estate.’ Father chuckled, pleased about that. ‘My grandson will inherit my estate and my name.’
‘If that is all you desire, Father, it might be easier if I just stay single, have an affair and bear a bastard for you.’
‘Don’t you get vulgar with me, miss.’ He let loose his frustration as his energy field filled with stormy clouds.
What infuriated me was that it wasn’t my whorish remark that had made him angry; rather, I’d taken the liberty of calling him Father, as only sons were permitted to do.
‘Mr Devere is the only suitor to whom I shall consent,’ he told me, adamantly.
‘I have not needed your consent since I turned twelve,’ was my retort. ‘Disinherit me, by all means.’
‘You stupid girl.’ Father locked eyes with me. ‘Mark my words…it would be a disaster for you to marry anyone but Mr Devere.’
Naturally I took his advice with a grain of salt. ‘Goodbye, Father. I guess if you want an heir, you’ll have to remarry and raise one yourself.’ I left without further ado.
‘Then have your disaster,’ my father uttered in my wake, ‘but don’t say I didn’t warn you.’
This did not sound like a threat made in anger, I thought, but more like my father knew more than he was prepared to say.
No! I would not allow him to undermine my confidence. This was my life and I would do as I saw fit with it; to hell with the family name and estate. I was to be the Viscountess of Hereford, Lady Hamilton, and I liked the sound of that—it would look quite impressive on a book, I imagined!
Clearly, I was no longer welcome in my father’s house, and it was out of the question for me to move my belongings into Lord Hamilton’s townhouse before we wed. Alas, I found myself in front of the Cavandish House on Mayfair—this was one of the most sought-after addresses in London.
‘I didn’t survive one day without you.’ I told them my troubles as I was greeted first by Susan, Lord Cavandish and then the rest of the household.
Thankfully, I was greeted with open arms and, fully appreciating my predicament, they invited me to be their guest until my wedding to Lord Hamilton. I don’t think any of the Cavandish family truly understood our attraction, except for maybe Lord Derby.
Bless that whole family, for not one of them ever tried to dissuade me from my decision. My word was gospel so far as the Cavandish family was concerned and if I thought Hamilton was the right choice, then he was. I felt it a crying shame my father did not have the same respect for my good sense; from what I could tell he did his best to deny I had any sense, psychic or otherwise.
I was taking tea with the family, who were lending their brain power to help sort out my affairs, when the announcement of the arrival of Lord Devere and his relatives sent me into a panic. I rose immediately to retire to my room, saying that I needed to write a letter to Lord Hereford at once.
The family, of course, understood my need for a quick departure, and excused me as requested.
I didn’t escape the Devere family’s acquaintance completely, but I had managed to make it to the hallway stairs before they were led past me. I hoped I might escape their notice altogether, but Mr Devere, who was trailing the party, spotted me before he entered the sitting room and changed his course. ‘Miss Granville,’ he called.
‘Good day, Mr Devere.’ I looked back but continued to slowly ascend. ‘I’m sorry I can’t stop to talk. I have an urgent letter to write.’
‘Is it to me?’
The hopeful and amorous note in his question made my heart ache and I stopped my ascent. ‘No,’ I replied, as gentle a rejection as could be delivered.
He sighed and took a second to gather his thoughts. ‘So, you are determined to marry Lord Hereford?’
‘Word travels fast.’ I couldn’t believe how fast. I took another step forward to escape this conversation.
‘No.’ Mr Devere shook his head to assert he had heard no rumour. ‘I can tell by the way you regard me as an enemy, to be avoided.’
I immediately refrained from braving another step. ‘Truly, you deserve better than I could ever give you as a wife. I will never make you happy.’
‘You do make me happy!’ he retorted, then his voice dropped to a whisper. ‘Goddamn it!’ He shook his head to collect himself. ‘Why should Lord Hereford be more deserving of your affection than I, if it is truly not about the title? What can he grant you that I cannot?’
‘In a word, freedom,’ I replied, and Mr Devere looked at me dumbfounded. ‘We both know he is not a well man. Lord Hereford just wants my company for what time he has left, and in return he will supply me with ample funds to indulge my travel ambitions once he has departed this world.’ I paused and as Mr Devere still seemed to be at a loss for words, I added, ‘I did tell you my agenda was unique to my gender.’
Having pondered my words a moment, Devere replied, ‘You’re not a romantic then?’
I smiled at his jest. ‘No, romance is for those who do not have the stomach for non-fiction.’
‘I like a little of both, myself.’ He bowed out of the conversation graciously, and moved to join his family in the next room. ‘I wish you all the very best for your future, Miss Granville.’
‘And you, Mr Devere.’
I dashed to my room to gather my sensibilities.
I had my letter personally delivered to Lord Hamilton by Nanny Beat and my betrothed visited me at the Cavandishs’ residence on Mayfair that evening.
There was great cause for celebration in the Cavandish household that night, for Lord Devere had proposed to Susan that very afternoon and Lord and Lady Cavandish had blessed the couple’s plans to marry. Susan was
