“You are out of your mind,” Ralph snapped. “I shall be at the wedding, and I will walk Margaret down the aisle, and I shall do as I please. I am your father, and I am a husband, and I am in charge of this family. I am sick of your moaning and whining, Bridget. Is this because he left?”
Bridget brought her hand to her face, as if her father had just slapped her. She tried to maintain her composure but was unable to stop the tears from falling. She wiped them quickly with the back of her hand.
“What?” her father asked with a smile. “Did you fall in love with him? They say that daughters look for someone like their fathers. It must be a good match. He is a drunkard and loves debauchery, too, doesn’t he? You stand here and judge me, when you have feelings for a man who has done much worse than I have.”
“He is nothing like you,” Bridget muttered.
“No?” Ralph drawled. “That is not what I heard.”
Bridget turned to walk out—she was done with her father. Yet, something pulled her back. Perhaps the way he had said it or the lack of parting words as she was leaving. Her father knew something, and he was prepared to keep it secret for now.
Bridget sighed and stopped walking. She turned around to face her father, but he still did not speak. She placed her hands on her hips.
“What did you hear?” she asked through gritted teeth.
“If you must know, I was in a tavern last night, and it was a good thing I was there. I talked to a patron there, and the conversation turned to His Grace. Now, I might not have thought anything of it, but I noticed you were spending time with him on my previous visit. You might not think it, but I do love you, Bridget, and I wish to protect you.”
“Please, just get to what you heard, Father,” Bridget pressed.
She was impatient to know what was said about the Duke.
“I bought the man more drinks to keep him talking, hoping I would not hear something unwelcome, but I was prepared to do all that was needed to protect you. It is the reason I came back here last night and concluded my business early.”
“Father, please!”
“You love him, don’t you?” Ralph asked.
Bridget did not say a word.
“I saw how you were when he said goodbye to you. I watched you, Bridget. Ever since you were a young girl, I have been able to read your emotions. It is obvious what you feel toward him, and it is obvious that he has been stringing you along.”
“Stringing me along?” Bridget frowned.
“Did he tell you why he was returning to London?” Ralph asked.
Bridget took a moment and looked beyond her father to the window. There were lush greens outside, but they did nothing to brighten the darkness in her heart.
“He didn’t inform me why he was returning,” Bridget admitted.
“No, he wouldn’t,” her father said with a sigh. “He is in love with another woman.”
“Another woman?” Bridget gasped. “He never mentioned anyone else.”
“And why would he?” her father asked. “It is obvious what he wanted to do with you, and I hope you did not give it to him.”
Bridget was silent again.
“He is hardly going to tell you he has a woman back in London when he wants to have fun out here in the middle of nowhere. I believe he always planned to leave so soon. He does not care about you, and he does not care about his brother’s wedding. All he cares about is getting… well, some things are best left to the imagination.”
“I can’t believe he would do that,” Bridget admitted.
“I heard things last night that would make you shiver. I had to tell you before it was too late, and I am glad I got here in time. I can see in your eyes that you are untouched by him. You deserve much better than what he has to offer. You deserve a man who will love and respect you. A husband who will treat you as an equal and not as a plaything. I know in your heart that you do want to wed, but it will be on your own terms. I am here for you, Bridget.”
Bridget had not heard her father talk like that before, and it felt nice. She’d had her heart ripped out by the Duke, and it had been crushed by the things she had heard from her father, but she was comforted by his kindness.
“I don’t know if it is true, but the rumor is the Duke will wed immediately after his brother. He intends to start a family with the woman. I hear she is very beautiful.”
“He lied to me,” Bridget murmured.
