Daniel raised an eyebrow. “Is that how long Mr. Lundall gave you this time? Do you really intend to marry him?”
“Mr. Lundall didn’t say when he’d return. But even if I wished to, I am no longer at liberty to accept him.” And yet this other man was sure to be worse than Mr. Lundall in every way, except possibly smell.
“What do you know of this man?”
“Nothing.” A featureless face rose before me and I shivered. What was wrong with this man that he had to turn to me to find a match? “Do you think father knows him well?” The words came out strangled.
Daniel stopped and gripped my arms, turning me to face him. “Margaret, our father would never allow you to marry someone he didn’t esteem as the best of men.”
“This wouldn’t be the first time Father has been mistaken.”
Daniel frowned and stepped back. “I believe we all learned our lesson, especially Father.”
“But this man is obviously only after my dowry. What else could it be? So it is the same. Only worse. I’ve never even met this man!”
“And how is going along with Father’s plan any different from your marrying Northam?”
“It’s completely different. Mr. Northam would be my choice, and I’d know exactly what I was getting. My marrying Mr. Northam would be mutually beneficial. I get nothing from marrying this stranger.” I knew how to protect myself with Mr. Northam, while with someone else there was no guarantee.
“You don’t know that.” Daniel’s eyes narrowed. “What is it you’re so afraid of?”
I turned away.
“Margaret,” Daniel said gently. After a pause, he spoke. “Perhaps it isn’t about the money at all. Perhaps he has a limp and is bent with deformity.”
Horrific images of mangled men raced through my mind before Daniel’s teasing chuckle made me fix him with my meanest glare. Couldn’t he ever be serious?
Instead of cowing, he continued, “How about an accent of some sort? Ooh, a Frenchman. No, wait. A Russian! They are so popular these days. He could have an accent. ‘Margaret, my dear, vould you like to go out tonight? To ze opera, perhaps?’”
Daniel grasped my hand. I strained against his grip, but his fingers tightened. He slouched down until his face was level with mine and stared at me with an expression of mock sincerity.
I narrowed my eyes and pulled again on my hand, but he didn’t release me. He waggled his brows, then winked. Years of habitual reaction worked against me. My lips twitched until the corners of my mouth lifted into a small grin.
“I take dat as a yez.”
It was despicable, the way he could get me to smile. This was not a circumstance to laugh at. I gritted my teeth. “Daniel, you don’t sound very Russian.”
He ignored me and placed my hand on his arm. He didn’t stand up, though. Instead, he remained low and hunched over. As we moved forward he dragged one foot behind him. The scrape of his foot along the path sent chills through me even as I swallowed a laugh.
Of a sudden, he lurched forward to grab a large stick, jostling me off balance. He placed the stick upright like a cane.
“Daniel, stop,” I begged. I didn’t know if I wanted to laugh or cry. I wanted both.
“How am I to vin your love if I stop? No. I must continue. Forever.”
Forever. I would be married to this man until death did us part.
I might never be free again.
Eight
The next day, Parson Andrews droned on about repentance and change, but I hardly heard a word, dividing my time between staring at Louisa’s back, willing her to feel my impatience to speak with her, and the slow movement of the colors splayed across the altar from the stained-glass window above. Sometime during the night I’d realized what I had to do—I had to find a way out of this engagement before anyone learned of it. Then everything could return to the way it had been before, and Mr. Northam and I could marry as we wished.
But I had no idea how to get a man so desperate as to seek out a wife sight unseen to turn around and call it off.
When the stained glass reflection finally hit the floor, the sermon ended and Parson Andrews shuffled down the aisle to take his customary place at the door, enabling him to bid farewell to his parishioners. Louisa and her family slipped into the aisle before I could catch her attention,