“I’ve heard, Lord Braxton, and believe me, I expect you to make an honest woman out of my daughter.” The earl of Murcia poured himself another drink.
“Well, I’ve brought my physician to examine your daughter to see if she is indeed pregnant.”
The earl looked to his daughter, who was staring at the floor.
“Are you calling my daughter a liar?” The drunken man pointed a finger somewhere between Drake and the wall.
“I am saying I never touched your daughter, but the only way I can prove myself innocent is to have her examined.” Drake hated arguing with an intoxicated man.
“Tara, I’m going to give you a chance to tell once again. Are you pregnant with Lord Braxton’s child?”
“Yes, Daddy, I am.” She jutted her chin in the air, determined to get the prize that belonged to her. All her life, she’d had to stand in her older sister’s shadow. Gale had married the duke of Murcia. She wore the best of clothes and had people eating out of her hand. Tara was determined to have the title of duchess too. Everyone knew Drake was the richest duke in Spain, and she was determined to be the richest and most envied duchess.
“Well, then bring me to your chamber,” the doctor said. “Would you like your mother to be present?”
“I don’t have a mother,” Tara said bitterly as she led the doctor to her room.
“You will marry her, Lord Braxton.” The earl wanted nothing more. He knew his daughter could get him money and gold from Drake’s accounts, and right now, he needed that more than anything. With all his heart, he hoped that what his daughter said was true.
“There will be no need,” Drake answered calmly.
“All of Spain will hear of this by the end of the week if it is true, and I’m afraid your wedding to the little French girl will have to be canceled.”
Drake picked up on some cynicism in his voice. He could see greed in the older man’s beady eyes and knew he wanted this marriage just as badly as his daughter did.
“You speak as if you believe what your daughter has said is true.”
“I know when my daughter is lying, my lord. Oh yes. What she is saying is true, I assure you.”
They were quiet as they awaited the return of the doctor; Drake began counting the minutes until he could be out of this manipulative man’s presence. He could see where Tara got her gluttonous and controlling nature; the apple didn’t fall far from the tree.
The doctor approached with a smiling Tara close behind him. “Lord Braxton, this girl is definitely pregnant, but I cannot determine who it belongs to by an exam. That is between all of you.” The doctor grabbed his bag and was out the door without another word.
Drake had not expected that. He stood speechless, feeling as if his plan had backfired in his face.
“Tara, you know as well as I that the child is not mine.”
“Drake, I don’t know why you insist on denying me. I love you, and I want us to raise this child together.” Tara looked at her father with eyes full of tears. “Daddy, he will have to marry me, won’t he?”
“Yes, honey. Don’t you worry yourself now. Lord Braxton will do right by you. I guarantee it.”
Tara smiled contently at her father as he stood to walk Drake to the door.
“Time to make wedding arrangements, son. You will be a father to this child. I will not have my daughter be the shame of Spain.” The drunken man opened the door and put a hand on Drake’s shoulder before he took another step. “Just so you know, tomorrow I am going to the papers to announce the wedding.”
Drake jerked his arm free of the man’s touch and slammed the door behind him, stopping momentarily to breathe in the cool night air. What in the world was he going to do now?