“I’m going back to New York.”
“You are doing no such thing, not until you’re wed.”
I raked my hands through my hair. “There will be no wedding. Do you understand? I can’t believe I’m still discussing this with you.”
Lisbeth looked a little sad, but my father was fuming. “For once in your overindulged, spoiled life, you are doing what you are told, Niall. You have been an embarrassment to this family for far too long. Do you understand?”
“And what are you going to do if I don’t do what I’m told? Disown me?”
“Maybe I finally should.”
“You have nothing on me, father. What will you do? Cut me off? I still have mother’s money. You’re not threatening me into marrying someone against my will.”
“I should disown you. Strip your title,” he said. I heard Lisbeth gasp. Ah. She didn’t like the sound of that, did she? Told me exactly why she was interested in marrying into the family. My quarrel was with my father though, not with her. As far as I knew, she had been roped into this as well and I wouldn’t be her first choice if she could make it herself.
“Do it. If you do, Charlie gets it and he deserves it.”
He stalked up to me, poking me in the chest. “You’ll besmirch the family name forever if you do this.”
I laughed. “Is that a threat? What family? This one? Am I supposed to capitulate to people who made my life miserable?”
“You ungrateful little git,” he said, taking the lapels of my robe and shaking me. I laughed, moving his hands.
“I’ve never seen you this worked up over anything,” I said. “I’ve wanted you to care all my life and finally you do. This debt of yours must be quite something. I don’t envy you. Good luck, I’m having no part in it.”
“You will, Niall or God help you!”
“What? What will you do, father?” I asked. He sputtered, his face still bright red but his threats failing him because he had nothing on me. Not a damn thing. For once, he needed me and there was no way for him to force my hand.
“You will not embarrass this young lady,” he said slowly. “Apologize to Miss Lane.” He walked out, leaving us alone. I waited and watched to make sure he didn’t come back. Dealing with my father drained me but this was hopefully the last time we had this conversation. What was he going to do? What was he planning? I had a bad feeling that if I didn’t get out soon, this wouldn’t be the last that I heard of him. Lisbeth was the only thing still keeping me in the city now. At this rate, I could be out of here by tomorrow… depending on how this went. I walked over to one of the sofas and sat.
“Well,” Lisbeth said, giggling. “That… went well?”
I laughed. “It went just the way he knew it would. I don’t know where he gets off thinking he can make me do anything at all with the history that we have.”
“I’m sorry that you’re being forced into this.”
“Likewise. This honestly seems like this is a total waste of your time.”
She shrugged. “I was told that there was an eligible earl, looking to marry. My father told me, and I jumped at the chance to do it of course. I mean, who wouldn’t? He never said that there was any opposition on your side.”
I waved her over, so she came to the sofa with me. “What did they tell you?”
“The Earl of Arden was looking for a wife. He lived in New York, but he was getting ready to settle down and he was going to be in London. It was mentioned that our families had a special connection… that was the debt I think you mentioned?” she asked.
“Must be.
“Well, then this is embarrassing. I suppose that isn’t true then?”
“It isn’t.”
“Very well,” she said, seeming to deflate slightly. “I overheard you and your father of course but I wanted to hear you say it to me while we were alone. I get the impression that you and your father aren’t on good terms.”
“We’re not and I don’t want you to think this has anything to do with you. You aren’t the problem here by any stretch. My father is completely out of line with his machinations. You seem like a perfectly decent woman.”
“Perfectly decent,” she said, scoffing. “That’s what every woman wants to hear.”
“No, no, I mean no offense,” I said. She was laughing.
“Don’t apologize. I like being perfectly decent,” she said, laughing. She was making fun of me. She wasn’t upset.
“In our limited time together, I have no complaints.”
“Then what is the problem?” she asked.
“You’re nice and I think you’re a fine lady. The issue is that I’m involved with another woman.”
“Ah,” she said, “the Baroness of Belshire?”
“How do you know that?” I asked.
“I had a feeling when we met that she was more to you than just a friend. You know, at the party? Anyone with eyes could tell,” she said.
“Lovely,” I said under my breath. Eddy drove me to madness, and it was apparent to anyone who wanted to know. “I’m sorry for that.”
“Don’t be. I suppose there’s trouble in paradise?”
“You wouldn’t know the half of it.”
“What does your father think of her?”
“He doesn’t know about her,” I said.
“Oh,” she said. A moment of silence passed between us. “He must know about her money troubles.”
I sat up. “Her what?”
“Her money troubles?” she repeated. I still didn’t get it. “The Baroness of Belshire is broke.”
“What are you talking about?”
“The Baron died recently, didn’t he? Well, he was a drunk and a gambler. He squandered their entire fortune and left her penniless when he died.”
“That can’t be,” I said out loud to myself. Eddy was broke?
“I thought your father knew and was cautious because he thought she wanted you for your money.”
“How do you know about this?”
“It’s hardly a secret but admittedly, I
