Chapter 2

Chapter Two

" Y ou must have the wrong man, Your Grace. My father would never commit such an atrocious act."

The young woman's bright blue eyes flashed with indignation as she protectively stepped in front of her father and crossed her arms over her chest.

She is beautiful .

Her loveliness stunned Philip for a moment as he took note of her deep sapphire eyes. Her curvy figure was almost entirely visible through the fabric of her night dress. Her rich, thick blonde hair fell in wavy lengths down her back, making him wonder what it would feel like to run his fingers through it and tug on it. Her plump lips were pursed, drawing him in like a moth to a flame.

Philip had heard whispers of Aurelia Godwin's beauty, yet none of them had done her justice now that he'd seen her in person.

He suddenly recalled the purpose of his visit.

"Think more carefully before you speak, Lady Aurelia. Your father does not deserve the loyalty you so readily display." He cocked his head, ignoring the way her breasts strained against the fabric of her night dress. He wished she'd close her shawl again.

He swallowed hard, focusing instead on Lord Keldbrooke, who cowered behind his daughter. The distraction was almost unsuccessful, as he couldn't help but glance back in her direction.

She stood her ground as she reached behind her back and held her father's arm. "I implore you to think again, Your Grace. Duke or not, you have no right to barge into our home and make such damning accusations. You are either mistaken or misinformed."

The slight lilt of defiance in her voice piqued Philip's interest as he fought against the sudden desires that he felt toward her.

Her noble stance made it almost impossible for him to believe that she was related to the likes of Keldbrooke. How had someone this pure been raised by a vile man like the Earl?

"I can assure you that I am not mistaken. Your father killed my brother in an unfair duel," Philip rubbed the tips of his fingers against his palms, trying to quell his irritation.

He had intended on facing the Earl alone. Arguing with his defiant daughter hadn't been part of the plan.

Lord Keldbrooke was no better than the men who had attempted to collect their debts. No respectable man, in Philip's opinion, would hide behind his daughter and allow her to defend his honor. But then again, no respectable man would cheat in a duel.

The Earl suddenly seemed to find his voice as he stepped out from behind his daughter. "I did not kill your brother! I won that duel fair and square. I demand that you leave at once! It is not my fault that your brother lost."

As the two men glared at each other, Philip noted that the Earl seemed to have regained some of the smug composure that Philip had heard of.

Raising an eyebrow in a challenge, Philip sized up the Earl. "I have witnesses who state otherwise. Do you wish to disprove their claims with evidence of your own, Lord Keldbrooke?"

The Earl muttered under his breath as he shook his head. A flush rose to his round face and spread to his balding head.

Aurelia seemed confused as she glanced at her father, her innocent eyes full of questions. The poor girl didn't seem to be aware of any of her father's shortcomings, let alone the despicable acts he'd committed.

Philip could tell that she was beginning to doubt her father's words of denial, yet he could still see a sliver of loyalty in the defiant tilt of her elegant chin.

Under normal circumstances, he would have found her utterly beguiling, yet she was the daughter of the man he hated more than anyone else.

"What d…do you want?" The Earl stumbled over his words, searching for the right thing to say as his face grew even paler.

Aurelia's frown deepened further as she glanced back at Philip. She seemed to be caught in the middle of a crossfire that left her desperate for the truth.

"I want the land that you promised to my brother as repayment for your debts. There is also the matter of your gambling debts. The men who were here earlier were not aware of the fact that I have paid your debts in full. You are now indebted to me and me alone." Philip's tone darkened as he clenched his fists at his sides, holding back the anger that surged through him.

He wanted nothing more than to pummel the good-for-nothing man into the earth. Yet, years of experience had taught him that other forms of punishment could be more effective than violence.

There were more ways to kill a dog than hanging, especially when it came to men like the Earl.

"I don't understand," Aurelia whispered, her face blanching as even more doubts crept in.

Philip almost felt sorry for her as he realized that her entire world was collapsing upon itself. She was a victim of her father's poor decisions.

"Tell me that none of this is true, Papa. The Duke must surely have the wrong man. You have never set foot in a gambling hall in your entire life. This man he is describing is not you."

Her eyes were wide with disbelief as she searched her father's face for an answer.

The Earl's face suddenly darkened as he balled his fists at his sides and turned back to the Duke. "I will not be taken in by this, I tell you! How do I know that you aren't demanding compensation for the loss of your brother out of a foolish notion of family loyalty? What if I pay you as you demand and you disappear into the night, leaving me with all of the old debts as well as the new?"

Aurelia gasped as her heart sank even further. The look on her face all but confirmed the fact that she hadn't known about her father's nefarious deeds.

Reaching into his breast pocket, Philip withdrew a few pages of parchment and held them out to the Earl.

It didn't matter how badly his daughter seemed to be taking the news, the man owed him a great debt, and honor demanded satisfaction.

