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steep stipulation. If you are not married within one year’s time of reading this letter―and your mother must deem the marriage one of love―then I have instructed Mr. Nilbury to strip you of all my unentailed land, which effectively means you will be penniless since the entailed estate, unfortunately, has never been profitable. The only advice I have to give you is to be careful of your wording when you give a vow to God.
     
    My love is with you,
    Father
     
    Staring down at the foolscap, Colin swallowed hard and folded the letter while fighting to slow his speeding pulse. What the devil did he mean by being careful of his wording when giving a vow to God? What vow? His pulse jumped another notch. He took a deep breath. Becoming angry would not help. How could his father think he could force Colin to fall in love?
    Colin curled his fingers around the letter, the paper crunching in his hand and stabbing at his flesh. He would never be so stupid as to allow himself to become like his father, but he was not foolish. He was not going to lose everything by refusing to take a wife. Colin stared at his hands. His mother was to judge whether his marriage was one of love? He choked back a laugh. His father must have been delirious near the end.
    “Colin, are you all right?”
    His mother’s soft words, so filled with what sounded like concern, made him frown. He glanced up from the letter and met her soft brown gaze. Her eyes held a look of sorrow he had never seen before, or maybe he had simply never noticed it. Foreign guilt stabbed him. Had he grossly misjudged her? His mind rebelled against the possibility. Whatever his father thought he had done, Colin could not comprehend what sort of deed would drive his mother into the arms of other men if she loved his father.
    He swallowed again, feeling as if someone had filled his mouth with sand. Trailing his gaze to the fidgeting Mr. Nilbury, Colin cleared his throat. “I’d like to speak with my mother alone.”
    Mr. Nilbury nodded his head vigorously. “Yes, of course. If you wish to talk about the legality of the letter―though I assure you it’s all very legal―you know where to find me.”
    Colin nodded and motioned his mother toward the green velvet settee as Mr. Nilbury showed himself out. Once seated, Colin faced her. “I cannot be forced to fall in love. You above everyone should know that.”
    “I do,” she said, her voice trembling.
    Colin was at a loss for what else to say. He drummed his fingers on his thigh as the silence in the room grew. A sideways glance at his mother confirmed what he suspected. She was just as uncomfortable as he was, or else she was supremely unhappy with the dress she was wearing because she appeared to be trying to rip it by the way she was twisting it. He let out a sigh. He and his mother never talked about anything personal. Really, they rarely spoke at all.
    “I suppose I better be going.”
    She stilled her hands then started wringing them again with vigor. “Colin, nothing excuses what I did to your father. I―” She pressed her hands to her face then lowered them slowly. “I loved your father. You must believe me.”
    Colin struggled to remain aloof as his blood rushed through his veins. Damn her. After everything she had done to Father, she had the nerve… He ground his teeth together. At least she seemed to recognize that what she had done was inexcusable. That was something new.
    He drew a long breath. He was too tired to hate her anymore. “I wish I could believe you,” he said. “Obviously Father wished to believe you loved him, since he blamed himself for your behavior on his deathbed.” The moment the words were out of his mouth, he regretted them. “Devil take it. I’m sorry. That was unpardonably rude.”
    “No.” Her voice was a choked whisper. “I knew it was foolish to hope you were ready to hear anything I have to say. It’s no more than I deserve.” His mother’s shoulders sagged a bit. He had