Chapter 24

Anthony sat in the plush, dimly lit carriage, his fingers drumming anxiously against his thigh. The rhythmic clatter of hooves on cobble stones did little to soothe his racing thoughts. An urgent summons from Lord Swift had arrived at dawn, an unexpected and unwelcome jolt that had sent his mind spiraling with possibilities.

The early morning air was crisp and cool, but Anthony's stomach twisted with nerves, a tight knot of anxiety settling deep within him. He stared out of the window, the familiar streets of London passing by in a blur. The memory of his last confrontation with Lord Swift resurfaced, vivid and painful. The one before the heart attack that was. The Earl's cold dismissal and biting words had left a lasting mark, a reminder of the insurmountable obstacles that had always stood between him and Chloe.

Despite his best efforts to remain calm, a sense of dread gnawed at him, the prospect of facing Lord Swift's wrath once more looming large in his mind. Even if he had been summoned to the Swift household, he was not going to be able to shake off these nerves. Not until he knew what this was all about.

As the carriage turned the final corner, the imposing facade of the Swift residence came into view. Anthony took a deep breath, steeling himself for whatever awaited him inside. He could not afford to show weakness now; Chloe needed him to be strong, to stand firm against whatever challenge her father presented. This might be his last chance to present his cause, and to make Lord Swift see that he was worthwhile, and why he should have Chloe's hand in marriage.

The carriage came to a halt, and Anthony stepped out, his heart pounding in his chest. He straightened his coat and ascended the steps to the grand entrance, the weight of expectation pressing heavily upon him. Before he could reach the door, his eyes were drawn to a figure storming down the stairs. It was Lord Frampton, his face a mask of fury. The duke nearly knocked Anthony over in his haste to reach his own awaiting carriage, his eyes flashing with barely contained rage as he brushed past him.

"Watch yourself, James," Lord Frampton spat, his voice dripping with contempt. "This is far from over."

Anthony barely had time to register the encounter before Lord Frampton disappeared in to his carriage, the door slamming shut behind him. The horses sped off, leaving Anthony standing there, bewildered and more anxious than ever. What was that about? Anthony composed himself, shaking off the unsettling encounter, and stepped in to the house. He was not going to get any answers standing outside the home. The butler greeted him with a somber nod and gestured for Anthony to follow. They walked through the familiar corridors, the tension in the air thick and suffocating.

"Lord James, this way," the butler said, his voice low and formal.

He led Anthony to the parlor. Anthony's heart pounded in his chest as he entered, his eyes immediately finding Lord SwiftLord Swift, who was seated near the fire place, his expression stern and unreadable.

"Take a seat, Anthony," Lord Swift motioned to a sofa across from him.

Anthony complied, his mind racing with a thousand questions. He sat, trying to project calm confidence despite the anxiety churning inside him. Moments later, the door opened once again.

"Father, you summoned me?" Chloe asked, her voice trembling slightly.

"Yes, Chloe. Please, sit down," Lord Swift replied, his tone giving nothing away. Chloe moved to a chair beside Anthony, her eyes meeting his briefly, a silent exchange of concern passing between them. Was it time? Had their ruse been discovered at last? What on earth was going to happen now?

All of a sudden, Lord Swift cleared his throat, drawing everyone's attention back to him. The room fell silent, the air thick with anticipation. Chloe's father looked frail yet determined, his presence commanding despite his recent brush with death.

"I have something important to discuss," Lord Swift began, his voice gruff but sincere.

He turned to Anthony, and for a moment, the weight of his gaze felt like a physical burden. Anthony met his eyes, steeling himself for whatever was to come. He had faced many challenges in his life, but this moment felt like the most crucial of all.

"Anthony," Lord Swift said, his tone unexpectedly soft, "I owe you a debt. You could have left me on that terrace the night of the ball. You would have been well within your rights to do so after the way I have treated you over the years."

Anthony felt a flicker of surprise. This was not the confrontation he had anticipated. The memory of that night flashed before his eyes. He had acted on instinct, driven by a sense of duty and compassion, not expecting any acknowledgment or gratitude in return. That left him with very little to say. Chloe's eyes widened, her heart clearly racing as her father turned to her.

"Do you love him?" Lord Swift asked, his question direct and unflinching. His eyes searched her face, looking for the truth.

Chloe trembled, her voice barely above a whisper as she answered, "Yes."

Anthony's heart soared at her admission, a rush of hope and joy flooding through him. The room seemed to hold its breath, the weight of her words resonating deeply within him. But as Lord Swift turned to him, asking the same question, he felt a flicker of uncertainty. What game was the Earl playing? What did he hope to gain from this line of questioning? Taking a deep breath, Anthony met Lord Swift's gaze, his voice steady and sure as he revealed the truth that had always lived in his heart.

"I have always loved Chloe," he said, the words a vow and a promise, a declaration of the unshakable bond that had always existed between them. "And I always will."

Lord Swift nodded slowly, a look of contemplation crossing his features. "Then it seems I have misjudged many things," he said, his voice tinged with regret. "I have spent so long trying to ensure that Chloe makes an advantageous match, that I failed to see what was right in front of me."

