“What can be stronger than love?”
“Hate.”
Clearly stunned, Violet's hands slipped away from hers. "You cannot hate him, you are not that type of person. If you could not hate Henry, who was worthy of your ire, how could you hate Luke? He loves you in truth, there is no falsehood in how he feels towards you."
“We can go around in circles all day, Violet, but I promise you that my opinion of the marquess shall not change. Love has played a cruel game, and I lost once again. This is the last lesson I shall ever need to prove how dangerous love is.”
“What of Gregory and I? Do you think our love ill-fated?”
“Some people appear to be the exception to the rule. I suppose that is the case for you and Gregory. I have not yet come across any deceit in him, he was transparent about his intentions from the very beginning. I cannot say the same for his friend.”
“Your love story cannot come to an end, Alice. Why not give Luke an opportunity to explain everything to you? Allow him to prove that his love for you is true.”
Alice's head was spinning from all this talk about Luke. She just wanted to forget about him. Why could her sister not comprehend that simple fact? She needed to leave her be.
Alice pretended to yawn. “Violet, I am tired. Would you kindly leave my room?”
Violet's eyes became slits. “This is an excuse to chase me away, Alice.”
“Will you doubt everything that I say and yet believe everything that proceeds forth from the marquess's lips?”
“There is no competition or comparison between you and Luke, Alice. You are my sister, and I hope that he will become my brother-in-law.”
“Your hope is in vain. Now please, leave me to rest.”
Violet bowed her head, shaking it slowly. “I see that I cannot talk any sense to you, you are determined to paint Luke as the devil.”
Alice smiled wryly. "Now, there is an idea. Perhaps that can be the inspiration for my next painting. I shall name it The Burning Marquess."
Her sister stood up. "I find no humour in your words, Alice. Your stubbornness has not only made you sad, but bitter as well. I hope it is merely a passing phase."
Violet left Alice with an uncomfortable and worrying feeling in the pit of her stomach. She already knew what the truth was. But as with all women, there was always a sliver of foolishness even when hurt beyond measure. It was that foolishness that wanted to believe her sister's words. She wanted this mess to be a misunderstanding, she wanted to be wrong. However, survival had kicked in the moment she had looked into his eyes that evening and saw the truth written clearly for all to see.
He had known that it would hurt her, and yet he did not tell her as soon as he was told. If she did not know it was my father who had approached the duke, she could have believed Luke to have done it instead. She would have believed that he conspired with her father to corner her into an arranged marriage with him.
Had that been the case, what would his motive have been? Alice had never met the marquess before that night at the ball, and she was confident that she had never been in his presence at any other time. No, she could not blame him for creating the plan, it was solely on her father. Alice had yet to speak to him because she knew that she would scream and accuse him of many awful things. He was still her father, and she needed to respect him, come what may. But she would have to speak to him and discover what he planned to do now that everything had been brought to light for all to see.
She was probably the only one who saw the wrong in it all. Society would only gossip and move on to the next scandal. If her own sister could not see the wrong in what had happened, then who would? Loneliness crept over her, but she welcomed it. As far as she was concerned, it was better to be lonely than in pain.
***
It took Alice six days before she felt well and prepared enough to venture outside her bedroom door. After her conversation with Violet, she had refused to speak to anyone. Now, making her way to the parlour, she knew she would be bombarded with questions and advice that would do nothing but distress her. But she was mentally prepared, she had to be. She could not avoid this moment any longer.
Her mother was the first person she saw upon entering the parlour. Alice tried to smile, not wishing to distress her mother any further, but her face had grown used to a more sombre look.
“Alice!” she exclaimed. Her mother half stood, sitting back on the edge of her seat when Alice did not respond to her. Her father and sister came to attention as well, but Violet was the only one to go to her.
“Alice, you have come down. Do you need anything? Shall I ask Mary to get you something to drink? Something to eat, perhaps?”
“No, thank you, Violet. I am fine.”
“Come, sit down. We are happy to see you, are we not, Papa?”
Violet looked at her father. He agreed by nodding but remained silent. He did not know what to say to her. Was he angry with her, or was he ashamed for all he had put her through? Alice could not tell by looking at him. His skin was pale, but his expression blank. Was he hiding his feelings? She wished that he would say something, reassure ehr that he was genuinely sorry for what he had done. In doing so, he would make amends for it.
Her lips did not move, but her eyes spoke for her. Did he understand that he had hurt his daughter? What he did was wrong from every aspect. No woman should be forced into a marriage to pay her father's debt. Although he knew that she was firmly against marriage, she would have married someone of her own choosing just to save him. Her father looked away to the window, his cheeks a light pink.
