“I was lucky enough they were mostly amused by my stunts,” Edward said, fond memories of his mother and his aunt coming to mind. “When they were stern, though, I always had to endure the sermon twice. It toughened me up, though. So, I can’t complain.”
“I see.” Mr. Clifford took the last sip of his drink. “If that is everything, Mr. McAlister-”
Edward interrupted the older man before he could finish the sentence that would postpone his question. “Actually, sir, there is something I need to talk to you about, sir.”
“Oh?”
Edward took a calming breath. “As you are aware, sir, I have met with you and your family a few times, now.” Mr. Clifford nodded in agreement. “I have met your daughter during those times and may I say you have raised a very special woman.”
“Thank you.” By his tone, Mr. Clifford probably guessed where Edward was going, but it needed to be said anyways.
“She is so special. She moved me, sir. I never thought I would want to get married, but Miss Clifford has changed this view of the world for me.
I can see us, together and happy in the future. I care for her, sir, and I can only hope she feels the same way. I can only ask for an opportunity to know.” Edward straightened himself in the chair. “Mr. Clifford, would you give me the honor to court your daughter?”
The moments after his question were one of the most stressful in Edward’s life. There he was, a very accomplished man, someone who had come from nothing to be a prominent name in society and he was feeling so nervous, the palms of his hands were sweating.
“Mr. McAlister, as much as I like you and have a debt with you for helping my Selina when she needed it, I cannot grant you your wish to court her.”
Edward’s heart stopped for a moment. “Is it because I do not have a title like the future Duke you want her to marry?”
Mr. Clifford looked surprised with the forward question. “How do you know that?” He asked in suspicion.
“Miss Clifford told me about it that night we met. That was the reason she ran.”
“I see,” he said clearing his throat. “This is very indiscreet of you, sir. What I do with my family is my own business but since you ask, she has another offer, already. From a man who can give her the life she deserves.
“Sir, I mean no offence, but your daughter ran away and almost got herself ran over by my horse when she learned whom you wanted her to marry,” Edward tried to reason with him. “I don’t think she holds affection towards this man at all.”
“She does for you?” Mr. Clifford asked.
Edward took a moment to answer truthfully but without giving too much information. He might need a card up his sleeve later on. “I would like to give her the choice, at least.”
“You don’t understand.” Mr. Clifford shook his head. “We are always looked down because we are ‘nouveau riche’ people. People take our value just because my father made our fortune and we come from a line of sailors and maids.”
“I come from a line of maids, sir.” Edward’s voice was cold then. “I am educated. I have money but my mother was a simple maid and I never forget about it. I am not ashamed. My mother was the kindest woman I have ever known. She always taught me to see the person, not the title. Do you think a title guarantees happiness?”
“It guarantees stability,” Mr. Clifford argued.
“It guarantees you a title,” Edward said. “I know Earls and Counts who have lost everything and live with the help of others.
They still have their titles, but what good does it do? I don’t like to flaunter my money or status, sir, but I will now if it helps.
I have stable income that’s not likely to stop. I care for your daughter and believe I can not only give her the life she deserves, but also make her happy. You want her to have stability? I do.”
Mr. Clifford’s face was turning redder by the second. “I do not have to justify myself to you. My decision is final, sir.”
Edward couldn’t believe the man in front of him would gamble with his daughter’s happiness for a shallow fulfillment such as that.
“I understand, sir.” Edward thought of a different approach then. “Is the title the only thing that would stop me from courting Miss Clifford?”
Mr. Clifford looked at Edward in suspicion. “Yes. I have nothing against you. Well, I didn’t until you made me mad a minute ago. You are a hardworking man, but I want my daughter to have the best in life and stop being looked down because of her birth.”
“Will you reconsider if I have a title in waiting?” Edward wondered, a plan forming in his mind.
“There are things even your money can’t buy, Mr. McAlister,” Mr. Clifford said with a raised eyebrow.
“I know,” Edward agreed. “Can you give me your word you will reconsider if I have a title?”
“Of course, do as you must.” Mr. Clifford sounded amused, then. “I doubt you can do better than the Duke of Bellford, though.”
Edward stopped for a second. He must’ve heard it wrong. “The Duke of Bellford?”
“Yes. Selina’s suitor is the future Duke of Bellford, Lord Reginald Ainsworth.”
Of course.
Years and years of avoiding the man, trying to live his life without ever seeing his face. The moment he wanted something essential for his happiness, it was linked with that man.
Edward couldn’t help but laugh nervously at the irony. “You know what, Mr. Clifford? I think I might do just as much as the Duke of Bellford.”