No one spoke. No one seemed to have any words. Lord Swift sighed, his expression weary but resolute.

"Anthony, if you truly love my daughter, then I can no longer stand in your way. I have seen the error of my ways, and I want Chloe to be happy. If being with you brings her that happiness, then so be it."

Chloe's eyes filled with tears. She reached for Anthony's hand, gripping it tightly as if to reassure herself that this moment was real.

"Father, thank you," Chloe whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. "Thank you for understanding."

Lord Swift sighed, his stern facade softening as he looked at his daughter. "I am sorry, Chloe. I thought I was doing what was best for you, but I see now that I was wrong. Your happiness is what matters most."

Anthony felt a surge of gratitude and respect for the man who had caused them so much pain but now seemed genuinely repentant.

"Thank you, Lord Swift," he said, his voice sincere. "I promise you, I will do everything in my power to make Chloe happy."

Lord Swift nodded, a hint of a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "I believe you, Anthony. But there is something you both need to know."

Anthony exchanged a worried glance with Chloe, bracing themselves for whatever revelation was about to come.

"I have been keeping a secret," Lord Swift continued, his voice heavy with the weight of his confession. "A heart attack has given me a new perspective on life, and it has forced me to confront the mistakes of my past and the damage my actions have caused."

"What do you mean, Father?"

He paused, taking a deep breath before continuing. "I was the one who told Anthony to stay away from you, Chloe. I thought that by keeping you apart, I was securing a better future for you. I was wrong. I said it years ago, I warned him, which I believe might be the reason that he left abruptly for his Grand Tour."

"Father, why would you do that?" she asked, her voice choked with emotion as disbelief crossed her face.

"I thought I was protecting you," Lord Swift replied, his eyes filled with regret. "I thought I was ensuring your future. But I see now that I was only causing you pain."

He looked down, his hands trembling slightly as he continued. "I also had someone look into Lord Frampton's business connections before going ahead with the marriage contracts. I discovered that the duke had been playing me. He lied about his wealth and connections. He is not the man he pretends to be."

Chloe's eyes widened in shock. "What do you mean?"

"Lord Frampton is deeply in debt," Lord Swift explained, his voice grim. "He has been using his title to deceive people, to make it seem like he is wealthy and powerful. But in reality, he is on the brink of financial ruin. I could not, in good conscience, allow you to marry him. It gave me a very good reason to end things before anything drastic needed to happen."

***

"It gave me a very good reason to end things before anything drastic needed to happen."

Did I really just hear that right?

Chloe clasped her hands tightly in her lap, her knuckles turning white with the effort to remain composed while her mind reeled with shock. Was she truly being set free from her betrothal to Lord Frampton? Did Anthony finally have her father's blessing? It all felt too much like a dream to be true.

As Lord Swift rose to his feet, giving Anthony and Chloe a moment alone, the air between them crackled with anticipation. They turned to each other, their eyes shining with love and hope, the years of separation and longing falling away in an instant.

"Anthony," Chloe whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. "Is this really happening? Are we truly free to be together?"

Anthony reached out, gently taking her hands in his. "Yes, Chloe. It is real. We have your father's blessing, and we no longer need to hide our feelings."

Chloe's heart soared, her mind racing with a whirl wind of emotions. "I cannot believe it. After all these years, I thought we would never have this chance."

Anthony took Chloe's hand in his, his touch gentle and reverent as he poured out his heart to her. "Chloe, I have loved you from the moment we met. Leaving you was the hardest thing I have ever done, but I did it because I believed it was for your own good. I dreamed of a life by your side, but I buried those dreams, thinking they were impossible."

Tears of joy and relief streamed down Chloe's face as she listened to his words. Each word felt like a balm to the wounds of her heart, healing the years of separation and uncertainty.

"Anthony," she choked out, her voice thick with emotion, "I never stopped loving you either. Every day without you was a day I felt incomplete. I tried to move on, but no one could ever take your place in my heart."

Anthony brushed a tear from her cheek, his thumb lingering on her soft skin. "I promise you, Chloe, I will spend the rest of my life making up for the time we lost. We will build the life we have always dreamed of, together."

Chloe's breath hitched as she looked in to Anthony's eyes, seeing the sincerity and depth of his love. "I want that more than anything, Anthony. I want to be with you, forever."

He leaned in closer, his forehead resting against hers. "Then it's settled. We will face whatever challenges come our way, together. Nothing and no one will ever keep us apart again."

Anthony took her in his arms, his lips meeting hers in a sweet and tender kiss. It was a kiss filled with all the love, longing, and promises they had carried in their hearts for years. As they broke apart, their foreheads touching and their breath mingling, Anthony sank to one knee, his eyes never leaving Chloe's.

"Marry me," he whispered, his voice raw with emotion. "Be my wife, my partner, my everything. Let us build a life and family together."

Chloe felt her heart swell with overwhelming joy. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she looked at the man she had loved for so long. The man who was finally free to love her in return.

"Yes," she whispered, her voice choked with tears. "Yes, a thousand times yes."

She wanted nothing more.

This was like a dream come true for her, and now she was grateful that her dreams could finally become a reality.