That she wanted to talk to her father with him, showing a united front, sparked hope within him where there’d been only pain for the last few days. He didn’t know if showing up together would work, or if her father would listen.
Back at Woodrest, Ethan had managed to wash only the bare minimum before reading Lottie’s letter. Within moments his clean shirt had absorbed the lingering smoke clinging to him. After chasing a carriage up the Great North Road on horseback for two days, there wasn’t a single bloody inch of him that was presentable. Without a change of clothes, a bath would have been a waste of time. And without a bath, purchasing clothing would be throwing good money away. Sure, he could have ordered a bath along the way at any of the inns, for an exorbitant fee. But at some point, he’d become too exhausted to care.
He was in traveler hell. And he still didn’t have a damn hat.
Every bit of grime on his skin itched when the carriage doors opened. This wasn’t how he’d imagined meeting the earl again. Nevertheless, it seemed he had the chance to meet her father and say his piece—in all his travel dirt and disreputable hatless state. Shortly after that, he’d likely be thrown out on his ear.
Lottie’s fingers tightened around his as they entered the house.
The Earl of Brinkley’s library was everything a library should be. The warmth from the crackling fireplace enhanced the perfume of leather, ink, and paper that greeted him like an old friend. Unfortunately, the earl himself was not as welcoming.
“Charlotte? What are you doing here? And Lord Amesbury in the flesh. I see you’ve brought half the dirt between here and London in with you. Is this how you pay a visit in Scotland?” the earl said.
Biting the inside of his cheek to stop the words he wanted to say, Ethan glanced over at Lottie to see how she wanted to handle this. With Lottie by his side, he took a wide-legged stance before the elaborately carved wood desk.
“We received your letter,” she said. A bubble of hope grew within him. She’d asked for his trust one more time, and he had to wonder what she had up her sleeve.
“What, I wasn’t clear enough? Why on earth would you bring him here?” the earl asked, then turned away to shelve the book in his hand. “I thought I made my opinion of you clear years ago, Amesbury. This isn’t the first time you’ve asked for my blessing, and my answer hasn’t changed.”
Lottie wrinkled her brow and asked Ethan, “What is he talking about?”
“The day after the prime minister’s assassination, when I told you I’d call—”
“I waited and you didn’t come. Yes, I remember. But that’s ancient history, Ethan.”
“Lottie, I was there. The butler took me tae your father instead of you.”
She looked between him and her father, clearly confused. “But Father knew I was expecting you. I told him all about how you’d helped me that day—saved me from the mob.”
“I asked tae court you. The earl rejected my suit and sent me home with an earful.”
The earl piped up, “He wasn’t worthy of you. I wasn’t going to give my daughter to some fortune-hunting shepherd.”
Ethan bowed his head in agreement. “You were right tae turn me away.” The earl gave him a surprised look. “I didn’ love her. I saw Lottie as an easy, beautiful solution tae the financial mess I’d inherited.”
“I didn’t get a say in that decision, I suppose?” Lottie said, but her father ignored the comment.
“And you think you’re good enough now? What’s changed? My sources tell me your estate is still practicing economies and you’re sinking the title into trade.”
“I wish I could tell you all was right and prosperous, but Mr. Montague indulged in a wee bit of sabotage. We will need tae rebuild and find a supply of grain for the winter tae replace our losses.”
Beside him, Lottie said, “Then Montague kidnapped me and tried to force an elopement. The man is a villain, Father.”
“I hardly believe it. Why would Mr. Montague do such a thing? I gave him my blessing. He didn’t have to kidnap you.” Finally returning to his desk, the earl carried three books from the shelves.
“Why would you endorse such a man? Where is the consideration for my safety? What about what I want?” Lottie said.
“What you want?” The earl slammed a book on the desk, and the sharp clap made Lottie jump beside Ethan. “I am giving you what you want! Your dowry, that house by the sea—everything you want, handed to you. Just say the word, and I’ll have Rogers purchase that house today.”
“But I want Ethan.”
Such a simple statement, but it meant the world to him. Clearly, they had things to discuss, but the hope grew until it filled in the missing areas of his heart.
The earl talked to Lottie as if speaking to a child. “Charlotte, I’ve made my opinion regarding this young man abundantly clear.”
Straightening his shoulders, Ethan took a deep breath. “Milord, I know there’s history between us. I’d welcome a chance tae make it right, in hope that you’ll eventually bless our marriage.”
“No. I told her no. This is the problem with the younger generation. No one listens anymore.” The earl flipped open the first book in the stack and began to read.
Ethan rubbed the base of his skull with one hand and studied his filthy boots. This whole thing had been a losing endeavor from the beginning. Huffing out a laugh devoid of humor, he said, “You never approved of me, milord. Is it Scotsmen in general or me in particular you hate?”
The earl gave him a withering glare. “Being a member