“Uh, Alice, come dear, you should sit down,” her mother insisted, patting the seat next to her. “It is indeed wonderful to see you up and about. You look well, and I must say that your dress is rather becoming on you. Is it a new one?”
Considering the fact that her mother was the one to buy her dresses, it was a strange question. She was nervous. “Thank you, Mama, I feel well.”
Violet propelled her forward, pulling on her arm. "Sit, Alice. Mama, has insisted."
Alice would have rather stood, as it gave her the option of leaving the room before anyone had the chance to leave their seats to stop her. But she did not wish to come across as difficult. She allowed herself to be led to the seat next to her mother, sitting down with apprehension. It could not be helped. There was no telling what her mother or father may say to her. Violet returned to her seat, her smile stiff but unmoving. She was trying to make the situation comfortable for them all, but it could not be until what must be said was said.
"I was just speaking to Mama and Papa about my wedding arrangements. Of course, the ceremony is not such a lavish affair as a ball or a dinner party, but that does not mean that the wedding celebration cannot be perfect. Gregory and I have discussed our guest list for the ceremony, which shall be but a few family members and our closest friends, but we shall host a celebratory dinner afterwards to include the rest.”
“That all sounds lovely, Vi. I know that whatever you do will be marvellous.”
"Yes, Violet is quite the planner," her mother put in. "There is not a detail she has not thought about. We are still undecided about the wedding dress, as two seamstresses are keen to design and make her dress. It is a matter of choosing the one that most appeals to her."
If anyone were to enter the room at that moment, they would believe that they were a happy family discussing a joyous occasion. However, if they looked closely enough, they would see the strain around the eyes of her parents, the false gaiety of her sister's words. They were all stressed, and yet they were not addressing the reason behind the fake smiles and tense body language.
"I am glad that you have found someone to marry who you love, Violet. All marriages should be as thus: unarranged."
Her father turned sharply. “There is nothing wrong with arranged marriages, Alice, especially when the match is good.”
“What would you constitute as being 'good', Papa? Is it good because it pays a debt
not even made by the one getting married?” Alice heard her mother's sharp intake of breath, but her eyes did not leave her father's face.
“A daughter should never question her father. As parents, we know what is best.”
"What is best? There would not be an arranged marriage had you not gambled your wealth away in one sitting."
Alice watched as her father's hands gripped the armrests of his chair. She could see his jaw clenching and unclenching as he stared at her unblinking. He could be as angry as he wished, but she needed answers to her questions.
“Alice, dear,” her mother began.
“No, Helen, do not interfere. Allow Alice to speak her mind, she obviously has much to say. These questions have been circling your mind during these days that you have locked yourself away in your room, Alice, have they not?”
“Locked, Papa? Hardly. There is no lock on my door, but you could have locked me in if you so chose. And yes, I have thought much about what I wish to say to you. I hope that you are able to answer my questions.”
“That still needs to be determined. Ask your questions, but remember your place.” The pinched look around his mouth was the only indication of his anger. His voice was still controlled, but perhaps too controlled for a man of his temper.
"Yes, I know that I am your daughter, and you are my father. I am well aware that your word is law in the eyes of society. However, you are also to protect and provide for your family, and yet you have failed in this regard."
Alice had not meant to be so direct, but once the words came out of her mouth, they refused to stop. It was the anger in her that was speaking and she was willing to take the consequences of her questions.
“Pray tell, how have I failed to do this?”
“You knowingly put your family at risk of ruin when you gambled that fateful night. I love and respect you, Papa, you need never doubt that. But I cannot ignore the fact that you have treated me like something to be bartered. Your actions have hurt me because I never would have expected it of you.”
Her father hung his head, his brow creased. Alice hoped that this meant he was coming to terms with what he had done. Would he admit to it? Her hope was short-lived when he lifted his head and fixed her with an intense stare, his voice low and taut.
“Alice, you have some nerve to question anything that I do or have done. You, your sister, your mother, and all that you see belong to me. You say that you feel as though you were bartered?” He shrugged. “That is your own misled opinion. I saw that our family needed to be saved, and you needed to be married. Have you forgotten that you are of age to be married? It is my duty as a father to get you married to a suitable man. Who better than the Marquess of Shore? The fact that he is the son of the Duke of Richley is neither here nor there. Yes, it worked in my favour that Lord Shore is unmarried, but why dwell on that? He is an excellent match for you. Any unmarried woman would be happy to know that her father has arranged such a wonderful match for her, but you are ungrateful. Which brings me to my conclusion: you are the problem here, Alice.”
