“Exactly,” Henry agreed. “Which is why I have found him such an interesting gentleman.”
Elizabeth screwed up her face in horror. “Oh, I don’t know about ‘interesting’. I have always heard that he is quite conceited.”
Henry shook his head, ignoring his mother. Then it was time for his attention to turn back to Verity.
He cleared his throat. “We have actually been invited to dine with Lord Ambrose and his family in three evenings.”
“We have?” Verity rasped back. Her stomach churned with fear because she had no idea where this was headed, but she was certain that she did not like it one bit.
“I suppose he could be a potential suitor for you.”
Verity’s heart sunk.
These were the words that she had been absolutely dreading, and hoping would not come out of Henry’s mouth.
“You cannot be serious,” Elizabeth jumped in before Verity could say anything. “That is not the sort of man that you want your sister to be married to. He only wants a wife to become a mother to his children…”
But Henry silenced her by holding up his hands. “The matter is not up for debate, Mother. Verity cannot remain a spinster forever. I will stop all this gossip around our family name. We must consider her future. Sometimes I think that I am the only one who cares about our reputation. I am the only one thinking about the future for all of us, with no support from you at all.”
Verity could not say a word.
How could her brother want to do this to her? Did he not recall the pain that she had been through? It truly felt very cruel to put her in such a position where she was trapped in a corner, unable to escape.
Her father would never have been so cruel…
Verity had missed him every single day since he passed away, but now that pain was acute. He would have cared for her, he would have ensured that she found love, he would have never allowed her heart to break like it did.But with her father gone, and her brother the man of the house, was Verity in a position to argue?
Henry paid for all of her living costs, so of course he wanted her to get married. He wanted her out of the house so he would no longer responsible for her.
There was a heat coursing through her body, but somehow, she felt all icy and cold at the same time, like her body wasn’t quite sure how to react. She wasn’t sure that she could keep looking at Henry anymore. Not when it seemed like he was about to betray her as well.
CHAPTER 2
“You must remarry, Philip, you cannot stay in mourning forever.”
Philip shook his head as he tried to forget his mother’s words.
The wind blowing through his hair as he rode his favorite horse, Midnight, through Hyde Park was supposed to help clear his mind, but as Philip cantered, he found himself more burdened than ever.
He had not bothered with the ton for many years now. He had successfully avoided socializing with high society for the last five years, but now that his younger sister Georgina was ready to make her debut, he knew that he was going to have to face it all again. This Spring, he would be deeply involved with the ton once more, trying to ensure that his sister made the right match during the Season. It wasn’t a burden that he relished having on his shoulders, but he was fiercely protective of Georgina and would not trust her future to anyone else.
He could only hope that he would not find himself the center of attention. He did not want anyone to try and set him up with a match because that was far from what he wanted.
If only he could make everyone else understand that…
With a deep sigh, Philip turned his steed around, knowing that he could not avoid the problems that awaited him at home forever. Much as he would have loved to continue riding until the sun set, he knew that it would change nothing.
Philip rode Midnight to the stables and handed him off to the stable boy, before he took confident strides towards the house. Maybe he did not feel as confident as he looked, but that was hardly the issue.
“Ah, good afternoon, my lord.” Philip was immediately greeted by Mr. Jameson, his butler, with a solemn vow. “You have a visitor.”
“I do?” Philip wasn’t expecting anyone. But perhaps he should have known what was to come.
“The Dowager Marchioness awaits your presence in the drawing room.”
Mother.
Of course.