"Proof of the debts paid and now owed to me."

Philip waited for the Earl to take the documents before lowering his arm.

The Earl's tongue darted out of his mouth and swiped over his lips, and his eyes flashed with panic as they scanned the pages.

Philip allowed the man a few moments to read the letters before continuing.

"All of the signatures can be evaluated for forgery," he stated coolly, glancing back at Aurelia, who had lifted her hand to her chest in utter shock. He tore his eyes away from her and focused on the Earl. "I am your only creditor now, Lord Keldbrooke."

All the color drained from the Earl's face as he stumbled to one side and gripped the edge of his desk for support.

Aurelia suddenly sobered, dropped her hand from her chest, took the papers from her father and angrily spread them across the desk.

"I refuse to believe that any of this is true. Papa, you must defend yourself. I know that you are not the man to whom the Duke is referring. Do not allow yourself to be bullied into paying debts that are not your own. Please, for the sake of our family, this must be some kind of mistake…"

The Earl held up his hand, silencing his daughter.

Aurelia took a step back as if she'd been slapped. "Father?" Her voice was faint and nearly hopeless as her eyes flickered with confusion.

Shooting his daughter an apologetic glance, the Earl pulled himself up to his full height and turned back to Philip.

"I shall be in touch, Lord Keldbrooke. Also, in case you have any ideas of fleeing the country, please know that my men will be keeping an eye on you and your home."

He turned to leave, giving Aurelia one final glance.

"Wait, Your Grace!" the Earl suddenly called out to him, making him pause in the doorway.

Turning back to the man, Philip waited for the pleading that would undoubtedly come. He had wondered when the Earl, who had managed to escape his creditors for years, would put up more of a fight.

"What if…in exchange for some of the debt…if not all of it…" Elton Godwin licked his lips nervously before glancing at his daughter. "You can marry my daughter."

He lifted his head proudly, but then he cowered again when Philip stared him down with a withering gaze.

"She is a virginal, sought-after beauty among the Ton. I will stake my life on that fact," Lord Keldbrooke added.

"Papa! You cannot be serious," Aurelia gasped in disbelief at her father's offer and stumbled backwards in shock until she bumped against the desk.

Philip felt his insides roil with disgust. Not only had the coward murdered his brother and racked up massive debts, he was willing to hand over his only daughter as a sacrificial lamb.

"Your daughter has nothing to do with the situation at hand. Your offer is laughable."

It took all his restraint to refrain from knocking the man to the ground in front of his daughter.

A dark look of resentment flashed across Aurelia's face as she turned away from her father and glared at him.

Despite the situation they had found themselves in, Philip felt a growing sense of attraction toward Aurelia. Her fiery countenance intrigued him even more.

The Earl took a step forward and wrung his hands in front of him. "Please, Your Grace. I implore you to consider my offer. Aurelia is the dearest thing to me on this earth, even greater than the lands promised to your brother. I have nothing else to offer as payment. I do not wish for her to suffer alongside me in the coming months."

Philip looked from the Earl to his daughter, who was still too stunned to speak. The man certainly seemed to care for her, even if he was willing to pawn her off.

Some punishments are greater than physical pain.

Philip considered the Earl's position before his gaze landed on Aurelia, who seemed to snap out of her daze.

"Father, you cannot do this. I cannot marry a man who paints you as a villain," she protested, her cheeks flushing.

Philip noticed how the color contrasted beautifully with her milky complexion. Having someone like Aurelia as his bride wouldn't be the worst thing in the world, even if he'd have to tame her.

She glared at him, balling her fists at her sides in fiery indignation.

The Earl shot his daughter a warning look before pleading with Philip once again. "Please, Your Grace."

Philip ran his index finger over his jawline, considering the offer. The Earl's only daughter, under his roof.

Not bad. Not bad at all.

"I accept your offer, Lord Keldbrooke. In exchange, I will waive the dowry and cancel half of the debt."

"That is most generous indeed, Your Grace." The Earl began to bow repeatedly as if he were addressing the King.

Aurelia took a step forward. "I will not…"

"Silence! You will do as you are told!" her father reprimanded her, lifting his hand.

She clamped her mouth shut, her eyes darkening with hurt.

The Earl cleared his throat apologetically and turned back to Philip. "Is there anything I can do as far as the arrangements for the wedding? I cannot guarantee a lavish ceremony, but I…" he trailed off when Philip shot him a scornful look.

"I will see to the arrangements. The wedding is to take place in two days. I shall be waiting for my bride." Philip allowed his gaze to wander over Aurelia's curvy figure before turning and leaving the room.

Her protests echoed behind him as he left the mansion.

Although Aurelia was displeased with the arrangement, he couldn't think of a better way to punish her father, for he was going to take away the thing he cherished the most.