Heart of the Diamond (11 page)

Nicki thought surely she had heard incorrectly. “Papa says Lord Diamond hates him.”

Angelica placed both hands on her knees, and Nicki saw her knuckles had gone white. “My hope is that the past can be set aside now that we are to become family.”

“Blake refused to tell me what he and Papa argued about. Surely the misunderstanding can be rectified.”

Angelica smoothed her skirts, a sure sign that she considered her words carefully before speaking. “It has gone slightly further than a misunderstanding.” She cleared her throat, took a quick sip of tea, and continued. “You see, your father and Lord Diamond had a falling out of sorts.”

“Over what?”

“Business. The reason is not . . . I believe you should know the result of that falling out.” Angelica took another sip of tea and Nicki noticed with amazement that her stepmother's hands trembled.

“Yes?”

Angelica sighed. “Blake Dylan is the reason for the failure of your father's business ventures. He has sabotaged every project Papa undertook over the past six years.”

Nicki waited for the words to take a new form inside her mind. She heard ‘sabotaged’ and ‘Papa.’ And ‘Blake.’
No.
“No! Someone would have told me sooner than this!”

“It is not something we wanted you to deal with, Nicole. Your father and I . . . ”

“What about Blake? He plotted to become engaged to me. Why? Why would he do such a thing? To hurt Papa by hurting me? I cannot believe it.”

A glossy sheen covered Angelica's green eyes. She reached out, then dropped her hand. “I do not know what his intentions are, but he and your father discussed matters. You know your father would not have agreed to the marriage if he believed your well being to be at risk.”

Hot, scalding tears formed in Nicki's eyes, then spilled onto her cheeks. “My well being? A man who has ruined my father financially has my well being in mind?”

Angelica took Nicki's hand. “You must understand, my dear, that your father is confined by the strict dictates of Society. There are procedures that must be followed in order to protect daughters from being taken advantage of by worldly men.”

Nicki withdrew her hand and stiffened her spine. “I do not feel protected. I feel entrapped.”

“Please, Nicole, do not make more out of this than is necessary. I merely felt you should know this fact before going forward with your relationship with the earl.” Angelica sighed and pressed her palms together. “If you love your father you will overcome your reservations and make the best of this marriage, Nicole. He feels as trapped as you and if he sees your unhappiness, he may do something foolish, something that will destroy his reputation completely—and yours as well.”

The pain that roiled through Nicki ended in a sickening knot in her stomach. Blake had not only tricked her into marriage, he had kept from her a devastating fact. He had allowed her to explain to him that her family had no money and begged him to provide Mina with a Season. While all along he had known of their financial difficulties—because he had caused them.

“Nicole, Lord Diamond seems to be making an effort to be pleasant.”

She could not stay here and listen to Angelica's attempt at prettying-up a bleak picture. “Why should he not be as charming as a prince? He is getting everything he wants.”

Nicki stood. Her hand unconsciously swiped at a curl that clung to the moisture on her cheek. She looked down into Angelica's pale face and the pity she saw there wrenched the knot in her stomach into an almost physical pain. “You and Papa are giving in to him—and you expect me to do the same. How can I? How can I go willingly to the sacrificial table?”

Angelica lowered her gaze. “The earl asks for nothing—nothing but that your father release any claim to your inheritance from Grandmama.”

“My inheritance?” Alarm pounded through Nicki with each beat of her heart. “Papa has no designs on my inheritance.”

“Apparently the earl thought he did and demanded the stipulation in the marital contract.”

Nicki clenched her hands at her side, her fists hidden within the fabric of her taffeta skirt. Obviously Blake Dylan did not know her family at all. He could strip from them every belonging, every ounce of money, and they would still have each other. Even Angelica had accepted their retirement to the country without complaint. They still had Langley Hall, their ancestral home, they had the money from the farms, and she and her father had done quite well in building up their stables and selling the horses bred there.

She fought her anger and humiliation. Certainly Blake Dylan had held all the strings up to now, and he had forced them to dance and cavort at his command.

