usual. “My understanding was that the two of you still had an agreement.”
“I don’t know what Mr. Woodsworth is talking about.”
That was ridiculous. She had written him a blasted letter to make certain he knew she was done with him. What had happened to it? All he remembered about the rest of that evening was Patience kissing him. She had most certainly left her mark.
“Miss Morgan, you and I both know there is nothing between us. And I have proof.”
“What proof?”
Blast, if only he knew where he had put the letter. He remembered wanting to burn it, but he hadn’t. He didn’t remember throwing it away or filing it. He rubbed his face. They couldn’t have this conversation here. “Even if I don’t have proof, you have made your move too early. My father hasn’t actually gained his title yet. He can still decline.”
“You would make him do that?” Mr. Morgan asked. “He has worked his whole life for that title.”
“He has worked his whole life to give his children a better chance than he had.” By this point, enough people were close by that he had to hiss the words under his breath to the Morgans. He extracted his arm from Miss Morgan’s. “And if you speak one more word of this in front of anyone here tonight, I will personally guarantee that whether my father takes his title or not, I will never take mine.”
Miss Morgan’s face scrunched up and went red. How had he ever found her attractive? Her jaw tightened, and she put both her hands on her hips. She opened her mouth to speak, but Mr. Morgan reached for her elbow and stopped her. “Of course, we won’t speak of it tonight. This is your father’s evening. But you may expect us tomorrow at four. We can arrange the engagement then.”
“There will be no engagement,” Patience burst out. Anthony coughed loudly to cover her words from the onlookers who were edging ever closer. “These two have no agreement.”
“We will see about that tomorrow,” Mr. Morgan said. Then he leaned forward and placed his mouth near Anthony’s ear. “My daughter’s honor is my honor. If you do not agree to an engagement tomorrow, I will have no choice but to call you out.”
The Morgans swept away from them.
All the elation of the previous hour had fled. Of all the complications Anthony had foreseen, this wasn’t one of them. Had Mr. Morgan threatened a duel? There was no way he could let this escalate to such proportions. He needed to prove to Mr. Morgan that his daughter was the one to cry off. If he would have known this would be such a danger, he would have begged Harrington to wait to announce anything about his father’s ascension into the peerage until he and Patience were safely wed.
Patience’s hand went back around his arm. “I’m not afraid of a scandal.” Patience didn’t seem the slightest perturbed by what had just happened. “The fact that I have made it this far without one is miraculous.”
“I did pursue her for two years.”
“But you never had an understanding.”
“No, but all of London was waiting for one. I wish I would have seen earlier what she was.” Anthony was careful to keep his voice calm. Who knew what Patience would do if she heard about Mr. Morgan’s not-so-subtle threat? “But at a minimum, I need to meet with her family tomorrow.”
Patience narrowed her eyes at him. “Don’t you dare agree to marry her.”
“Don’t worry.”
“Promise me. Promise me you won’t agree to marry her.”
“Trust me.”
“That isn’t a promise. I know how half-truths work, Anthony.”
“I’m very good at getting what I want, Patience.” Anthony pulled her deeper into the shadows and slid a ringlet between his finger and thumb. It was all he dared to do, but he wanted to do so much more. “There is a time and place for your bravery and recklessness. I love it. I need it in my life like I need air. I don’t think I was truly living before you barged your way through my hedges and into my world. But right now, calm calculations are what we need. Please trust me on this.” Anthony was almost certain Mr. Morgan was bluffing about a duel, but he would much rather not have to call that bluff.
“I will, but if I find out she or her parents have pressured you into a marriage, I will tell all of London I lived under your roof for the better