Page 53 of Beguiling the Baron

Chapter 34

Hal dragged off his coat and threw it onto the bed. He’d been unutterably rude to Tia, but finding his house teeming with people, when he’d hoped to have it—and her—to himself, was intolerable.

Pushing a hand through his hair, he crossed to the window, peered out, grimaced, and strode back to the door. A few more moments’ pacing failed to improve his mood, so he slumped down on the chair in his dressing room and regarded his reflection balefully in the mirror.

So, this was how he appeared when angry. Not a pleasant sight. No wonder she’d backed away from him. Even so, she’d persisted in trying to speak to him. The woman had courage, at least.

He rolled his eyes. Oh, Tia. She’d let him down so badly. Would it always be like this between them, with him so besotted he couldn’t help but give in to her demands? After which she’d abuse any concessions he’d made, and completely betray his trust?

If only he hadn’t fallen head-over-heels in love.

He wanted her, body and soul, for all eternity. But would marriage to Tia be any less painful than his marriage to Mary? Tia would spoil Polly, and he’d spoil them both by lavishing too much affection on them—and they’d unite to take advantage of him at every turn.

He’d become indulgent, as he had been with Mary—or thought he had been—and would pander to their every whim until they no longer respected, or even liked him.

Unbearable.

The spoiling of Polly could be avoided if he sent her away to school as originally planned. But it would set Tia against him, not an auspicious beginning for their married life. Was his love strong enough to weather the storms that would come? Was his love even strong enough to weather their troubles now?

It must be. It had to be. He’d known when he took her innocence marriage was inevitable, whether she became enceinte or not. He was an honorable man, despite appearances, and he’d do the right thing. Love could flourish between a wedded couple, even if the match had been arranged—or forced.

Now was the time for him to practice optimism. A solution could be found for Polly to satisfy both himself and Tia. Soon they would wed, and he’d do his damnedest to be a loving husband, a protective father. He must give as much of his newly-awakened heart as he could spare and be prepared to deal with its ill usage by his wayward, ungovernable intended.

The one thing he would not do was abandon her to take up his political campaigning once more. That was a mistake he’d no intention of making twice.

He gazed at his reflection again. The color had returned to his cheeks, and a beam of sunlight slanting through the window picked out the dark gold-blonde of his hair.

He raised an eyebrow at himself. He could actually be quite a handsome devil if he put his mind to it. But not wearing funereal black.

Blue and gold had been his gaudy colors of choice—not for the House, of course—and he wondered if he still had anything like that in his closet. Foolish as it seemed, he had no idea, since Symons ruled that realm.

There was a shout from outside, followed by the sound of breaking glass.

Dear God, was this horde of vandals going to destroy his house as well as his garden? Tia had a lot to answer for.

He gnawed on his lip. He owed her an apology first. It would be difficult, but if he wanted to have any kind of future with her, he must swallow his pride and relax his rules. It would also be painful, like bursting, new-born, out of a too-tight skin, but he’d do his best.

Fear clutched at his heart. What if he offered for her and she refused? This wasn’t the first time he’d been hideously unpleasant to her.

He must act fast if he was to save the day. Decision made, he leapt from the chair and pulled the bell rope for his valet.