“This should be of no great surprise to you, Nicole. Surely you did not believe the earl arranged for you to be compromised because—”

A bitter laugh rose from Nicki's chest. “Because he wanted me? No, Angelica, I have no misconceptions as to my own appeal. Perhaps I should be grateful to have been duped by a titled man.”

“You know very well that is not what I meant to say. Your father and I have allowed you more freedom that most girls, Nicole. You should be married, with children, but we thought to give you time to make your own choice. You did not. So it was left to us.”

Nicki moved around the settee toward the door, then turned back to Angelica. “Forgive me if I do not thank you.”

“Nicole Langley, would you ask us to behave differently than every parent who has concern for their daughter? The marriage to Melton was extremely fortunate considering the fact that you were not presented at court. When you were compromised by the Earl of Diamond we no longer had the freedom to determine the best course for your future.”

“Nothing happened! I thought I would find Teddy, but instead discovered the earl. He did not behave ungallantly. Why must I be forced to wed him only because I chanced to be in his bedchamber?”

Angelica raised her hands palms out, as though warding off Nicki's bitterness. “You know very well that in our society women are not to speak to a man to whom they have not been formally introduced. Nor are they to have any appearance of being compromised. Such are the restrictions placed upon us by our men in an effort to honor us and put us on a pedestal . . . ”

“I am being punished for a misunderstanding!” Nicki's voice echoed through the room, shrill, teetering at the edge of hysteria.

“It is unfortunate you feel that way, Nicole, and I am quickly regretting my honesty. You may go to your room and lie down. I hope your disposition is improved by supper.” Angelica looked away, ending the conversation.

An overwhelming sense of alienation washed over Nicki and she longed to run, but at the same time wanted to stay. A movement near the fire drew her gaze. She had forgotten about Mina, who stared, wide-eyed, horrified. Nicki twisted her hands together and wished she had never tried to get out of the marriage to Melton, wished she had never acted on the note, wished she had never been born.

Tears threatened to spill over once again. Nicki spun and dashed from the room to the stairway. She paused at the foot of the stairs, clutching the banister as the pain in her chest intensified until she thought surely her heart must be attacking her, just like Grandpapa John's. And he had died.

The sound of scurrying footsteps alerted Nicki to her sister's arrival. “Nicki, I'm worried about you.”

She attempted to take one step, hoping the pain would ease. It did. So she climbed another step, and another, and straightened her shoulders. “No need, Mina. Please, return to your sewing.”

Mina continued to follow. “Do you not think you are overreacting just a little?”

At the top of the staircase, Nicki came to an abrupt halt and Mina bumped into her. “Did you not hear anything that was said? Blake Dylan ruined our family financially!”

“We do not seem to be so bad off.”

Amazed, Nicki spun away and dashed down the corridor to her room. “Forgive me, but I thought that you wanted a Season in London so you could find a handsome, rich husband and have a beautiful family of little lords and ladies,” she tossed over her shoulder as she pushed open the door to her bedchamber.

Mina hurried after, breathless. “We are not talking about me. You seemed to like the earl well enough before Angelica told you about the dispute he had with Papa.”

“Oh, yes, I liked him, despite the fact that he
tricked
me.” Nicki stalked to the bedside table and turned up the lamp.

“Then forget about what he has done in the past.”

Nicki sat upon the bed. Lucy had removed her damp clothing and everything had been returned to its normal tidiness. If only Nicki could do the same with her life. “How can I forget? I went to him and humbled myself, begged him for your Season. He should have told me the truth then. I hate that he continued to deceive me.” She reached for a pillow and clutched it to her breast. “Even I know a marriage cannot be built upon deception.”

“But was it truly so bad? You are very forgiving. Look at your relationship with Teddy.” Mina joined Nicki on the bed.

Nicki fought the curious urge to burst into tears. “Where have you been these past days, Mina? The earl played me false!”

“But he did agree to everything. That doesn't sound like someone bent on revenge. Perhaps he's left his revenge in the past.”

Frustration shimmered inside her. “This is all part of his scheme, do you not see, Mina.” A sharp pain sliced through her. “He is using me.”

“He likes you. Anyone with eyes in their head can see that.”

