“Forgive me,” he muttered, because really, what else was there to say? The revelation had startled him, and yet he felt freer somehow because of it. He took a deep breath and thought of Rebecca. “Whatever mistakes I made in the past, I must consider the future now. I have a wife to care for, and I’ve no intention of letting her down.”
“I’m pleased to hear it,” his uncle grumbled, “but that doesn’t make me any more able to assist. I’m afraid you’re on your own.”
Daniel tensed. “What do you mean?”
“That by getting yourself married the way you did, you’ve left me with no choice but to distance myself from you socially. The only reason you’re getting the house is because it was your father’s. You’ve every right to it, but as far as servants are concerned, you’ll have to hire your own. Cook, as you know, was hired by your mother, so she may stay.”
“What about Molly?” Daniel asked. He felt numb.
“After I sacked her, I suggested that you might want her in your employ.”
“And Mr. Tenant? He was always there when I was a boy.”
“He left when he discovered that I would no longer be paying his wages,” Wolvington said. “I don’t believe he had much faith in you in that regard.”
“Are you cutting me off completely then?” Daniel asked, dreading the answer that would come.
“There’s a hundred pounds in the safe behind the painting in your study. Here’s the key to it.” The marquess slid a silver key across the table to Daniel. “I’m sorry, but I cannot support your actions, Daniel. I hope you understand.”
Daniel stared blankly at him.
Wolvington sighed. His eyes met Daniel’s. “I’m glad to see that you didn’t just marry her for your own sake, though but that you actually seem to care about her. I wish you the best, Daniel, truly I do, but the dust needs to settle before you and I can be seen associating with each other, and that’s going to take time.”
With a nod, Daniel rose and prepared to leave. His uncle had made himself clear.
“You are aware that since she eloped with you and there is no settlement, your wife’s dowry belongs to you,” Lord Wolvington said, stopping Daniel in his tracks. “You are free to do with it as you please.”
“No.” Daniel shook his head with complete resolve. “I won’t touch her money. I’d rather work for a living if I must.”
Wolvington nodded, and Daniel saw in his eyes something that he’d never seen before—admiration. “Well then. It looks as though you know what to do.” Rising, he reached across the table, offering Daniel his outstretched hand. “Best of luck to you.”
In a daze, Daniel accepted the peace offering from his uncle. He couldn’t be angry with him for cutting him off. Daniel had lost his head over a woman and had acted rashly. Even if his uncle agreed with his actions, he couldn’t support them and had no choice but to leave him to fend for himself.
Dear God, Daniel thought as he walked back to Avern House. He dreaded what was to come, knowing that he would no longer be the only one shunned by Society. Rebecca would be too now, and he realized that while he might have saved her from one hellish nightmare, he’d very likely dragged her into another. The ton was an unforgiving lot who would rather feed on the faults of others than draw attention to their own.
Even now as he walked he was not unaware of how empty the pavement was, noting that every person who came toward him crossed the street as soon as they became aware of who he was. He wanted to yell at them all for taking the side of the Griftons and Grover. They were the villains in this; it was they who should have been ostracized, not him and Rebecca. And what the hell was he going to say to Rebecca anyway? “Sorry, love, but we’re facing imminent poverty. Thank you for marrying me though.” He laughed bitterly.
She would tell him to use her dowry of course. In fact, knowing her, she’d probably demand it. A smile touched the corner of his lips for a brief second before flittering off in the breeze. He’d meant what he’d told his uncle—he wouldn’t use her money, which meant that he wouldn’t be able to tell her about the financial straits they were now in. Taking a job was one solution, except he lacked the skills for the sort of position that would earn him the income he’d require.
A hundred pounds was all the money he had right now, and somehow he would have to make it last. There was only one way he could think of to make that happen, and he only hoped that if he went down that road, neither his uncle nor Rebecca would ever find out.
What was he thinking? He couldn’t risk gambling away what little money he had, no matter how good a player he was—not when he had a wife and servants who depended on him. A thought struck him. He didn’t have to gamble away all the money. What if he chose to risk only twenty pounds at the tables? He could then invest another thirty pounds in some profitable enterprise. But in what? Daniel had no idea which companies prospered and which didn’t, but Audrey’s husband, the Earl of Chilton, did. In fact, Daniel knew that he was very good at it. Perhaps he would be willing to advise Daniel on how to spend his thirty pounds? Meanwhile, he would still have another fifty set aside in case he failed to prosper from either of these ventures.
Decision made, Daniel arrived home, hoping to enjoy Rebecca’s delightful company for the rest of the day, when a high-pitched squawk reached his ears. It seemed to have come from the parlor.
