Mr. Appleton’s voice held a stern edge similar to the one Father Thomas used when he was angry. He blew out a breath. “I can’t know this for certain, but from what I’ve surmised he wanted to make a match between you and his daughter Lady Eugenia.”

Giles’ blood turned to ice in an instant. Were Lord and Lady Cosgrove and his mother and Mr. Appleton involved in some sort of scheme to take advantage of him? His mother had told him at that blasted house party she wanted to make amends and help him find a wife. Was her goal all along to have him marry Lady Eugenia? There seemed to be a shortage of air in the room all of a sudden.

“That’d be my reaction if being faced with marriage to her, too,” Mr. Appleton commented.

Gripping the edges of his chair, Giles said, “Thank you. You may go.”

Mr. Appleton froze. “I didn’t realize you had an interest in her. My apologies.”

“I don’t.” He took a deep breath. “But I won’t—” Won’t what? He racked his brain and his mouth moved. He clamped it shut before he could look any more foolish.

“Your mother didn’t know.”

Giles’ reeling mind stilled. “Pardon?”

Mr. Appleton sighed. “Please, forgive me. I’m not always good with words.”

“Neither am I.”

Smiling, Mr. Appleton said, “Then we should both agree not to react until the other has had a chance to make a full explanation.

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