Chapter 4

CHAPTER 4

M atthew knocked on the door of the Egerton household in Mayfair.

A colorfully dressed footman opened the door. “Good morning,” he politely said. “How may I assist you?”

“I am the Duke of Garvey,” Matthew announced. “I wish to speak with the lord of the house.”

“Of course, Your Grace. Lord Egerton and Lady Alicia take tea in the drawing room. Please,” the footman side-stepped, gesturing for Matthew to enter, “come inside.”

Matthew entered the manor, removing his hat and gloves for the footman to take. It was a quaint house, large enough for their small family. A large portrait was at its entrance hall, one that must had been recently done of the Caneys. Alicia’s emerald eyes stuck onto him, and he frowned.

“Right this way, Your Grace,” the footman said, leading down a hallway.

Matthew cleared his throat and followed, holding his arms behind his back. They passed a room where a figure walked by, but Matthew was moving too quickly to take any note of them. The footman had just reached the end of the hall when the figure stepped into the light, calling out to them.

“Your Grace,” an older woman said.

Matthew paused, turning to see her. “Lady Egerton, I presume,” he said, politely walking to her and bowing.

“To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit this morning?”

“I have some business to discuss with your son,” he replied.

“Only my son?”

Matthew narrowed his eyes at her. “Yes, my lady,” he curtly said, cutting the conversation short. He bowed again. “If you’ll excuse me.”

Turning back to the footman who patiently waited at the end of the hall, Matthew marched back over, ignoring the steady gaze of an impertinent mother’s eyes on the back of his head.

The drawing room was around the corner, and was a very vast room. Morning light streamed in as the footman entered first.

The footman bellowed: “My lord, might I present the Duke of Garvey.” He turned towards the duke, gesturing for him to enter the room.

“Thank you for coming on such short notice, Your Grace,” Owen said. His arms were twisted behind his back as a look of apprehension passed over his face, with a nervous brow furrow. “I’m sure this was not how any of us wanted to spend a beautiful spring morning.” He gestured towards a seat, a tray of tea and cakes neatly displayed. “Might I offer you anything, Your Grace?”

Matthew raised his hand. “No need,” he said. “No reason to make this longer than it needs to be.”

Behind her brother, Alicia, dressed in a pale white gown, stared dejectedly out the window. Matthew struggled to hide his disdain. How could she look so tormented when her actions brought them there in the first place?

“This is for the best,” Owen said.

“What you perceive as ‘the best’ might not be for the rest of us.”

The corner of Alicia’s lip perked up in a smile. Something hopeful filled her eyes, and it looked like she was about to speak.

Matthew stepped forward. “Let me make myself clear.”

“How about we keep this civil?” Owen interrupted.

“Were you expecting something other than that?”

“My father raised me not to judge others by their reputation,” Owen said, looking mighty proud of himself, “but to only consider their actions. Do not give me a reason to make him turn over in his grave.”

Matthew couldn’t stop the surprise from showing on his face. “You seem to be feeling quite confident in yourself today, Egerton,” he said, crossing his arms over his back. “Tell me, Marquess, did you want to discuss my reputation on this day?”

Matthew watched Alicia twitch and sway from her spot behind them. Tensions were beginning to run high, and it seemed she felt it the most. She fiddled with the ribbons on her dress, twirling a stray curl around her fingertip. He tried not to scowl.

Owen’s face curled into something cruel as though he prepared to say something with a sharp edge. “Someone with an affiliation towards saving one's family name shouldn’t be giving me such a difficult time,” he said, crossing his arms defiantly over his chest.

“Have you forgotten your place, Egerton?”

The marquess paused, his arms dropping to his sides. “No, Your Grace.”

“Correct me if I am wrong,” Matthew began, stepping towards the marquess, “but if my memory is right, your family is the one that needs saving.”

Owen pressed his lips together, staring at the designs on their trimmed rug.

“My name is not lacking in finances,” he continued. “My name does not lack status. The ton does not whisper about me when my back is turned.” Matthew paused, frowning. “Well, they might, but they would gladly tell it to your face, Egerton.”

“Please accept my apologies, Your Grace,” Owen quietly said, not meeting his gaze, “I stepped too far and offended you. I apologize.”

“It seems as though your promotion in status gave you the idea that you are something more than what you are,” Matthew concluded, despite the apology. “The late marquess left you with a mess to clean up. I would treat the one saving you with a bit more respect.”

Owen bowed his head. “Yes, Your Grace,” he said with no pride in his voice. “I understand the importance of the upkeep of one’s family as the head of one’s household.”

“Are you trying to say we have something in common?” Matthew asked, his lips twisting into an angry sneer.

“We want the same thing,” Owen replied.

Matthew held his chin up. “I do not think we do.”

