Charmed By Knight (The Fielding Brothers Saga) (21 page)

“Megan,” Edmund said, “he doesn’t need to know what happened.”

Her father stepped closer. “I certainly do! This is my family’s reputation we are discussing.”

“Lord Saxton, all you need to know is no duel took place this morning. If you doubt my word, then maybe the word of the Duke of Ashton will suffice.”

“Nicholas Fielding?”

“The very same.”

“Are you trying to tell me the duke was with you?”

Edmund nodded. “He was my second.”

“May the devil take you!” Her father ran his fingers through his hair. “You are determined to ruin me.”

Edmund chuckled. “That was my original plan.”

Her father’s frown deepened, and his eyes lost the anger that had ignited them seconds ago. “Then, what are you still doing here? You have won. Why don’t you leave?”

As her father crumbled before Edmund, Megan’s chest ached with sorrow. True, she’d seen her father at his drunken worst, but never in her life had he admitted defeat in front of another man – a man with no title, no less.

Edmund rose from the sofa. In two long strides, he stood in front of her father. Edmund held his body straight and clenched his hands at his side.

“Because I haven’t won. The deed to the goldmine isn’t in my hands.”

Her father’s upper lip curled. “You
are
a motherless mongrel.”

Edmund lifted his chin. “Yes, and proud to be one.” A nerve in his cheek twitched, something Megan had never seen before.

“You had this planned all along, didn’t you?” her father whined.

“What do you think?” Edmund folded his arms over his chest. “Do you think I’d turn my cheek and let you steal from me again? Or was it my father you were trying to hurt by taking what was mine?”

Megan’s heart dropped to her lap. Her father swindled someone again? She stood. “Father, what is he talking about?”

Her father kept silent, so Edmund spoke over his shoulder. “Megan, my dear, your father is also a cheat. Since he’s not as skilled as I am, he was caught.” Edmund turned and met her stare. “The goldmine isn’t your father’s. It never was. It’s always been mine. That is why I wanted it back so desperately.”

A harsh pounding assaulted the base of her skull and crept up over her head in a rush of pain. She rubbed her temple. “What are you saying? Are you accusing my father of stealing the deed to your goldmine?”

Edmund nodded. “That’s exactly what I’m stating, my sweet. Your father sat next to me during a card game one night. I drank a little too much, and I passed out. When I awoke, the deed was gone. I knew who took it.” He snapped his attention back to her father. “The charlatan sitting next to me couldn’t wait to get hold of my treasure.”

Her father lunged toward Edmund and grabbed him by the collar of his coat. “I won’t allow a man like you to slander my good name.”

Edmund whipped his arms between them and knocked her father back. “Your good name isn’t worth the ground pigs lay on.”

“I ought to call you out—”

“And I’d kill you,” Edmund seethed.

The dark look in Edmund’s eyes turned Megan’s blood to ice. He could very well harm her father.

“Stop,” she screamed, bringing her balled hands to her ears. “I won’t stand for this.” Tears threatened to spill from her eyes, and at this moment, she didn’t care. She had been a pawn in the game both men were playing, and she wouldn’t stand for it any longer.

She glared at her father then moved her piercing look to Edmund. “You are both mongrels, and I don’t want to have anything to do with either or you.”

A sob tore from her throat as tears rushed forth. She turned and ran from them, up to her room – away from them, away from everything.

* * * *

“Simmons? Have I given you the documents to mail to California?” Edmund asked his manservant as he shuffled through the papers littering his desk.

“Yes, sir. I delivered them as you instructed earlier this afternoon.”

Edmund nodded. “Good. I’m relieved to see at least one of us has his brain intact.” He chuckled to himself, knowing the reason his head was in the clouds. Megan would be his soon, and this realization sent his heart into irregular palpitations.

“Sir? Shall I set out your clothes for the ball tonight?”

“Thank you, Simmons. That would be splendid.”

Edmund relaxed and flipped through the invitations scattered across his desk. Although most people looked down on the circumstances of his birth, they still requested he attend.

The bell at his front door echoed through his quiet townhouse. It was rather late to have visitors, but it didn’t matter. He had a pressing engagement tonight. He wouldn’t miss out on holding Megan in his arms, even if only for a dance.

His butler opened his study door and stepped in. “Excuse me, sir, but there’s a gentleman here to see you. Here is his card.”

The servant held the card for Edmund to take, but he ignored the request. Flipping his hand through the air, Edmund motioned for him to leave.

“Not now. Have him make an appointment. The
Ruthaford’s
ball is only two hours away. I cannot be late.”

“But, sir.” Otis spoke with a lower voice as he walked further into the room. “Your caller is most insistent on seeing you.”

“Otis, tell him I’m extremely busy.”

“But, sir, your visitor is Lord
Thornwyck
.”

Edmund froze. What was his father doing here? It couldn’t be. It had to be some kind of game. The Earl of
Thornwyck
wouldn’t waste his time to come out of seclusion just to see Edmund.

He grabbed the calling card from the silver tray. The name
Phillip Knight, the Earl of
Thornwyck
was blazoned across it in embossed gold and black script.

Edmund shook his head. He looked up at his butler. “Describe the man.”

“Pardon my lack of a better description sir, but he’s an older version of you.”

Edmund cursed under his breath as he swiped his fingers through his hair. Should he turn him away? What could the old coot have to say to him now? Perhaps his father had heard the newest scandal of Edmund with a titled lord’s daughter? But Edmund’s previous scandals had never drawn the Earl of
Thornwyck
out of seclusion before.

“Sir?” Otis asked, bringing Edmund’s thoughts to a halt.

Edmund nodded. “Show him in to my study.”

“As you wish.” Otis turned and left.

