Chapter 5

CHAPTER 5

"… p erhaps a more stylish color scheme," Phillip muttered, standing in the lady's quarters of his home with his housekeeper beside him. "I am unsure, Mathilde. The room is in need of refreshing before her arrival, but I do think she'll want to decorate to her own tastes."

"You will make a fine husband, indeed," Mathilde snickered, gathering the bed linens and disappearing.

"Your Grace, a visitor." Phillip looked up at his steward, but before he could take the calling card, the tall form of Emmanuel Hayward came barreling into the room.

"Uncle," Phillip greeted him pleasantly. "How d'you do?"

"How do I do?" Emmanuel scoffed, his eyes darting wildly about the room as the estate staff worked diligently to tear it down to its bare bones. "So, the rumors are true, then? What they've printed in the scandal sheets?"

Phillip turned to lead his uncle out into the hall in the direction of the drawing-room where tea would be served shortly. "I can't know what you mean, Uncle, as I do not engage in such frivolity."

"You know very well what I mean, boy."

Phillip stopped short, just as they made it inside the room, and turned to Emmanuel. He was struck by just how similar his uncle sounded to the brother who had tortured young Phillip as a child. It was this tone that revealed to the Duke just how enraged the Lord of Glastonbury truly was.

"I do not," he persisted. "Sit, and we may discuss your apparent grievance over tea."

Emmanuel did not appease his nephew's request. Instead, he crossed his thin arms over his stately chest and glared.

"Is it true, Phillip? Have you proposed marriage to the Earl of Carlisle's daughter? Not even a fortnight since you have returned, and you have asked for the girl's hand?"

"And received," Phillip confirmed. "We have agreed upon the details, and Lady Marina and I are to be wed. Aren't you happy for me, Uncle?"

"Happy? I am beside myself. My nephew has gone utterly mad." Emmanuel's nostrils flared. Phillip's gaze hardened. What was this sudden show of anger from the elder Hayward man, and what had Phillip done to bring it on?

"You know very well that I am not mad," Phillip pressed. "I have come to London with the explicit intention of finding a bride. I have done so. The wedding will be soon then I will settle my affairs here and return to Paris until the summer starts again."

"It is not the marriage which perturbs me, Phillip, but the bride," Emmanuel explained, at last appearing to calm down. Phillip used the opportunity to escort him to a chair, so they could sit and speak with one another like civil gentlemen. His uncle continued, "Richard Linfield was a man your father detested more than anyone in this fair country. There is a long-standing history between our two families."

"This is the first I have heard of this, Uncle. What could you mean?"

"Your father and Carlisle have been at odds since before you were born. Their political differences aside, they are rivals in business, and your father believed the Earl to be an unethical and amoral businessman. I do not know the extent of their disagreement, but I will tell you that they regarded each other with such hostility that I am shocked to learn he agreed to this union."

Phillip sat back, observing his uncle thoughtfully. "Perhaps his concern is for his daughter, or perhaps he is a more sensible man than my father would have had you believe and is merely making the best choice for his family. My father's conflicts are not mine by inheritance. Merely his estate."

"They should be!" Emmanuel persisted. "Perhaps you are too young or too daft to see it. That man intends to get you close, so he can dismantle you and take your title."

"Uncle, I was unaware of any hostilities, and based on my personal interactions with the man, I must come to the conclusion that they no longer exist if they did in the first place. In any case, what's done is done. If the ton knows of our engagement, I cannot rescind my offer."

"It is not too late, Phillip. You are a duke, and a scandal sheet does not hold you to your word. Public courting will. Go, now, and end this before it is too late."

"I will not," the Duke doubled down, his voice calm but his brow furrowed over eyes filled with fire. "Lady Marina and I are to be wed. The marriage will end society's interest in me and therefore society's interest in my past, something that I believed we both wanted, Uncle. I am to be the Duke of Peterborough at your insistence, and I am determined to excel in my position. Lady Marina, from what I know, is sharp as a whip and perfectly capable of carrying herself well in esteemed company. She will make a fine wife."

"Phillip, I implore you. Use your head. Your father was strict with you, but it came from a place of love."

"What would you know of my father's love for me? It was you who got me out of this house before he could do any permanent damage, was it not?"

"Your father was a brilliant businessman and politician who wanted to prepare you for your future. He knew that you would one day be in the position of defending your title, and he did not want to give the ton a chance to second-guess you by allowing you to make the same mistakes that other boys of your station did."

Phillip scoffed. "His way of showing it was certainly unorthodox," he sneered.

"My brother was a stubborn man for not revealing his true intentions, but I assure you that he had your best interests at heart. At least, honor his memory by canceling this sham engagement with the child of his nemesis."

Phillip thought that, perhaps, had his uncle not brought up his bitter relationship with the departed duke, he would have been more willing to hear him out. But for Emmanuel to sit before him and beg him to understand the man who had once struck him for coming down for dinner in the wrong clothing felt like a betrayal of trust and loyalty. Emmanuel knew what his brother was like. If he did not, he would not have helped his nephew to make his escape those ten years ago.

No. There must have been something more to this tale that Emmanuel was weaving, and if he was not to be forthcoming with that information, Phillip was not inclined to change his mind.

"I have made my final decision," he said, at last, standing to indicate that this visit was over. Emmanuel looked up at his nephew, dumbfounded by his steadfastness.

"Nephew, if not for your father's memory, consider the family's history. Surely this is some scheme of?—"

"That is quite enough," Phillip snapped. "Lady Marina is to be my bride, and as such will be considered part of my household in very short order. I will not tolerate this slander upon her family name any longer."

Emmanuel Hayward was astonished, staring at Phillip as if the boy had struck him about the face. He stood, slowly, and hardened his expression. He gave the Duke a curt nod of his head.

"Very well. I will take my leave. We shall see how you feel once you've gotten to know the girl."