Once again, he had failed them. Once again, they were victims of Bede’s poor choices whilst she had no choices. Her brother had all the power and the injustice of it enraged her.
“Begging your pardon, I am sorry to interrupt this little family squabble, but I am still here,” Hinton interrupted. “And I want to know which one of you gels is my future wife.”
Mercy allowed herself to freely evaluate Mr. Hinton. He had to be close to seventy . . . older than her own father if he was still alive. He had lips that looked like they had just been stung by bees. To say nothing of his large bulbous nose that was riddled with unfortunate sores—and he was presently treating Grace and Mercy like they were a pair of mares for sale. She had a feeling that he might request to examine her teeth next.
One of them . . .
“How could you?” she demanded of Bede. After he had gambled and lost her home, she had told herself nothing he did would surprise her. But this? This astonished her. She had not thought him capable of such a thing.
Grace stepped closer, averting her face as though she could not stomach the sight of him. She hissed into Mercy’s ear. “Does one of us have to marry him? Truly?”
For however old he might be, Mr. Hinton’s hearing was perfectly intact. “That’s what this contract says. One of you is mine!” The old man rattled the paper in the air.
Mercy glared with accusation at her brother. “Say something.”
He shrugged helplessly. “I gave him Gracie.”
Oh, no. That was not what she was expecting him to say.
Grace started wailing at once.
Mercy turned and faced her and took hold of her shoulders for a little shake to get her to stop. “We will straighten this out. You are not marrying this man. I promise you that, Gracie.” Somehow she would make certain of that.
“That is not what is set forth in this contract,” Mr. Hinton volunteered with a wheezing chuckle, still waving that infernal paper.
“You do not have her consent. I know that much is necessary. I don’t care what that contract says, without her consent it is not legally binding.”
Grace calmed a bit at Mercy’s words. “Truly?” she whispered, lifting a hopeful gaze up to Mercy.
Mr. Hinton looked at the paper in his hand and then glanced at Bede with a shrug. “That may well be the case. But then I am owed my due. Your brother put up a sister in marriage against my twelve thousand pounds.”
Mercy sucked in a hissing breath at the exorbitant sum and shot a fresh glare at her brother. Twelve thousand pounds! Her brother could never cover such a debt.
Hinton continued, “If I took this to the courts, you are correct. They would not force either one of you into marriage against your will, but they would honor the original wager. There were plenty of witnesses present. It’s either your sister in marriage or twelve thousand pounds. Simple as that.” Mr. Hinton sniffed, rubbing a finger against his unsightly nose. “Shall we put it to the test then?” His rheumy-eyed gaze flitted between Mercy and Grace. “Shall we take this to the courts?”
A long stretch of silence fell in which Mercy’s mind worked feverishly for a way out of this mess. She had no wish to air this humiliating situation to the world. She would prefer not to go public, and she knew he was correct. A court would merely insist her brother pay Mr. Hinton the twelve thousand pounds.
Hinton continued in a cajoling voice, “Come now. You have two sisters, Kittinger. Surely you can spare one of them. I must confess, I tire of the whole courtship and eons-long engagement. I have done that before and been married to less than hearty lasses.”
He was married before? What happened to his wives?
He fluttered his fingers and went on. “I am not getting any younger. I don’t have time for that anymore. I want a bride.” He looked Mercy and Grace over approvingly. “A young one that won’t die on me again. I’ve buried three.”
She held her sister in her arms, glaring at their brother. “How could you do this to us?”
They had no money to offer in exchange for that marriage contract. No sum even approaching the one Mr. Hinton had put up. This was beyond ruin.
This was total and thorough devastation.
Bede had finally done it. He’d backed them into a corner from which there was no escape. Not without consequence.
Hopelessness welled up inside her. With a final pat to her sister’s shoulder, she set the girl away from her and faced Mr. Hinton with squared shoulders. “We will honor the marriage contract.”
What choice did they have, after all? It would be impossible to come up with twelve thousand pounds to settle the debt. Such a sum of money was beyond them. She did not even think selling their lands would yield that much. Until she found a way out of this, she had no choice.
Grace moaned behind her. “Nooo!”
Mercy gestured toward her with a shushing hand and sent her a silencing look.
Mr. Hinton nodded approvingly. “Very sensible. Saves us all a lot of trouble.”
“But you don’t get her.” She motioned to her sister with a decisive wave. “It will have to be me or you can take us to court. As pressed as you are for time, I am certain you don’t want to do that.”
Until Mercy could come up with another solution to escape this predicament, this was the way it would have to be.
Mr. Hinton took several halting steps forward until he was standing directly before her. “Ha! Is that a fact?” He looked her up and down assessingly. “I like your moxie. And you’re still young enough. You’ll do.”
Mercy held his gaze, determined that he see she was no simpering girl. She would not cower to him.
“I like her,” Mr. Hinton declared, whirling around to face her brother. “It has been a while since I had a wife.” He tsked and shook his head. “They never last me long, but this one seems sturdy enough. A strong lass. Just what I’m looking for.”
A surge of bile rose up in her throat. She held it back. Stood her ground. Looked between the man whom she was to marry and her treacherous brother.
She thought of Silas then, and felt keen relief to have had two nights with him. Nothing could erase that.
At least her first time would not be with this wretched man. At least she would have some sweet memories.
“Mercy.” Grace grasped her wrist and stepped close to whisper for their ears alone, “What have you done? What about Mr. Masters?”
“What about him?” She shook her head.
“He and you are—”
“No. There is nothing between us. I am unattached and free to do this.”
“Does Mr. Masters know that? Certainly he will not permit this to happen.”
“He has no say over any of this.” He was leaving in the morning.
“I say, is anyone going to show me to my room for the night?” Mr. Hinton declared. “These bones of mine are aching for a rest.”
Mercy turned a hot glare on her brother. “My brother will see to that. You can use his room for the night.”
Silas occupied the guest chamber—at least for one more night. Bede could sleep on the sofa in the parlor—or out in the stables, for all she cared.
Bede blinked and looked as though he would protest the matter of giving up his room, but one look at Mercy’s face quelled whatever complaint he may have been ready to lodge. “Of course,” he muttered, and slinked forward. “This way, Mr. Hinton.”