With no sign of Hawkins around, Daniel went to the door and opened it, discovering two matronly dragons, as well as Lady Grifton, all of them looking stern-faced at Rebecca, who was staring back at them wide-eyed and openmouthed. “Good afternoon, ladies,” Daniel said jovially. Three sets of glaring eyes turned on him, but he was indifferent to their vehemence and merely smiled. “What a delightful surprise.”
“I assure you that we take little delight in coming here,” Lady Grifton said.
“Are you sure about that?” Daniel asked, his smile slipping as his words grew angry. “Seems to me you’ve all come to take a good look at the new Mrs. Neville, perhaps even give her a piece of your mind.”
“Why, I—” Lady Grifton said, looking aghast.
“May I remind you,” Daniel continued, not caring the least for what the countess might have wished to say, “that you are in her home. Why, she’s even shown you the courtesy of inviting you to stay for tea.”
“After everything that my husband and I have done for her,” Lady Grifton sneered while her friends nodded their heads with sisterly compassion, “not to mention forcing us to traipse all over creation in search of you after you so scandalously ran off with her, the least she can do is apologize for her actions. A public announcement to this effect would certainly go a long way in appeasing the damage the two of you have done.”
“If that is all, then I would advise you to take your leave now. After all, you wouldn’t want anyone to see you in our company, now, would you?”
A look of concern flashed in the eyes of the three ladies. “Quite right,” Lady Grifton finally said, getting up and turning her back on Rebecca. “But I warn you, Mr. Neville—this matter is far from over. Mark my word.”
And with that ominous promise, Lady Grifton and her two friends paraded past him, taking their hatred with them as they exited his home. Daniel turned to Rebecca. “I’m sorry you had to endure that. Had I known your aunt would call while I was away, I would have postponed my visit with my uncle so I could have been here with you.”
“It’s all right,” Rebecca said. “You needn’t worry about me. I’m fine.” Getting up, she came toward him. “I’m far more interested in learning how your meeting with your uncle went. Will he forgive us for running away together?”
“He understands why we did it,” Daniel said, not exactly answering her question but hoping to ease her concerns, “but unfortunately our little adventure has caused quite a stir, as evidenced by your aunt’s instant visit. My uncle has requested that we distance ourselves from them for a time.”
Rebecca’s eyes widened. “They will not support our decision?”
“They cannot,” Daniel said, adding hastily, “fear not, though. It’s only temporary. As soon as the gossip dies down everything will return to normal.”
“But if we tell everyone the truth, Daniel—how poorly my aunt and uncle have treated me and that Grover practically bought me from them, then surely—”
“Arranged marriages are not uncommon among the ton, and neither are settlements. I daresay there won’t be many who’ll be sympathetic to our cause regardless of how unpleasant your aunt and uncle may be. Besides, your uncle is an earl,” Daniel told her gently as he took her hands in his. “You were under his guardianship, and all anyone will see is a young woman who was fortunate enough to win the attention of a duke only to publicly humiliate him by running off with a rake.”
She nodded, her expression unusually serious. “Well, at least we have a place to live, although I would have thought we’d have more servants.”
“My uncle only supplied us with the bare minimum, since he thought we might like to hire the rest of our staff ourselves.” As he said it, Daniel wondered how many lies he would end up telling in order to protect Rebecca from the truth.
Rebecca’s features relaxed, and she even managed a bit of a smile. “How thoughtful of him,” she said. “I shall start interviewing maids and footmen as soon as possible then. Molly and Hawkins are in desperate need of assistance.”
Daniel stopped himself from protesting. It was enough that he had to worry about paying the salaries that would come with extra staff. He wouldn’t bother Rebecca with all of that. “It’s growing late,” he said, “and we’ve had a rather long day. Let us have an early supper and then a bath before bed. I believe we could both use one after our journey.”
“I’d love nothing more, but I don’t want to send Hawkins running up and down the stairs with buckets of water either. It just isn’t fair. I can manage with a washbasin and a sponge for now.”
“You’re kind, Becky, do you know that? Which is why I shall ensure that you have the bath you so desire.”
“But—” she protested.
“I will help Hawkins carry the water,” Daniel said, “as long as you will accept taking your bath here in the parlor. Does that sound reasonable?”
“I don’t want the servants to think me spoiled or demanding,” Rebecca said.
“Don’t worry. I’ll tell them that I insisted on it.” And then he pulled her into his embrace and placed his mouth over hers in a hungry kiss that stole her breath. Releasing her with the satisfaction that he’d managed to daze her, he stepped away and went to the door. “I’ll ask Molly to start a fire in the hearth so you don’t catch a chill, and for Hawkins to bring the tub.”
“And what should I do?” Rebecca asked. “I hope you don’t expect me to just sit here and look pretty while you do all the work?”