Harlequin Historical November 2017--Box Set 1 of 2 by Carla Kelly

Author:Carla Kelly
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781488021879
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2017-09-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER ELEVEN

It took several painful seconds for Cecilia to finally see recognition dawn on her father’s face. Had she truly been so unimportant to him that he had not committed her face to memory?

‘You!’ he said breathlessly, his face blanched.

Not even using her name.

‘I know I am not so altered that a father would not remember me after a little more than three years,’ she said. ‘A loving father, that is. Not one who declares me dead to him.’

He turned red. ‘You disgraced the family!’

‘You could have prevented that if you had accepted the marriage.’ That had been what Duncan expected. If her father had accepted the marriage, society would have forgiven the elopement and that would have been an end to any scandal.

‘Accept the marriage?’ Her father huffed. ‘He was a nobody!’

She glanced over at Oliver, who stood by the door in the shadows so she could not see his reaction. She’d told him about her marriage, at least about eloping and being disowned.

‘Look at you now,’ he said scathingly. ‘He has you working as a strumpet. I dare say if anyone does recognise you, it will be more scandal for your sisters and your mother.’

‘Take care, sir.’ Oliver spoke in a sinister tone. ‘Your daughter works here as a hostess, nothing else. And, since you were so eager to accept her favours, do not think your hypocrisy is lost on either of us.’

Cecilia added, ‘What is more, I would not be forced into this position if you and Mama had taken me in. Mr Gregory was kind enough to hire me so I would not starve.’

Her father laughed derisively. ‘What? That no-good husband of yours is not even supporting you?’

‘He is dead.’

Cecilia touched her abdomen and thought of the baby growing inside her. She once thought that her parents would welcome her back because of the baby. Now she did not consider her father worthy of learning of the baby’s existence.

She went on. ‘I wonder how much money you have lost gambling at this club? As much as my dowry would have cost you? How very convenient to refuse to provide that money to Duncan so you could lose it gambling. Tell me, are my sisters still fighting over the dwindling resources?’

‘Your sisters married. Respectably,’ he shot back. ‘But, if it had not been for you, they could have married much higher.’

She ignored that statement. ‘Does Mama know you gamble at Vitium et Virtus? Is she still forced to make economies? To deny herself?’

His eyes flashed in panic. ‘You would not tell your mother I am a member!’

‘Or that you were ready for a dalliance with your own daughter?’ she added with sarcasm.

Oliver stepped forward. ‘Except you are no longer a member of Vitium et Virtus.’

‘What?’ Her father sounded outraged. ‘You have no cause to expel me.’

‘I do not need a cause, except that I do not like the way you treat your daughter,’ Oliver said.

Her father took a step towards him. ‘Why, you half-caste bastard! Wait until I take this to the Duke.

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