They were soon enough settled inside, and the coach slowly rumbled down the street.
Taviston settled his gaze on her face, his eyes narrowing slightly as he asked, “Should I expect any inappropriate face-pulling at this event?”
Victoria replied gaily, “It wouldn’t be quite so amusing if you expected it, now would it?”
She would always surprise him. Taviston couldn’t decide if that would be good for him or terribly bad. The carriage suddenly pulled to a stop. He shifted the velvet curtain and peered out the window. With a mutter of disgust, he let the curtain fall back. “Now, we wait.”
Victoria tilted her head. “It is generally like this, you know.”
He sighed and leaned forward, forearms on thighs. “I know. That is why I usually walk.”
She stared at him for a long moment, as if trying to decode his very essence. Taviston shifted slightly, more wary that he would ever admit. At last, her gaze focused on his in the dim interior light. “Well then, let’s walk.”
Surprise. “I beg your pardon?”
“’Tis a dry night. I have no qualms about walking.”
After a brief hesitation, he thumped his cane on the ceiling to alert the driver and then swiftly opened the door and hopped out, without saying a word.
As they walked past the line of carriages Victoria commented, “We will arrive at the party much sooner this way.” He mumbled his agreement and then she leaned against his arm, looked up at him with wide, innocent eyes, and murmured, “I cannot imagine how we would have passed the time alone in the carriage.”
He nearly gagged on his own tongue and found he couldn’t speak for the rest of their short walk. Once inside the Kennewicks’ residence and amidst the large gathering of society, he found himself able to breathe and think again. For an innocent, Victoria certainly knew how to tie a man up in knots. If she continued to entice him, he would be a mangled mess by their wedding day. But here, he could relax in the knowledge that his future wife had to behave herself in public.
Wife. It had come to this.
At this point there wasn’t much he could do. Except be extremely grateful that as yet, there was no gossip attached to their impending nuptials.
He and Victoria danced the first set together and then took a turn around the room, where they received congratulations punctuated by surprise, astonishment, shock, and even unmitigated horror. The ton, it seemed, had expected him to make a match of much more consequence. They had, most likely, presumed he wouldn’t settle for anything less than the daughter of an earl, and only then if the earldom was ancient and well-respected.
Taviston had to admit he had told his mother essentially the same thing, just...how long ago had it been? Just three weeks? It seemed like a lifetime. He was having a difficult time remembering exactly what his life had been like before the whirlwind that was Victoria Forster had entered it.
Nevertheless, he wasn’t such a nob that he held his betrothed in lower regard because she wasn’t the daughter of a peer. Or because she was an orphan. Or because she had such a small dowry. In truth, none of those things really mattered to him, and yet he was still uneasy about their impending nuptials.
“Taviston? Taviston! Your presence is requested in the present!” Northfield’s voice yanked him back to the overly decorated grand salon.
Victoria by his side, Taviston greeted Northfield and Jane. Jane looked exquisite in a blue gown, a beaming jewel that should have overshadowed Victoria in her dull dress. Instead, he had to admit her merry personality added a measure of beauty not many women could match.
“Congratulations!” Jane said with enthusiasm. At last, someone who wasn’t astounded by their wedding plans. If he looked closely, he could even see a certain amount of smug satisfaction in Jane’s eyes.
“I, too, am extremely happy for the both of you.” Northfield paused and then shrugged his shoulders. “I must amend that. I am happy for you, Taviston, but alas, Miss Forster, I am not quite sure you know precisely what you have taken on. I can only wish you luck.”
“Thank you, Northfield,” Taviston said dryly.
“I do hope, Lord Northfield, I may count on your support, if I should ever need it,” Victoria replied smartly.
Taviston’s histrionic friend took Victoria’s hand in his, squeezed it and said with all seriousness, “It is not a matter of if, but when. I shall do all in my power to be of assistance to you, my dear.”
Taviston didn’t roll his eyes, though he certainly wanted to, for it would only have encouraged Northfield all the more. Instead he declared, “I find I have lost my appetite for food and developed a need for a drink. Will you please excuse us, ladies?”
Chapter Twenty
Victoria spied Louisa slithering around the outer edges of the crush. Her cousin had left the house earlier than she, in her own carriage. Louisa had not attempted to speak to her since she had arrived, for which Victoria was grateful. In mere days, her wretched relative would have no power over her whatsoever.
Wanting to avoid most of those present, who had been nothing but condescending and disdainful towards her, Victoria remained by Jane’s side. It was obvious society thought the Duke of Taviston was making a huge mistake, and they thought nothing of letting Victoria know it, in their most unsubtle of subtle ways.
