"You are making a mockery of both our houses, Rothford." "I am breaking the contract," Henry said, his voice quiet, "because the contract stipulates that the Penhalagon estate holds unencumbered deeds to the Cornwall mines. My solicitors spent the last 48 hours examining those deeds."
"They are heavily mortgaged to a bank in Geneva." Richard's face drained of color. The violent purple faded into a sickly, chalky white. Henry steepled his fingers.
He had not slept in two days. He had ridden his horse halfway to death, reached his own estate, summoned his men of business, and torn through the financial agreements with a vicious, meticulous hunger. He had been looking for a crack in the foundation. He found a sinkhole.
"You lied, Richard," Henry continued, his tone conversational. "You presented an illusion of immense wealth to secure a ducal title for your daughter. In reality, you are three bad harvests away from debtor's prison. The dowry you promised does not exist."
"Henry, please." Victoria stepped forward, her voice trembling. The aristocratic mask had shattered, revealing the desperate, frightened girl underneath. "It was a mistake. My father was going to tell you."
"Do not speak to me," Henry said. He didn't raise his voice. He didn't even look at her. But the absolute-zero temperature of the command struck Victoria like a physical blow.
She recoiled, pressing her back against the marble mantelpiece. "The servant," Richard choked out, trying to rally. "This is about the companion. You are using the mines as an excuse."
"The mines are the legal mechanism," Henry corrected smoothly. He stood up. He buttoned his coat. An agonizingly slow, deliberate movement.
"The reason is that your daughter is a cruel, petty creature who lacks the basic humanity I require in a wife. She pushed a woman into a lake to drown because of her own profound insecurity." "She is a nobody!" Victoria shrieked, the panic finally giving way to venom.
"She is a penniless companion. You would throw away a dukedom's alliance for a gray mouse who cleans my shoes." Henry finally looked at her. "She looked death in the face and walked away with her spine straight."
"You would weep if you broke a fingernail. You are not her equal, Victoria, and you will certainly never be mine." He reached into his breast pocket and tossed a thick envelope onto the desk. "My solicitors will file the breach of contract tomorrow morning."
"The news of your insolvency will hit the London clubs by Thursday. Your creditors will come calling by Friday. I suggest you begin packing." He turned and walked toward the heavy oak doors.
"You are ruining us!" Richard bellowed. "You will destroy my family." Henry paused, his hand on the brass doorknob. He looked back over his shoulder, his gray eyes flat and hard.