“What did you do?” Bridget asked.
“I only wanted to protect you, and I had already received a handsome offer for your hand from a gentleman who had a son looking for a wife. He is the type of man who will respect you as you deserve, and I know you will find comfort in him.”
“Father, you suggested a gentleman when I was at my lowest, and you informed me that you were unsure if he was eligible and that you would talk to his father. Now, you tell me it was arranged beforehand, and you lied to me to drive me away from His Grace.”
“You make it sound as if I did something horrible, but I only wanted to protect you, my dear. I only want you to be happy. You would not have your heart broken, and you would find love. I know you want to wed, and Lord Barton is a good man. He will give you a good life.”
“And I shall not meet him,” Bridget told him.
“No, you must!” Ralph stated. “His father is giving me enough money to cover my gambling debts. Do you understand what that means, Bridget? This is not only about you or me but about our entire family. Do you wish Margaret to know about our debts on her wedding day?”
Bridget pointed an accusatory finger at him. “Don’t you dare do that! You threaten me, but you are in the wrong, Father. If you wish to tell her that on her wedding day, then it is on your head. Perhaps it is time for it to all come out. Lord Michael will take care of Margaret anyhow. I don’t need to worry about her anymore. So, go and congratulate Margaret, and if you wish to spoil this day any more than you already have, then you can tell her, but I know you are not that foolish.”
Ralph held his daughter’s gaze, and then he looked at the footmen and the Duke. “Is all of this really necessary?”
“Yes,” Bridget stated.
“You heard her,” the Duke warned. “Please escort Lord Lincoln to his daughter, and at the slightest sign of trouble, you have my full permission to throw him out of the house and not let him back in.”
“It is all on you now, Father,” Bridget said. “You can choose to make this a better day for Margaret, or you can choose to ruin it.”
She watched her father leave with the footmen. She knew he was not a complete fool, but she still did not know what would happen with him at the wedding.
Bridget looked back at the Duke, but she could not speak. It suddenly hit her that she had been thinking with the wrong information for the past three weeks. He had still broken her heart when he had left, but he had not left for the reasons she had thought.
“Will you take a walk with me?” the Duke asked. “I think we have a lot to discuss.”
“Only a short walk,” Bridget relented. “We still have a wedding celebration to attend.”
CHAPTER27
Sorting the Lies from The Truth
“What?” Bridget gasped. “My father tried to punch you!”
“He did. He swung at me after I spoke to him at the chapel, and it felt as if he moved in slow motion, though I think that was probably the huge amount of alcohol in his system. I ducked under his arm, and I came back up to ready myself for the next attack, but I needn’t have bothered. He spun around and collapsed to the ground.”
Bridget laughed but suddenly stopped. “Oh, what sadness that brings. You talk of him as if he is a clown, and I laugh at him.”
“I don’t mean to.”
“No, I know. And I know I should not laugh at his and my own misfortune, but what else is there I can do? If I didn’t laugh, I might have to cry instead.”
“He snored as I took him home on my horse,” the Duke added.
“Oh, don’t!” Bridget begged as she snorted. “You are awful.”
“I am only glad his drink made him early and not late. I can’t imagine the chaos he would have created if he came to the wedding later and entered the chapel.”
“It does not bear thinking about,” Bridget admitted. “I hope he is not causing any trouble in there. I don’t know if I even want to go back inside for fear of seeing him causing Margaret any pain.”
“We can stay out here for as long as you like,” the Duke assured her.
“You really do have a beautiful estate,” Bridget told him.
They walked side by side along a small bubbling creek. Tall oak trees separated them from the house, leaves fluttering in the slight breeze. Blackbirds floated high above in the pale blue sky, and a songbird serenaded them in a nearby tree. The grass was as green as the Duke’s eyes.
“Why did you leave so suddenly?” Bridget asked abruptly.
