Bought for Revenge(34)

       
           



       

'It was not his fault at all, Papa. I-' She was on a low stool beside  his chair, her hand resting on his arm, her head bowed because she could  not bring herself to look at him. 'When he spoke of his father, he was  so hurt, I just wanted to comfort him … '

'You let your kind heart run away with you, Belle.'

'Do you think I was wrong, sir? To-to give myself to him like that?'

'It was not wise, my love. In fact, I am very sorry for it, but it is  not for me to judge you, when I myself had planned to run away with  another man's wife.'

Her father's gentle restraint hurt Belle more than any amount of angry  blustering and she reached for her handkerchief to wipe away a tear.  Samuel put his hand on her hair.

'There, there, my love, it is too late to go back now. We must decide  what is to be done. You say Lucas is coming to call upon me?'

'Yes, he wishes to atone for his behaviour towards you, Papa.'

'And how will he atone for his treatment of you, Belle? In such cases it  is customary for the injured party to demand marriage. I have already  advised you once against marrying Lucas Blackstone for the wrong  reasons, but if you are carrying his child then that is a very different  matter. Are you still opposed to marrying him?'

She looked down, the colour stealing into her cheeks. 'Not any more, Father.'

When he did not speak she looked up at him and was alarmed at how pale  and grave he looked, but he was quick to assure her that he was not ill.

'You have given me a great deal to ponder, my love. Have Abel bring me a  glass of wine and water, and leave me to consider all you have told me  while I wait for my visitor.'

She could do no more until the two men had met. Knowing the time would  pass much faster if she was busy, Annabelle went off to attend to her  household duties. If all went well, in a few weeks she and her father  might once again be at Oakenroyd, but for now Croft Cottage was her  domain and she would have it spotless. She brushed and cleaned and  polished until the little sitting room glowed and when she had finished  she busied herself in the kitchen. She wanted to be at home when Lucas  arrived, so she resolutely ignored her basket and the shopping list  waiting for her on the table.

The morning turned to afternoon and still there was no knock at the  door. The daily shopping could be delayed no longer and Belle set off  for the market. She did not tarry over her purchases and when she  returned she was informed by Abel that the master was closeted in his  little study with Mr Blackstone. Her heart beating hard against her  ribs, Belle put away her purchases and went upstairs to tidy her hair  and change her gown. She wished she could know what they were saying,  but she forced herself to be patient and took her embroidery to the  sitting room.

She had slept very little, her thoughts too full of Lucas. She did not  regret kissing him, nor anything that followed, save that he would not  marry her. That he cared for her she was certain. In fact, he cared for  her too much and was afraid he might hurt her, but she did not believe  his temper was ungovernable. His quest for revenge had been cold and  calculated, as were his plans now to make amends. She wanted to share  his life, for good or ill, but he was afraid of making her unhappy. She  gave a little sigh. Did he not realise that she would be wretched  without him?

A heavy footstep in the hall and the banging of the front door brought  her out of her reverie. She looked up in time to see Lucas's shadow fall  across the window. He had gone, and without a word to her.

'Papa?' Annabelle peeped into the study. Samuel was sitting in his  chair, fingers steepled and a look of profound sadness on his face. She  closed the door and crossed the room. 'Papa, you have spoken with  Lucas?'

'Yes. He called, as you told me he would, my love.'

'And what did he tell you?'

'He said he had been wrong, that he no longer believed I started the  fire at Morwood.' Her father sighed. 'He made me a very full apology.'

'And you accepted?'

'Of course. I was very happy to do so. He is gone now to instruct his  lawyer to draw up another deed of transfer for Oakenroyd. And he does  not want a penny for it. In fact, he says he is going to write off the  debts I incurred at Harrogate. I protested, of course, but he insisted.  When all is done we shall be better off than before.'

'He is a good man, Father.'

'Yes, I think he is. He would have had us move back to Oakenroyd  immediately, but I convinced him we should wait until he has seen his  lawyer and everything is legally signed and settled.' He bent his kindly  eyes upon her. 'We also talked about you, my love, and what occurred  last night.'                       
       
