Unlike the previous gentlemen, Lachlan had promised to wait as long as she desired.
But she intended to wait for always.
‘You don’t love him,’ Camford pointed out.
‘I don’t have a choice,’ she answered. ‘And besides that, love isn’t necessary to be content within a marriage. Afterwards, I will leave London and never return.’
He looked as if he wanted to say more. His eyes had turned stormy, like a jealous man. But he said nothing at all, silencing whatever thoughts he had.
Chapter Five
Dalton drove swiftly through the streets, wishing he hadn’t delayed his trip to Scotland. He’d rather be anywhere else than tangled up in this mess.
Locharr had returned to Worthingstone’s residence in a foul mood. He’d got quite drunk and had revealed that Regina had accepted his proposal of marriage. It had taken every ounce of control for Dalton to congratulate him. But inwardly, he’d wanted to drive his fist through the glass window.
Because you want her, a voice inside reminded him.
He pushed back the thought, for he knew better than to consider it. Regina didn’t want him, and why should she? All his life, he’d never been good enough to please his parents. He was the black sheep, the ne’er-do-well who could never truly take his brother’s place as heir. If his own family didn’t care for him, neither would she.
But even so, he hadn’t liked her insistence that she didn’t have a choice in the marriage. He wanted to be certain no one was forcing her into this decision. He already knew that it wasn’t Lachlan’s desire—the laird was in love with the governess, Miss Goodson. This was naught but an arrangement for the sake of a twenty-thousand-pound dowry that would save the MacKinloch Clan.
Though he understood why Locharr had agreed to the match, Dalton didn’t truly understand Regina’s reasons. It seemed as if she was trying to run away. Her last words, her claim that she would not return to London again, seemed to emphasise it.
And so, he had decided to pay a call on her. He wanted to be absolutely certain that no one was forcing her into the betrothal. For Locharr could marry any wealthy heiress to save his clan; it didn’t have to be Regina.
He knocked on Lord Havershire’s front door, and the footman sighed. ‘My lord, Lady Regina is not receiving guests.’
He paused a moment, wondering if he ought to leave. ‘Is she all right?’
The footman cleared his throat. ‘That is none of your concern.’
‘Actually, as her friend, it is my concern if she’s not feeling well.’ He was about to offer his calling card, but it was then that he saw Lord Havershire approaching. The man’s face was ghastly pale, and he clutched a handkerchief. The earl coughed and straightened. ‘What’s all this about, Camford?’
He didn’t want to have this conversation in the hall with half the servants listening. ‘I came to pay a call upon your daughter, Havershire.’
‘Why?’ The earl eyed him and said, ‘You’ve heard about my daughter’s betrothal to the Laird of Locharr, haven’t you?’ The man’s face reddened, as he stared hard at Dalton. ‘Do you somehow believe she might change her mind and wed you instead? Is that why you’re here?’
‘No, that isn’t the reason,’ he started to say.
But the earl took a step forward and glared at him. ‘I promise you, it will never happen. Regina knows that Lachlan MacKinloch is the only man she is permitted to marry.’
Permitted? Dalton’s suspicions tightened, and he chose his question carefully. ‘Why would you take that choice from her? Is there a reason you won’t allow her to wed anyone else?’
The earl shrugged. ‘The agreement was made years ago. And I am not a man to go back on my word.’
Dalton was about to argue, but then, it occurred to him that the earl was speaking about the marital contract as if he owed a debt. And perhaps that’s what this was—he was selling his daughter into an arrangement, in order to repay Locharr’s family. He could think of no other reason why the earl would demand that Regina marry one man, and a laird at that.
Dalton pulled out the crumpled note demanding three thousand pounds. ‘Does this have something to do with your reasons for the betrothal?’
The earl took the paper and paled. ‘Where did you get this?’
‘From your daughter,’ he answered. ‘Is this why you would never allow her to marry anyone else? Because of a scandal you’re being blackmailed about?’
The older man’s face grew stricken, as if Dalton had predicted too much of the truth. ‘Get out.’ To the footman, he added, ‘Lord Camford is not welcome in this house again.’
A racking cough came over the earl, and he covered his mouth with the handkerchief. His shoulders shook from the effort, and he turned away, clutching the note in his fist.
‘She deserves better than this,’ Dalton said. ‘You shouldn’t force her into marriage.’
Especially when Locharr is in love with someone else.
‘Out,’ the earl repeated.
This time, Dalton went to the door, though he made no effort to hide his frustration. It seemed there was nothing he could do, and he wasn’t so certain that it was her choice.
Dalton walked down the stairs towards his waiting carriage, when suddenly, he saw Regina arriving with her mother and her maid. Her face grew guarded, and she hesitated while they approached.
‘Lord Camford,’ the countess greeted him. ‘What a surprise to see you. Did you hear of Regina’s good news? She has accepted a marriage proposal from your friend, the Laird of Locharr.’ The woman smiled brightly, though he recognised the hidden warning in her words.
‘Yes, I spoke with Lachlan last night,’ Dalton agreed. ‘I thought the news was rather sudden.’ He sent a direct look towards Regina, who didn’t flinch at all.
‘I am so pleased
