Page 40 of Dare it all for Love

His lips, always set in a rather grim line, twitched slightly.

“No,” he agreed.

Grace put up her chin. She may as well know the worst of it. If he thought to blackmail her, he was to be disappointed. She did not wish to tell her parents yet, but she would if she must.

“What are you going to do?”

“I rather think that’s the question I need to pose, Miss Weston. Who is the father?”

“None of your business!”

“Will he marry you?”

Grace clenched her teeth together, willing herself not to cry. She would not cry. This was her doing. Her mistake. She had no one else to blame. It appeared her silence was all the answer he required.

“Damned bastard.”

There had been ire enough in the words to make her look up, let alone the fact no man had ever deliberately sworn in her presence before. It was rather shocking. Mr Oak was scowling at the empty grate. Goodness, but he was a forbidding man. With that look on his face, he appeared ready to do murder.

“How old are you?”

“I’ll be eighteen in two weeks,” Grace said, too surprised to wonder at his question.

He made a low, angry sound and shook his head.

“Blackguard,” he muttered under his breath. He shook his head, still scowling furiously. “You’re younger than I would have liked, but I suppose it’s of no matter.”

“What isn’t?” She frowned at him.

“We’ll be married after your birthday then. Best not to leave it any longer, there’s bound to be talk as it is.”

“M-Married?” Grace repeated, stunned.

“Do you have any better ideas?”

Grace was too startled to understand what was going on, let alone think of better ideas. Had he… had he just proposed? No. No, he hadn’t. He’d told her they were getting married.

“Mr Oak,” Grace began, trying her best to sound like she wasn’t about to have a hysterical fit, for she thought it all too possible. “I appreciate the offer, but—”

“Listen to me, child,” he said, the words brooking no argument. “You’re ruined. If you don’t marry, you’ll never be able to see your friends again. You’ll shame your family. If they love you, they’ll support you, but at what price? If they don’t, you’ll likely be thrown out. Either way, you have no option. That child needs a name, and I’m prepared to give it one.”

Grace stared at him, fighting for breath, wishing she did not have to acknowledge the truth of his words. Her family would never disown her, but they would bear the shame of her mistake, and she could not bear that. Her child, too, would always bear the burden of illegitimacy when they had done nothing to deserve it. He was right. There was very little choice.

“Why?” she demanded, too choked with emotion to say more.

“My reasons are my own,” he said gruffly. He seemed to stand taller as he carried on. “I know you likely expected to marry someone far above my station, but beggars can’t be choosers. I’ll not bring you shame. I’ve a fine house. I’m not as rich as your father, but you’ll be well dressed, you’ll have your own carriage, I’ll see you and the child want for nothing.”

Grace blinked up at him. “The child….”

Her throat closed up, and she swallowed hard, unable to express what she needed to ask him.

His dark eyes met hers, never wavering. “The child, girl or boy, will be treated as my own. No one will ever know otherwise. I’ll never condemn it or treat it as anything but my own blood by word or deed. I give you my word.”

She stared at him, stared into that strong, fierce face that made her want to shrink back in her chair and… and she believed him. Good Lord. What choice did she have? He was offering her a lifeline, her and her child. She had no other option. Somehow, she could not speak the words aloud, but gave him a sharp nod.

He let out a breath, something flickering in his eyes that she could not read.

“Good. That’s good,” he said. “I’ll write to your father and ask to see him at his earliest convenience.”