           



       

She bit her lip. 'What did he say about it?'

'That he had taken advantage of you.'

'That is not true, Papa. I told you-'

'But he could have sent you away. He should have done so and he admitted as much to me.'

'He was not himself, Papa. I am sure he cares for me.'

'I do not doubt it.'

'Did he tell you so?' she asked hopefully.

'It was evident in the way he spoke about you.'

Samuel paused, considering his words and Belle said quietly, 'He is not his father, Papa.'

Samuel gave a long sigh. 'No, he is not Jonas, but his actions have  shown him to be a hard-hearted man. I honour him for his candour in  talking to me. He was very honest, very much the gentleman and has  offered to make you his wife, especially if there are any … consequences  of last night's encounter. However, he knows how much you mean to me and  said he would let me decide the matter.'

Belle clasped her hands together. 'Well, Papa?' She fixed her eyes upon him. 'What is your decision?'

Samuel looked at her sadly.

'I witnessed Maria's suffering when she was married to Lucas's father  and I was too weak to prevent it. You are all I have in the world now,  Belle. I will not risk your happiness.'

'But-but what if I am with child, Papa?'

'Then we will deal with it. You might go away for the birth, or we might  move far away, where we are not known. We can start a new life and pass  you off as a widow with a young child. Lucas has promised to assist in  any action we decide upon.'

'How can we leave here, Papa? How can I take you away from all your friends, everything you have known?'

'We can make new friends, Belle. I would rather do that than risk your  marrying a man who admits he might do you harm.' The world tilted as  Annabelle listened to her father's soft voice. 'I told him no. I cannot  give my consent, Belle. You must forget him.'





Chapter Fourteen


It was done. Lucas rode away from Croft Cottage with the feeling of  having completed an unpleasant duty. the interview with Samuel Havenham  had been every bit as painful as he had thought it would be and the  outcome, too, was as he expected. Lucas had set out his case very  clearly and Samuel was too fond a parent to want his daughter married to  such a rogue, even if she should be carrying his child. His child. The  very idea cut him deeply. That his thirst for vengeance should have  caused so much damage! He had told Belle that suicide was not his way,  but now he almost wished he had taken Hugh's pistol and blown his brains  out before she had arrived at Oakenroyd. At least then he would not  have added this final calumny to his sins. He made his way directly to  Morwood. There was work aplenty there to occupy him and he was  determined to finish the house, although he doubted now that he would  ever live there.

Hugh was waiting for Lucas when he finally returned to Oakenroyd. He  came out of the drawing room, a glass of wine in one hand, as Lucas  crossed the hall.

'Ah, there you are, Cos. I almost suggested to your butler that we put  dinner back, only I plan to ride into Stanton later-another little card  party, you know,' he explained. 'You are very late. Is there some  problem at the manor?'

'No, everything is well.' Lucas made directly for the stairs. He was in  no mood for company, but he knew he would have to dine with his cousin  or face more questions. 'Give me half an hour to change and I will join  you.'

Lucas escaped his cousin, but it was impossible to avoid George  Stebbing's censorious tongue when he saw the state of Lucas's clothes.

'If you intended to be working at Morwood, Major, you should've come  here to change first. It'll take me hours to get the dirt off that coat  and your waistcoat is fair ruined, and no mistake.'

'Then I shall buy another one.' Lucas felt the old soldier's shrewd gaze  upon him and said roughly, 'Damn you, George, I don't pay you to  criticise my actions.'

'Oho, so who's put your nose out of joint?' retorted the valet, not noticeably dashed.

'None of your business!'

'It is if it means I have to send to that London tailor o' yours for  more clothes,' retorted George, taking Lucas's coat from him and eyeing  it with disfavour.

Despite his black mood Lucas laughed.

'Do your best with it, George, but first you had best find me something  suitable to wear for dinner with my cousin. Lord knows I would rather  eat alone tonight, but I suppose I must join him.'