As they returned inside, Bella took herself to task. This was not about her. She was profoundly grateful for the children’s sake. After all, it mattered little what Eaglestone thought of her.
When his lordship’s brougham pulled up, Bella left the house to greet him. Her heart thumped at the sight of his tall frame unfolding from the carriage. He seemed so familiar. As if she’d known him for years. As if he mattered a good deal more to her than he should. He removed his top hat, the sunlight painting bright strands in his ebony locks.
As she stood there, her initial euphoria at seeing him waned. With the work moving toward completion, she may not see him in person again.
“Lord Eaglestone, how can I ever thank you?” She raised her hand to indicate the workmen painting the window shutters blue.
His cool gaze surveyed her. “I expected you to show more interest, Miss Lacey.”
“How unfair,” she said, surprised. “You knew I had to go to Surrey with my parents. I wrote advising you of it. I gave you the address in Surrey, but you never wrote to me.”
He frowned. “I received no such letter. I wrote twice seeking your opinion of these changes. When I received nothing in reply, I assumed you were caught up with your coming betrothal. So I continued alone.”
She sucked in a breath. “My betrothal?”
“To Lord Maudling. There was an item in the newspaper, which heralds such an occurrence.”
Stunned, she stared at him. “I am not betrothed to Lord Maudling. Nor have I received any of your letters.”
With cries of delight, the children rushed out of the house to gaze up at him with adoration. He took bags of sweets from his pocket and handed them to Henry. “Off you go,” he said with a laugh. He turned to her, his eyes questioning. “We need to talk. Away from here. Will you come?”
Her body stiff with outrage, she nodded. Her father must be behind the notice in the newspaper. He had removed the letter she wrote to Lord Eaglestone from the post and withheld his letters addressed to her. She’d never thought her father capable of being so unkind, so ruthless.
Eaglestone assisted her into the brougham. As the carriage jerked away from the house, he turned to face her. She thought she read sympathy in his eyes. “You’re distressed. Will you tell me about it?”
Bella’s anger had subsided into a feeling of helplessness. She refused to voice any criticisms of her father and remained rigidly upright, despite the strong urge to lay her head against his broad chest. Maudling, however, deserved no such loyalty. “My father is worried about his finances. I heard him talking about his shares, they’ve recently lost value.”
“Those he has of my company are about to rise substantially.”
She stared at him. “Why?”
“I’m about to announce a new merger.”
She may not need to marry Lord Maudling, after all. Lightheaded, she shivered with relief. Although she’d never speak of it, her anger still smoldered at her father’s heartless treatment.
“It will benefit both your father and Maudling, you know.”
“I will never marry Lord Maudling!”
“Many ladies would wish to marry the wealthy peer. What has he done to produce such strong dislike of him?”
“His hands stray, and he said he looked forward to teaching me.”
He scowled. “Teaching you what exactly?”
“To…please him. To force me to bow to his wishes,” she whispered. “In the bedroom.”
CHAPTER SEVEN
“THE DEVIL!” HE GROWLED. Derrick had never liked Maudling. Arranged marriages were an accepted part of society, but this went beyond the pale. It was akin to sexual slavery. He couldn’t stomach the idea of Bella hitched to that bounder, especially when he knew how much she valued her independence. “Is he aware of your feelings toward him?”
“Yes, but he just laughs at me. And my father is determined I marry him.” She dropped her gaze to her hands. “I can see no way out unless I find a better means of dissuading Maudling from the idea.”
“Is there something I can do?”
“Thank you, sir, but I hardly think—”
“I could throw a spanner into his business dealings. That should distract him for a time.”
“It would take too long,” she said, not questioning his ability to do so. She paused and gazed at him shyly. “There is something, however.” She firmed her lush mouth, and her blue eyes turned steely.
He stared at her, captivated. “What is going on in that pretty head of yours, Miss Lacey?”
“My parents leave for Brighton tomorrow. They will be gone for a several days…”
He raised his brows wondering where this was leading. “And?”