The Gift of Love (The Book of Love #8) - Meara Platt Page 0,85
a fool for ever giving you up.” Ronan frowned as he took her hand and entwined his fingers with hers. “I’ve told you before. Wainscott will end up with nothing. He has overplayed his hand. Sheer greed did him in. He had an earl’s daughter - a bird in the hand - but he wanted more. He went after this mysterious duke’s daughter and got caught. Now that Lord Balliwick has learned of it, all hope of Wainscott’s ever patching things up with Lady Alexandra is destroyed.”
“What if this duke’s daughter is now with child? I know he tried this with Lady Alexandra...having seen them first hand when I caught them in the act.”
“This duke is now going to do everything he can to suppress the scandal. He’ll buy off everyone who might talk and will never allow Wainscott within a hundred miles of his daughter. I know it is harsh, but if there is a babe...assuming it survives to term...it will be given over to a family or to an orphanage. If the babe is fortunate, the duke will provide for him or her. But that’s the best to be hoped for.”
Her heart lurched in dismay. “That’s awful. It would tear me apart to give up a child.”
“Another reason why I love you. I have no doubt you would fight with all your heart and soul to protect our children. But the point I am trying to make is about Wainscott. As he left Alexandra’s house, he must have known he’d just lost everything. Then he saw our families gathered in the parlor, perhaps heard that you and I were planning to marry today, and so he hurled that rock.”
“Out of spite?”
Ronan shrugged. “Or out of frustration. Anger. Yes, spite.”
“It seems farfetched. How would he know to hit this exact window?”
“He may have known you and Heather were staying here and been watching you all along. I don’t know. But it’s a place to start the investigation. I’d go next door myself and ask questions, but...” He glanced down at himself. “I doubt the Earl of Balliwick will appreciate a naked sea captain knocking at his door just now.”
In spite of her misery, Dahlia managed a smile. “Perhaps Joshua can walk over there later.”
“I’ll ask him. If it’s any consolation, I doubt Wainscott will bother you again. If he has any sense, he’s riding out of London as we speak. Surely, he has to know the Braydens will come after him if he remains in town.”
She nodded. “I think there is something I must do now.”
He arched an eyebrow. “What, Queen Pea?”
“Our families need to be reassured. I’ve been crying on and off this past hour, questioning whether we ought to go through with this rushed farce of a wedding. But loving you is no farce. I don’t want anyone doubting my love for you.”
“Or mine for you.”
She rose and eased her hand out of his grasp. “I’ll be back in a little while. Are you hungry? I’ll bring up some broth and fish for you.”
“Sounds delicious. Just one thing,” he said as she was about to leave.
“What is it?”
He cast her a rakish grin. “Whatever you do, don’t smile.”
She walked out, laughing and shaking her head. Of course, this is how he always teased her. She couldn’t stop herself from smiling, and that smile stayed on her lips while she told her family how much she loved Ronan and thanked them for being with them despite the chaos of the day. “Once we are settled in our new home, we will have a proper party. Ronan will be wearing clothes, I promise you.”
Everyone laughed.
“He already has his suspicions about who threw that rock. Joshua, he’ll talk to you about it later. He believes it is not something likely to happen again. In any event, nothing can lessen our love for each other. Ronan is on the mend, and this is a happy day. Please do not walk on eggshells around us. And now I must feed that gorgeous wildebeest before he melts away to nothing. We are getting married as soon as Robbie and Finn return with the minister.”
She felt good when everyone began to cheer.
Heather ran over and hugged her. “You and Holly are both so brave. She with that deranged man who was stalking her, and now you with a rock-hurling fiend. I wish I was as brave as both of you. But I’m not. I just hope my wedding will be dull and uneventful.”