How had her father managed to turn this on her? He moved back into his seat, his face smug as he crossed one leg over the other. He had absolved himself of any guilt! Alice glanced at her sister, her face mirroring the shock in her own. What of her mother? She looked to her side, surprised to see anger in her mother's face. Was that directed at Papa or her?
“Dougie, what are you saying?” she asked.
“I am saying that your daughter should stop with her silliness and marry Lord Shore. Was I not clear enough?” He stood to his feet. “I am done with this conversation. I hope that you are as well. Furthermore, I do not wish to speak of it ever again.”
When he left the room, it exploded with the sound of her sister's voice. “Mama! While I like Lord Shore, did Papa really just say that everything is Alice's fault? That she is the problem?”
“Violet, do calm down. We cannot think of the way forward if you insist on bringing the walls down with your shouting.”
Alice did not wish to discuss anything. She was taken aback by her father's words. They had effectively silenced anything else that she could have said. Leaving her room was a mistake. Alice walked away from her mother and sister, ignoring their calls for her to come back. All she wanted now was to be left alone.
Chapter 13
Luke looked as though someone with a heavy hand had tipped him a settler in both eyes. Two grey eyes surrounded by black circles stared back at him as he stood before the hallway mirror. His drawn face had lost its healthy pallor, his lips thin and grim. How long had it been since the terrible evening? He did not know. Each day seemed to melt into the next, neither giving him peace nor amnesia.
Luke sighed, stepping away from the mirror. He had not meant to stop in front of it as he had been heading to the parlour, but the brief glimpse of his reflection had stopped him cold. It was no wonder that the servants looked worried whenever they stared at him – he looked like death. The simple reason for this was that Luke had not adequately slept in some days. Every time he felt himself begin to drift off, he would see Alice's eyes looking at him. The accusation, disappointment and agonising pain he would see staring back at him would abruptly wake him up, withholding his sleep from him. And he deserved it and more for what he had done.
Although he had not been the one to arrange the marriage, he had still neglected to tell her because he had been a coward. Luke had been a stranger to cowardice for much of his life, thus it tortured him to know that his moment of weakness had driven away the only woman he had let himself love. He laughed, but not a cheery sound escaped him. Let? There was no choice to it. He fell in love with Alice almost without his knowledge of it. It simply grew out of a sense of camaraderie.
Did they not both hate their fathers' gambling? Marriage was another thing they were of the same opinion on. But now his beliefs had changed due to her. Alice had shown him that marriage was not the curse he had once believed it to be without her meaning to. Spending his life with one person had never appealed to him. In fact, it had made him run for the hills. However, spending time with Alice had shown him a different way of life, one with a woman who he enjoyed being around. That was the irony of the situation, was it not? He spent time around a woman who did not wish to be married, only to want to be married to her.
No, the irony was that she was given to him before he knew that he wanted her. Their arranged marriage was not something he had wanted as it was better for her to come to him of her own volition. But he could not help but wonder if this was not just fate's way of ensuring they came together.
Luke grabbed the side of his head, squeezing it briefly. He was so confused, and he had not a clue how to make things right again. How did he speak with her if she refused to see him?
Going to her home had not been the success he had hoped. Luke had gone there with a speech prepared, one that would lay out the truth plainly for her. He was willing to beg if he had to, but he did not receive the opportunity to do so. He was hardly through the front door before he was escorted out by Lady Campbell.
He had been able to speak to Violet for a moment, pleading with her to talk to her sister. It was a great relief to know that she was not against him. In fact, she believed that he was genuine in his love for Alice. Her mother, who had had the air of a woman at the end of her tether, had asked him to leave. It was not done rudely, but desperately. It had given him some insight into the emotional state of the Campbell family, sending alarm through his body. He had indirectly caused trouble there and yet the men at fault did not seem overly concerned.
His father was adamant that the marriage arrangement still stood and, judging by Lord Campbell's appearance yesterday, he felt the same.
Luke had been to see his siblings in the hope that spending time with them would lift his spirits. It had for a time, but when he had returned home, the reality of the situation had overtaken his mind once again. During his visit to the family home, he had seen Lord Campbell enter his
father's study. It had been a challenge to stop himself from entering the room and speaking his mind to them both. But stop himself he did. He had played the pianoforte for his siblings, thinking that he might catch the baron on his way out. It never came to be as the man left well before his impromptu concert did, frustrating his plan.
The Way to Capture a Marquess's Heart: A Historical Regency Romance Book Page 21