But she and Taviston were doing quite well together, especially since he seemed not to notice that everyone thought she had duped him into marriage. As if she could ever have got away with such a thing. Outright blackmail had been so much easier.
Time to focus on things she could control. Her attire. “Jane, I must see about a dress tomorrow. Do you think you might be able to accompany me? Your advice would be most appreciated.”
Jane patted her arm. “I would love to! Since you have left most of the details to the duchess, this will be my only chance to insert my opinion into the affair.”
Victoria laughed but the frivolous expression on Jane’s face disappeared in an instant and was replaced with one of concern, just as Lord Northfield hurried up to them.
“Whatever is wrong, Edmund?” Jane asked, seeing the alarm on her husband’s face.
He glanced at Victoria, then back at his wife. In a low voice he said, “The inevitable has happened.” His eyes traveled back to Victoria, whose heart started to pound unmercifully hard. “Someone has started a rumor that Taviston is only marrying you because he compromised you. The gossip is flying around the room, from one set of lips to another.”
Jane’s only reply was a despondent, “Oh, dear.”
Victoria was more direct. “That’s hardly a rumor. Sadly, it is the truth.”
Exasperation spread over the marquess’s face. “Be that as it may, I am not sure Society needs to know the truth.” He turned and nodded his head toward Taviston, who was halfway across the room.
Victoria sucked in an audible breath. Taviston was conversing with an older woman she didn’t know. But it was the way he looked that set her heart to thumping even more wildly than it had before. His back was rigid and his skin was pale. His hands were clasped behind his back so tightly it was a wonder he didn’t break his own fingers. The gossip must have reached his ears and he clearly hated every syllable pouring out of that woman’s mouth.
Victoria squared her shoulders and headed across the room, Jane on her heels.
“What are you going to do?” Jane didn’t appear to have much confidence in her ability to do anything, but Victoria could think of one thing that might save the situation. She wasn’t above using deceit.
“YOU DISAPPOINT ME, Taviston.”
Taviston’s eyes burned with fury. When Victoria had refused to marry him, he had feared the story of their indiscretion would come out anyway. Now Lady Percival stood before him, letting him know the gossip circulating this very moment hinted that he had indeed compromised Victoria.
The viscountess smiled savagely and continued, “I always thought you had such iron control over your actions and emotions but someone
whispers otherwise.”
He smelled the lavender a mere second before the small hand slipped through his arm.
“His actions certainly, but never his emotions.”
Victoria gazed up at him adoringly (adoringly?) and slid so much closer to his side that her hip bumped his thigh. The intimate contact sent a rush of heat through his blood, but he forced himself to concentrate on Victoria’s words.
“I think my darling Taviston would agree that love is not an emotion many mortals have control over.” As she squeezed his arm, Victoria tilted her head back to bestow a look of utter devotion upon him.
Taviston blinked several times. He wasn’t sure he liked where she was headed with this. He had an idea of what she was trying to do, and he really didn’t think anyone, least of all cynical Lady Percival, would believe it.
“Won’t you introduce me to your acquaintance?” Victoria’s voice was sweet, but not overly so. He rather thought it was the same tone she used with Arthur.
“Lady Percival, my betrothed, Miss Forster.” He hoped his voice sounded normal enough. How many times was it now that Victoria had dragged him into some ridiculous situation? Perhaps once they were married, he should have her locked in a closet.
“It is a pleasure to meet you, my lady. Wouldn’t you agree that not many of us ever know when or how love will find us?” Victoria stroked his arm, nearly driving him to distraction once again.
The right side of Lady Percival’s mouth turned up into a half-smile. Raising her voice considerably, she asked, “Miss Forster, are you saying yours and Taviston’s is a love match?”
The absurdity of the whole idea was apparent to those around them, who were now listening avidly, but trying to appear not to.
Victoria raised her voice as well. “How could it not be, my lady? We have hardly been out of each other’s company these last three weeks.” A contemplative expression crossed her face and she sighed. “There was our first dance at the Northfields’ ball. And oh, dear me,” her right hand actually fluttered around her heart, “I do believe we spent nearly half the evening together at the Burtons’ ball. I did so have a lovely time, as well, having tea at Taviston House one afternoon. And my goodness” —here she looked enraptured— “I could never forget the jaunt we took in the park just a week ago.” His fearsome future bride returned her gaze to Lady Percival. “I shall not continue to bore you with all of our other encounters.”
The closet wouldn’t be good enough. Perhaps he would have to send her away to Taviston Hall and have her confined there.
Lady Percival still held a considerable measure of suspicion in her eyes, which only seemed to spur Victoria on.
