Love Without Warning by Ardent Artist Books & Shaye Muir

Author:Ardent Artist Books & Shaye Muir [Books, Ardent Artist & Muir, Shaye]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Ardent Artist Books
Published: 2021-12-30T05:00:00+00:00

When she welcomed her father back home in the morning, Lydia had decided that she was going mad. For there was no other sensible reason Ernest would be occupying her thoughts. Especially not when she was trying deliberately to avoid him.

CHAPTER FIVE

madness ensues

Lydia watched the embers in the hearth, listened to their cackling. The fire made the room a bit too hot, but she could not be bothered to do anything about it.

Softly, the door opened, and her father joined her on the couch, watching her quietly.

“You don’t seem overly excited about the plans to announce your engagement.”

“I have been engaged most of my life father, it is hardly news enough to excite me now.”

“Yes, I am aware, but still. Perhaps…you would not like to marry the Earl after all?”

Lydia looked at him.

Her father cleared his throat. “I know I made this arrangement well before you could be bothered about such things, and in recent day, well, I have seen that perhaps the proposed partner would not be your preferred.”

“Father,” she asked quietly, “What are you trying to say?”

“What I am trying to say, my dear, is that you can call off this marriage whenever you want. I would never, never, force upon you a man for whom you do not wish. Marriage is a lifelong commitment, and I refuse to ruin it for you.”

“Oh father.”

He shifted closer to her on the couch and took her hands. His hands were warmer than the room, his eyes softer. What she had done to deserve such a wonderful man as her father, Lydia would never know, but she would thank the Lord every chance she got.

“You are the dearest of my possessions, Lydia. The most valuable. I would sell everything I own to see you smile always; you must not ever forget that. These days, I see you smile more at Ulrich than at Harwick, and well, you are an heiress, so his family situation does not matter. If it is him you wish to spend the rest of your life with, I shall bless the union entirely.”

“But is not my marriage to Harwick important to you, to aid with your trading?”

“Bah! I traded well enough before you were born and have been doing quite well even without your being married. Besides, what use would it all be after you are married and settled? I am an aging man now; I best begin looking at when to retire.”

“But—but—”

“But nothing, my dear. I give the choice to you now. If you do not desire to have Harwick as your husband, all you must do is say it and I will take care of the rest.”

Lydia closed her mouth and thought about all the years she had spent with the Earl so close, by her side, in her sphere. What would life be like now with him not in it? She lowered her eyes and felt her heart hurt—it injured her to know he would not be hers and someone else’s.

Lydia did not need to ponder anymore; the answer was simple.

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