* * *
Selina was waiting by the stairs when Edward left Mr. Clifford’s office. She smiled when she saw him but it disappeared a moment later when she saw his expression.
“What happened?” she asked, anxious.
“I am sorry, Selina,” he whispered. There was a maid by the corner, he assumed was Vivian, her personal maid, so he let himself speak her given name, trying to soothe the blow. “He said ‘no’.”
“What?” Selina was clearly dumbfounded.
Edward sighed. “Your father is set on you having a title.”
She shook her head. “No. This can’t be.” Poor Selina looked so lost it broke his heart. He was aware of how much she didn’t want to be courted or marry Lord Ainsworth.
“I have a plan,” he told her.
“A plan?”
He nodded. “I need you to trust me, please,” Edward said as he looked into her eyes. “I don’t know if it will work, but I am going to try. I am not giving up until all options are explored, do you understand?” He wanted to reach for her. He wanted to hold her and tell her everything would be alright but he could not. Not there. Not then.
“I can’t marry him. I won’t marry him.” Selina’s eyes started to water. “I will run away before I do.”
Edward reached for her and put a hand on her elbow, breaking every rule to comfort her the best way he could. “Do not do anything rash, please. Your father promised me to reconsider my offer if I have a title.”
“You don’t have one,” she stated.
“I might.” He let go of her and Selina looked confused. “It is a long story, but I will meet with someone who could help me.”
“Who?”
Edward hesitated. “My father, the Duke of Bellford.”
Chapter 10
Mr. Edward McAlister
He would have laughed at her confused expression had he not have conflicting feelings about his statement.
It was true, the current Duke of Bellford was his father, but Edward never met him. Never even saw a painting. Nothing.
His father knew of his existence but chose to ignore Edward and his mother, chose to not be a father or even see the child. The story was too complicated to explain to Selina at the moment.
“Your father?” she asked, confused.
“Yes. We never met, but he is my father. My mother loved him; he did not love her back. They never got married. I am a bastard, Selina,” Edward stated and carefully studied her expression for any change with the word
, but he saw none, to his relief. “He hates me. Must think I died, but if there is a chance of us being together because of his help, I will go to him.”
Selina frowned. “Will it be dangerous? If he hates you so much, I am afraid he could hurt you.”
“Nothing that man can do or say can possibly hurt me.” He explained. “What we need to do now is to not take any extreme measures. Please, Selina.”
She shook her head. “I don’t know if I can. Papa needs to approve of us or whatever we do, will be a scandal.”
“I know. That is why I will try everything in my power to prevent this from happening,” Edward said. “One day, we will live in a society where we could marry without it being a scandal and without needing anyone’s approval, but I am afraid until then, we must follow the rules.” Selina closed her eyes for a moment in defeat. “Please, Selina. I know what I am talking about. I am the product of people not following the rules. I am wrong, and I can honestly say it is not a good thing to be.”
She opened her eyes and frowned. “You are not wrong. The circumstances of your birth might have been less than ideal, but it is not your fault. You didn’t ask for this and shouldn’t be punished by it.”
If he hadn’t already been falling in love with her, he would have at that moment.
She wasn’t saying that to gain his affection. She wasn’t being manipulative in any way. Selina was just being herself and he couldn’t be happier his heart chose such a wonderful woman to love.
“I wish I could kiss you now.” He whispered just loud enough only she could hear – not even Vivian could have heard. Seeing color appear on her cheeks was so satisfying he couldn’t wait to have a lifetime to do so. “Give me a chance to make this happen. Please.”
“Fine,” she sighed. “I will still try to change Papa’s mind.”
“Of course you will. I expect nothing else.” Edward didn’t even argue, he knew she had a temper some times. “I will write you as soon as I can.”
“I will wait,” her eyes watered again.
Knowing he couldn’t and shouldn’t do anything more, Edward took her hand with his and kissed the back of hers, maintaining eye contact all the time and he possibly let his lips touch her skin a second or two longer than what was recommended, but had the effect he wanted.
Selina offered him a watery smile.
“We will see each other soon.”
* * *
Miss Selina Clifford
Once Edward left, Selina dried the stray tears that fell after hearing about her father’s decision about not letting Edward court her and the truth about his parentage.
She couldn’t understand her father – she tried, as much as she could and she came up empty. What was the obsession for a title?
He had been happily married with her mother for decades and they had been happy. Her grandparents as well.
Why her?
Selina shouldn’t have, but she stormed inside her father’s office, face red in anger. She was no longer sad at the moment. She was confused and hurt and was going to lash out.
“Papa!” she exclaimed and he looked up to her, and by his expression, he knew she would come after him once Edward was gone. “You told Mr. McAlister he couldn’t court me? Why?”