“A union could help your family?—”

“Egerton,” Matthew raised his voice above his, receiving a startled jump from Alicia standing behind them. “Do not talk of something you know nothing of.” Matthew stood directly in front of Owen, looking down upon him. “I am a duke, Lord Egerton. What ails you does not touch me. You are lucky I came today. You should be grateful I decided your sister was worthwhile.”

Alicia crept forward and gripped her brother’s arm. Her voice rose to stand above the rising conflict. “I don’t see how this is impertinent at the moment, brother.”

“I am here for one reason and one reason alone,” Matthew said. “The ton saw me engaging in behavior that is inappropriate for a man of my stature. Out of respect for your name, I offer you a proposition that will turn the unaware eye away from your sister’s virtue.”

Alicia’s hand dropped from her brother’s arm. “Virtue?”

“Despite your constant denials,” Matthew said, “I know what a family would do for a chance to better their name, and if I was a lesser man, I’d congratulate you on what you have accomplished today.”

She groaned, storming past her brother and pointed an accusatory finger towards Matthew. “How dare you continue this? Still you believe we set a trap for you, but I swear?—”

“ Alicia, ” Owen snapped.

“Keep the charade up,” Matthew scoffed. “You have bested me. I am the prize that will save the Egerton family. What ruin have you fallen into? What has your papa done to gather the scorn of the ton?” He didn’t bother to refrain, didn’t bother to pull his venom tongue back.

Owen reached for his sister, but there was no bother.

“I will no longer take your disrespect, Your Grace,” she said. “Whatever it is that haunts you has no place here, has no place in my own plight to be wed. My father was a brilliant man who only ever showed love for his family.” Alicia took in a shuddering breath. “ Love. What ailed him at the end of his life was from poor luck alone, and even on his last day, he never fell from grace.”

She stepped back, becoming suddenly dejected. “Do what you must, Your Grace.”

Matthew felt the pity for the crying girl touch him for a moment, but when he met her green eyes again, all he could see was a lie. “If you’re not a fortune hunter,” he said, “shouldn’t you be more careful?”

“Nothing that I did was not careful,” she said, her voice quiet and airy.

He stepped closer to her, arms tightly wound behind his back. “You kept me in that library, my lady.”

“Kept you?”

“Every time I tried to take my leave in the most respectful manner possible, you decided you needed me to stay for another favor.” Matthew tilted his head. “Don’t you remember, my lady?”

Alicia swiped below her eyes and sniffled.

“Only a woman seeking to be ruined would willingly stay alone with a man.”

Owen stepped forward. “Your Grace.”

“No,” Matthew interrupted. “You seek to trap a man to secure your family’s future. I will grant you this out of politeness. There’s no way for me to know how many men you have tried this with in the past,” he said as Alicia’s face flushed a deep red. “Nevertheless, I will do what is required of me.”

Alicia retreated till she stood behind her brother.

“Fine, then,” Matthew snapped, turning to face the marquess. “I have come today to ask for Lady Alicia’s hand in marriage.”

Alicia finally met his gaze. A deep sadness framed her face as he looked back with a sternness that was unrecognizable. There was nothing pleasant on that day.

The marquess bowed his head. “Thank you, Your Grace.”

“I have already acquired a special license.”

Owen nodded. “Very kind of you, Your Grace.”

“Tomorrow we go on a promenade for our image and we are getting married in a week,” Matthew said.

The brother and sister shared an uneasy look, their shoulders touching. Alicia seemed to want her brother to argue, to fight for something else. Before Owen could do anything against Matthew’s commands, he stepped forward.

With a cold and challenging stare, Matthew raised an eyebrow at the marquess. “Are we agreed, Egerton?”

Owen sighed, leaving his sister’s pleading eyes behind him. Giving another tight bow toward the duke, Owen kept his head down as he said, “Yes, Your Grace. Thank you for everything you have done to rectify this… unfortunate situation.”

Matthew looked upon his betrothed as her dejected gaze slowly turned toward the window. “It’s settled, then,” he said. There was a feeling lingering on his chest, something that could have been guilt. But the moment it came upon him it faded, becoming cold and angry.

How dare she, he thought, trap me here but act as if her life had ended?

“Splendid,” Owen said with a wide smile, “I had told the staff to prepare for a duel.” He laughed as though he hoped to share a joke with the duke.

“The day is not yet over, Lord Egerton,” Matthew said.

A smile grew on his lips, then, as he watched the marquess’s face it dropped in fear. On that note, Matthew bowed deeply, and said, “good day, Lord Egerton.” He turned to Alicia, but she still stared out the window. “Good afternoon, my lady.”

With a swift turn on his heel, Matthew left the parlor of Egerton estate, with a betrothal under his arm.