Even if she no longer had Liam, she still would refuse to marry this obnoxious creature.
“Miss Miller,” he said, straightening from his bow. “I would have words with you, if I may.”
“I have nothing to say to you.”
Stepping past him, she felt him grip her arm, and force her to turn, to face him. “How dare you,” she snapped, yanking her arm from his grasp.
Ampleforth curled his upper lip in a feral grin. “Oh, I think you should hear what I have to say – Thea.”
“I did not give you permission to address me in such a familiar fashion.”
“You and I are to be engaged,” he said, his voice low, evil. “Thus I can address you in any fashion I wish.”
Thea’s nose lifted as her rage filled the deadness inside her. “Neither you nor my brother can force me to the altar, Baron. I will never marry you.”
“Oh, yes, your brother did inform me of that,” he said, leaning close to gaze into her eyes. “But that is not exactly true, now is it?”
“Not even you can change church law.”
He chuckled. “I am not speaking of the law, Thea. I am speaking of your love, Liam Carter.”
Thea stared at him, a shiver of fear running down her back. “What are you talking about?”
“No, your brother did not tell me about how you love the footman,” he sneered. “I already knew, my man watched you down at the lake. A very romantic setting, my dear. You refuse to marry me, but you will marry a commoner? How droll.”
“That is none of your business.”
Thea tried to walk on, but his next words stopped her in her tracks.
“It is my business, Thea,” he said, his voice carrying an evil tone. “Should you continue to refuse my suit, I will have your footman killed.”
Thea spun around. “You would not dare.”
He laughed. “Oh, I would dare. You see, no one would care about the death of a common servant. I am a Baron and no court could ever convict me of his death.”
“My word will.”
“Oh, but that is the charming part, my dear.” Ampleforth stepped closer, looming over her, his blue eyes burning.
Thea refused to give ground, to back away from his chilling menace, staring defiantly back at him. Yet, her heart pounded with fear, her chest aching with the effort to continue her steady breathing, to not let him see her fright.
“Know this, Thea, my love,” he whispered. “Tell anyone about this conversation, even your brother, and the footman dies. Marry me willingly and your love continues to walk this earth.”
“My brother dismissed him. He is gone and free from your threats.”
The Baron chuckled low in his throat. “Oh, no, Freddie did not dismiss him. I have him. He will be set free once you and I have been married and the marriage consummated.”
“No,” she whispered, horrified.
“Yes.”
Ampleforth’s finger touched her cheek. Thea jerked away from him, and turned, striding away and toward the dining room, knowing she fled from the Baron in fear. She could not halt her terror, could not think or reason past the panic choking her. Liam would die.Liam would die. He will live if I succumb to Ampleforth, if I give him my hand in marriage.
Needing Freddie, needing to tell him everything in spite of Ampleforth’s threat, she strode to the dining room and threw the door open. Freddie was not there. Mr. O’Bannon and the footmen stood ready to serve supper, three places had been set, but no Freddie sat at the table, waiting for her. “Where is my brother?” she demanded, her fear making her voice rise.
Mr. O’Bannon bowed. “I have not yet seen him, Miss Miller.”
Thea spun around, finding Mr. Noonan advancing on her, his face wrought with worry. “What happened?” she gasped. “Where is my brother?”