He sighed. “You know why, Selina. Lord Ainsworth is already courting you. At this point it is just a formality, really.”
The words took her by surprise, but Selina didn’t let it affect her so much. “No, it is not a formality, father. I have voiced over and over how much I cannot stand that man. I told you, I begged you to reconsider and you won’t.
Now someone whom I care about, who is nice to me, whom I know I will grow to love like you loved Mama, who will make me happy appears. And you want to keep us apart? Why?”
“Selina, you are too young to understand the world,” her father replied. “You haven’t been looked down on because of your status. I have seen how we are treated by those who think themselves as old money.”
“You think I was never looked down on because of our origins, Papa?” Selina asked in disbelief. “Of course I have. Ever since I was little, people treated me differently. The girls I debuted with, even a governess you hired to teach me. Most people look down on me and I learned not to care as much.”
Her father shook his head. “I just want you to have the best life you can possibly get, free of pain.”
She couldn’t believe her ears. “Papa, do you hear yourself? No one’s life is free of pain. A title won’t protect me from it and in this case, I suspect would be the cause of my pain.” Selina dried a tear. “I know you want what is best for me and I love you for it, but you must realize this is a mistake.”
“It is not a mistake, Selina,” her father told her. “Lord Ainsworth promised he will treat you like a queen. You will want for nothing, ever.”
“Papa.” Selina stepped closer to her father and kneeled next to his chair. “Papa, look at me.” Once he did, she continued. “Lord Ainsworth is not a good person. I do not want to marry him.” Her father opened his mouth to reply, but she didn’t let him.
“No, Papa. Those are facts that will not change. I don’t know what he said to make you trust him so much, but I have looked into his eyes and he will not treat me well. I am afraid.”
Mr. Clifford furrowed his brows. “Afraid?”
“Yes, Papa,” She nodded. “I do not know the reason and I cannot explain what makes me so afraid when I am next to him, but I do and it will not change.”
“Selina, I know you are infatuated with Mr. McAlister. It is my fault. I let this happen when I let him into our lives as much as he did, but you will marry Lord Ainsworth.”
“No, Papa, I will not,” Selina told him, calmly.
“Excuse me?” her father asked, as if he hadn’t heard her well.
“I will not marry Lord Ainsworth.”
“You will do as told.”
“No,” She shook her head. “Papa, what would Mama think if she saw us like this? Fighting over this?”
The question seemed to surprise her father but he soon got his wits together. “Your mother wanted you to have a title. We talked about this before she died.”
“She wanted me to be happy!” Selina cried. “I know she would have preferred me to marry someone with a title, but she would have put my happiness first and if she hadn’t, I would be having this same fight with her! You are selling me to the highest bidder. You are not taking my feelings into consideration, Papa. When did you become this person?”
“I love you, Selina. I am taking care of you the best way I can.”
“Learn to listen, Papa. I am telling you what will make me happy. What will be safe for me.” Selina got up. “Please, listen to me; I would hate to stop loving you.” She didn’t look back when she left the room, the loud sound of the door slamming behind her as if her promise had been set on stone.
Chapter 11
Mr. Edward McAlister
With a glass of whiskey in front of the fireplace, Edward had the letters sent by his mother and the Duke’s replies. They were few, but enough to have a large part of the story told.
Edward’s mother had been eighteen when she started getting intimate with the new Duke of Bellford. She told him how handsome and charming he was, but it was his kindness and love for her that led her to be with him, even if he was already married.
They were together for one year before Daisy Taunton found out she was pregnant.
As naïve as she was, Daisy still knew the Duke could never openly be with her. It didn’t matter how much she prayed, he wouldn’t give up his title, money and lands for her, even though she believed he loved her.
She told him she was not proud of it, but she was so in love with him. She would be his mistress. The Duke was in a loveless marriage and even though they were trying to conceive, the two times the Duchess got pregnant, she lost the babies before she was even showing.
Instead, the Duchess had found out about her pregnancy. She had overhear
d a conversation of Daisy with another maid and confronted the Duke.
Edward wanted to throw his glass on the floor with the thought of what the gutless man did.
He wasn’t even man enough to confront Daisy himself. He didn’t have the balls to end things with her. He sent that shrew of a woman.
The Duchess.
Another person Edward set his mind to never see in his life. The Duchess of Bellford had given Daisy a hundred pounds for her to disappear and told the young girl that if she were smart, to get rid of the baby and start a new life somewhere else. She had enough money to do so.
A Hidden Duke For The Passionate Lady (Regency Historical Romance) Page 7