“Oh, that is just too rich, Mina. How can he possibly care for me, now or ever?”

“You'll change your mind when you've had time to think this over. After all, business is not the same as marriage.”

“If you think this is only a slight crimp perhaps you should marry the earl.”

“You were compromised, not me.”

“Small matter. You are countess material. It is the perfect solution.”

“But I do not wish to marry him. I want to have my Season, and I am not yet eighteen!”

“Blake will most certainly take you to London when you are married.”

“No. I would marry him but he's your fiancé. The contract has been signed.”

“Mina . . . ”

“If anyone can make the best of this situation it is you, sister. Blake likes you. Maybe he'll open up to you, explain the reason for his actions. He truly does not seem to be a monster.”

“That is how you honestly feel?”

“Yes. He was quite civil to Angelica this afternoon, which took the patience of a saint.”

Nicki smiled. A saint. Mina thought him a saint. Just the way a woman should feel about a man she is to marry.

Greetings, My Lord Diamond,

I have news of the greatest import. The answer to our dilemma is for you to wed my sister, Mina. She is well suited to the role of countess and it cannot have escaped your notice that I—on the other hand—lack social presence.

Your kindness to me is most greatly appreciated. Please speak to my father as soon as possible.

Respectfully,

Nicki Langley

Nicki perused the page, her teeth worrying her lower lip. Was she too jovial? Too casual? The tone must be just the right blend of apology, appreciation, and reasoning. She dared not allow her true feelings to slip through. If the earl discerned her outrage at his betrayal, he would never release her from the engagement—for it seemed emotion was exactly what he wanted.

With a sigh, she folded the page and held a delicate spoon containing wax beads over the candle. The careful imprint of her mother's ring, the earl's name penned across the face of the missive, and the deed was complete.

Having taken the first step to correct the situation eased her ire somewhat, though Nicki clung to the feelings that had initiated the action in the first place. She could not allow the earl to twist her around to his way of thinking. She did not doubt for one moment that he could do so. He was too charming by half, but so were highwaymen and thieves, until they wanted your purse.

Her sister obviously did not share Nicki's opinion that Blake Dylan had deceived their family and did not deserve the chance to prove his true motives. Mina possessed all the qualities an earl might look for in a bride, while Nicki knew only too well her own shortcomings. Lord Diamond had witnessed the most grievous: her recklessness. Therefore, he should not be disappointed that Mina would take Nicki's place as his bride. Nicki had to admit that her conduct in the past had played into the earl's hands perfectly.

So it was only fitting that Nicki be the one to set everything to rights.

She lay the note upon the marble-topped writing desk. The name stared at her.
Blake
. Why had she put only his given name? She should have addressed it to the Earl of Diamond. With a start, Nicki realized their relationship had traveled well beyond the formality of stuffy titles.

Her fingers traced his name, recalling the time spent by the stream. An intense sadness brought tears to her eyes and a growing lump at the back of her throat. The earl could be captivating when he allowed the sharp planes of his face to soften. When he smiled, the whiteness of his teeth contrasted quite devastatingly against the darkness of his skin. No woman in her right mind could withstand the attraction of such masculine appeal.

Nicki admitted she had fallen under the earl's spell for a time.

She pressed her cool hands to her cheeks. Next she would be spouting poetry. Lifting the note, she rose to her feet. She must stop thinking about his charm and dwell on what truly mattered. He had deceived her, behaved despicably with regard to her family, and he had stolen Teddy's inheritance. Teddy whom she loved.

If the earl married Mina, there would be no need for him to finance a Season in London, though Nicki intended to insist that he still pay off her father's creditors. If Mina already admired Blake, then she would be happy with him. In time Nicki would come to forgive him for what he had done, for Mina's sake.

Nicki would be free. Free to be with Teddy.

That was what she wanted.

The smooth parchment rested lightly in her hands as Nicki closed her eyes and tried to summon Teddy's face to mind. An image formed of an angular jaw, wide mouth, high cheek bones beneath eyes like a silver lake frozen by the harshness of winter, dark brows too ready to draw together in a frown, a fine straight nose . . .