Startled, Blayne watched as she handed one to her mother. When he caught a skeptical look from Lord Elkins, he did his best to school his features and act like the flowers were as expected as his presence in their parlor and his intention to marry their daughter. “I wasnae sure what yer preference might be so I do hope ye like them.”
“They’re stunning,” Lady Elkins declared with the sort of surprise that informed Blayne she’d not believed him capable of locating a hothouse. “And very expensive looking.”
The added jibe rankled more than it ought to have done. He’d never cared much for prestige or wealth. Hell, he’d given both up a lifetime ago and hadn’t missed either since. But standing here in this parlor, being judged by people who’d not even bothered to get to know him yet, caused every muscle within him to tighten and strain with resentful irritation. Rather than let it show, he offered Lord Elkins his hand and proceeded to lie through his teeth. “I’m glad we’re finally able to meet face to face, my lord.”
The viscount, a man quite a bit shorter than Blayne, stared back at him through narrowed eyes. Time stretched, until the stern looking fellow finally chose to accept the handshake. “Neither my wife nor I knew of your existence until this morning, so you’ll have to forgive us for being a bit astonished by your arrival.”
Ah. So they’d suspected their daughter of lying about his existence. Miss Russell’s desperation to earn his collaboration was starting to make more sense although he’d yet to discover why she’d made him up in the first place.
“And um…” Lady Elkins appeared to struggle with finding the right words while examining him from head to toe. Eventually, she made an exasperated sound in the back of her throat and said, “We are curious to know how you plan on supporting Charlotte?”
“Mama,” Miss Russell exclaimed with a theatrical dose of outrage.
Blayne silently thanked the viscountess for supplying him with his supposed fiancée’s name since that was something he probably ought to know. The lady, however, ignored her daughter’s note of warning and took a step forward. “You will have to forgive me, Mr. Wright, but you do not strike me as a man of means.”
“Dear lord,” Miss Russell said. “Please accept my sincerest apologies, Mr. Wright.”
“Your mother is quite correct,” Lord Elkins said. “We need to know precisely who Mr. Wright is.”
“Perhaps we should sit?” Miss Russell said in a weary tone that suggested she might be losing her nerve. “I’m sure we could all do with refreshment.”
“I for one will not permit my daughter to marry just anyone,” Lord Elkins said.
“Papa…” Miss Russell said with a longing glance at the sofa. “Mr. Wright is the man I’ve fallen in love with.”
Love? Blayne almost choked on the air he was breathing. Did she really have to drag that particular emotion into this mess? He tried not to flinch beneath the weight of it but the truth was he wasn’t sure if his acting skills were up to par with her requirements.
She sidled close to him until he was left with no choice but to put his arm around her waist. To his surprise, she fit against him perfectly. Hmm.
Lord Elkins gave the ceiling a brief perusal before returning a hard and assessing stare to Blayne and Miss Russell. “Love will not put food on the table nor a roof over your head. It is the least important factor when making life-altering decisions. Trust me, Charlotte, Mr. Cooper will make a far better choice than this…individual. I’m sure of it.”
Years of keeping a cool head under Guthrie’s command allowed Blayne to let the insult slide so he could focus on the bit Lord Elkins had said about Mr. Cooper. Another piece of the puzzle fell into place. Obviously Miss Russell’s parents had selected her husband and as a result she’d created Mr. Wright.
“And who is Mr. Cooper?” he asked, deciding to take the opportunity to learn a thing or two about his opponent. Although why in God’s name he was making the effort he wasn’t quite sure. Something about the viscount and viscountess’s condescension and the manner in which they were trying to dictate their daughter’s life made him want to put these people in their place.
“Nobody,” Miss Russell muttered.
“An American steelworks manufacturer,” her father supplied with a satisfied smirk. “He’s made quite a fortune for himself, owns several estates, and is presently on his way here with every intention of courting Charlotte. And since I’m the one who encouraged him to make the long journey, I’d hate for her to be otherwise engaged during his visit.”
The request for Blayne to walk away immediately was clear.
He ought to leap at the chance to escape this debacle. After all, that was what he’d been planning to do when he’d first arrived. But after seeing the hope in Miss Russell’s eyes when she’d pleaded with him for help, a strange urge to save her had taken over.
Ignore it you idiot.
Leave before it’s too late.
“Unfortunately,” Blayne said while pulling her closer, “I have nae intention of giving Charlotte up without a fight.”
“You don’t?” Miss Russell asked. She was gazing at him as if he were some sort of Arthurian knight intent on championing her cause no matter the danger.
The desire to set aside his own concerns in order to help her was suddenly overwhelming. “Of course not, darling.” Deciding the time had come for him to put on the best performance yet, he dropped his gaze to hers. “Meeting ye was the best thing that ever happened to me. The very idea of having to give ye up would shatter my heart and destroy my soul. Ye’re everything I’ve ever wished for, Charlotte, and knowing ye feel the same about me makes me the luckiest man alive.”
“I…um…really?” she half sighed, half stammered.
“If it’s money you’re after,” Lord Elkins remarked, “I’m happy to come to some sort of agreement.”
Every cell in Blayne’s body drew tight, like a twig being bowed to the point of snapping. He felt Miss Russell flinch and heard her sharp intake of breath. Heat radiated up his spine, settling at the base of his skull where it started to throb. And yet, somehow, by some bloody miracle, he managed to calmly say, “Thank ye, but that willnae be necessary. I’m perfectly capable of supporting Charlotte without yer help. Shall we sit?”
He didn’t wait for a response. Merely guided Miss Russell toward the sofa she’d been eyeing for the past ten minutes. Standing about like this with one proverbial foot out the door was getting ridiculous anyway. It was time to let her parents know he was staying. Indefinitely.
Was he though?
Apparently, yes. He certainly wasn’t about to let them run roughshod over his pride or treat Miss Russell as though she was undeserving of seeking whatever happiness she desired for herself. Mr. Cooper clearly wasn’t the answer and forcing her to tie herself to him for life seemed unnaturally cruel.
That’s the way of the ton.
You know this.
He certainly did, but he’d be damned if such foolishness broke Miss Russell’s spirit. She’d been like a blazing diamond when she’d approached him at The Black Swan. Faced with her parents’ disapproval, however, she’d lost some of her sparkle, and that in itself made Blayne want to hit something.