Edmund stood and adjusted his cravat before he took his waistcoat off the hook and slipped it on. Why would he want to look presentable? After all, this man wasn’t someone important in his life. His father was part of his past – a past he wanted to forget.

As Edmund hurried to the study, he ran his sweaty palms down his trouser legs, preparing to meet the man who ruined Edmund’s life. The very man responsible for turning him into the womanizer he was today. The very man who inadvertently taught him that women would do anything a man wanted...for a little money. Women were only good for one thing anyway, except for Megan. She was unlike any woman Edmund had ever known.

Once inside, he waited. His stomach rolled with dread. Nothing good could come of this.

Footsteps echoed on the wooden floor outside the study. Edmund stiffened and lifted his chin, ready to show his father this surprise visit wasn’t upsetting him. He could only stare as the older gentleman walked into the room. True, Edmund resembled his father with his dark head of hair and height. However, the older man had droopy shoulders and a long expression. A glassy tint glinted his father’s eyes.

Lord
Thornwyck
stopped and leaned on his cane. He squinted as he studied Edmund for a few unsettling seconds. Finally, the older man smiled.

“Curse me, if you don’t look like I did twenty years ago.”

“Yes, Phillip, curse you, indeed.”

The older man laughed. “And it seems you have inherited my rebellious streak, too.”

Edmund shrugged. “I wouldn’t know. We haven’t spoken for many years. My memory of you is vague at best.”

Thornwyck
nodded, turned and staggered to the sofa, plopping down. “Yes, it has been many years.”

Edmund wanted answers. Now. There was no time to play catch up on the olden days. Not tonight. “Phillip, why do you call on me after all these years?”

The man chuckled and rubbed his hand over his
stubbled
chin. “I see you’re not calling me Father. Are you that embarrassed of me?”

“Oh, forgive me,” Edmund bit out. “I suppose it was your wife that wasn’t my true parent.”

Phillip’s eyes widened, the shock evident by the color slowly leaving his face. His father remained silent for a few minutes, and then shook his head. “Now, is that any way to treat your guest, my boy? The least you could do is offer me a drink or two.”

“I think you have already had your share of port this evening.”

Phillip waved his hand through the air. “Ridiculous! I haven’t yet begun to have my share.”

Edmund rolled his eyes heavenward, then turned toward his liquor cabinet. “What will you have?”

“Your strongest port.”
Thornwyck
belted out a laugh. “Anything that will make me see double in a few minutes. But wait—” His sudden stop made Edmund look over his shoulder. “I’m already seeing double,” Phillip ended with another laugh.

“All I have is brandy,” Edmund lied.

“That will do.”

As Edmund poured the drink, he couldn’t stop his memory from returning to his younger days. He didn’t remember his father being like this. Lord
Thornwyck
had always been a respected man amongst his peers. He was always the father Edmund’s friends looked up to. So what had caused this drastic decline?

Edmund brought the drink to his father, carefully placing it in his hand before withdrawing.

“Now, will you tell me why it’s so all-fired important to see me tonight?”

Thornwyck
took a long swallow, blinking back the water filling his eyes. “Why do you think I have something important to say?”

“Because since our family’s scandal spread through London years ago, you haven’t wanted to talk to me. Now, after all this time, you’re acting as if nothing has happened. I don’t understand.” Edmund paused, and then tentatively asked, “Are you ill and dying?”

“You probably wish I was.”

Edmund let out a heavy sigh. “I really wish you would stop dancing around the subject. I have plans tonight. I don’t have time to sit and chat with you.”

“You have plans with Miss Ramsey tonight?” He raised his glass in the air. “Cheers to you and the Baron’s daughter. I have to say, I didn’t see a match out of the two of you.”

Edmund turned back to sit in the chair behind his desk. He leaned back, crossing his feet at his ankles. “You have been keeping tabs on me?”

“But, of course.”

“Why?”

“Can’t a father watch after his son, if even from afar?”

“But
why
, Phillip? Tell me what this is all about.”

Thornwyck
took another drink, his face grimacing from the liquor’s strong effect. “I hear you are betrothed to the young girl.”

Impatient, Edmund growled. “What concern is that of yours?”

He lifted his shoulders in a shrug. “I’m wondering what to give you for a wedding present.”

“Your absence will be enough.”

Phillip belched, followed by a laugh. “There’s that rebellious streak again.”

“Phillip, you don’t need to give me anything. If you have been keeping track of my life, you will know I’m a wealthy man. I don’t need your help, or anything you offer.”

The smile on his father’s face dropped into a frown. His bushy black eyebrows knitted together. “I must make amends.”

“For what?”

“Your mother would be proud of you.”

Edmund scowled at his father for changing the subject. “Yes, I’m certain Charlotte would be
thrilled
to see what I have done with my life.”

Phillip shook his head. “No, I wasn’t referring to Charlotte.”

Edmund dropped his foot to the floor and leaned forward. “Whom, then, were you referring to?”

“Your real mother.”

“My mother was a wench you paid off. What do you know about her?”

Phillip shrugged, then took another drink, emptying the glass this time. “Mayhap I do know more...”

Edmund jumped up and in three long strides, stopped in front of his father. He yanked the glass out of the older man’s hands. “What game are you playing?”

“No game, son.”

“Tell me truthfully. Have you or have you not been in contact with my birth mother?”

Phillip rubbed his unshaven chin again and licked his lips. “I think another drink would help my memory.”

Edmund growled and threw the glass against the nearest wall, the pieces shattering on the floor. He grabbed his father by the collar of his coat and lifted him off the sofa.

“You have two minutes to explain yourself, old man. If you know me at all, you know I do
not
have the patience for this.”