Even though at least ten people were now openly listening to this tale, Victoria leaned towards the viscountess, lowered her voice, and said, “Perhaps you haven’t heard about Taviston’s proposal? I declare, I never could have imagined being part of such a romantic tableau.”
He might have to resort to sending her to Bedlam after all. This was the height of absurdity.
Lady Percival bared her teeth in a horrible semblance of a smile. “Do tell, my dear. Do tell.”
At this point the crowd around them grew even larger and Taviston could see Northfield and Jane on the edge of it. If it hadn’t been his life, the entire episode might have been amusing, downright comical even. He could hardly wait to hear the manner in which he had proposed. He was fairly certain there wouldn’t be any mention of a guardian making threats, a bride-to-be turning to blackmail or a groom-to-be dragging his fiancée down the halls of Taviston House.
Victoria lowered her voice, but the assemblage had no trouble hearing her, as they had all stopped moving and even breathing.
“I called at his home to visit the duchess. But Halston, the butler, led me out of doors instead. He swept his hand toward a red rose lying on the ground and then disappeared.” Victoria had a faraway look on her face, as if she were actually reliving the moment. “I picked up the rose, which had thoughtfully been stripped of its thorns, and then discovered another one lying on the ground a bit farther on. More roses followed, leading me down a path in the garden. There were nineteen in all; Taviston told me later there was one for each day since we had met.”
She bestowed another loving look on Taviston. He wasn’t sure if he wanted to laugh or cry or scream or just strangle her with his bare hands when next they were alone. But nothing could stop her now.
“The final rose lay at the foot of the steps of a beautiful gazebo bathed in sunlight. Taviston stood inside with pink rose petals scattered everywhere. The intoxicating scent of the flowers was absolutely glorious.”
She was good at this; he could almost smell the roses himself.
“After greeting me, he then bade me sit on one of the cushioned benches. I truly had no idea what he was about, but then he dropped down on one knee and I could not keep a tear from spilling from my eye.”
Good grief, this was a bit much, wasn’t it? Although, when he glanced around, he noticed moisture in more than one lady’s eyes. Amazing.
“He took my hand in his and said...” her voice faltered and then she stopped speaking altogether.
In the instant before she looked up at him, Taviston knew what she was going to do. God help her when they were all alone.
With a tremulous smile, she cocked her head to one side. “I am certain you could repeat your words so much better than I, my darling. Just the thought of them overwhelms me.” To punctuate this dramatic statement, two teardrops escaped her eyes and cascaded down her cheeks.
Taviston had no idea what to say. He didn’t have a romantic bone in his body. To stall for time, he turned toward Victoria; took her hand in his; and then covered it with his other hand. The contact helped to steel his nerves.
“And I said...” he searched her eyes and saw amusement, but also encouragement. “I said, ‘My angel, I can hardly recall my life before your sweet smile greeted me for the first time. I have thought of little else since then. You have become the very essence of my existence. Without you, my world would have no color, no sound, no fragrance. My beloved, would you walk by my side the rest of my days and fill my world with the joy only you can bring? Will you be my wife?’”
Taviston wasn't sure which of them was more astounded. He had no idea where those words had come from or how he had managed to say them in such a sincere tone.
Victoria hid her surprise well and gave him a brilliant smile. “Of course I said, ‘Yes!’”
There were sighs of pleasure from the ladies around them, while the gentlemen nodded their heads. Lady Percival looked bemused, but she mustered a smile. “My congratulations to the both of you. I fail to see how the two of you could do anything but enjoy the rest of your lives together, bound as you are by such affection.”
Taviston decided to put a stop to this theatrical performance before Victoria moved on to act two. “I feel in need of some fresh air. Would you join me on the terrace, my sweet?”
Victoria had the self-preservation to look a little wary, but she assented.
They acknowledged those around them briefly and then made their way to the terrace doors. As they reached the exit, Victoria turned to him. “I’m not sure we should stop yet. They are still watching.”
Opening the door, he resisted the urge to march her through it. Instead, he grasped her arm gently and drew her to a halt. He leaned down and whispered in her ear, “Thank you...I think.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Victoria was pleased with both herself and Taviston. Wherever had his eloquence come from? Well, thank heaven those beautiful words had fallen from his lips. She wasn’t sure why she had passed off the actual proposal to him. In the moment she had done it, she had been confident he would continue the charade ably. It was only when he paused that she realized he might not be capable of improvising a fictional proposal in front of thirty people. But really, he had already proven himself capable of fabrication before, so why should tonight have been any differen
t?
She wanted to linger on the terrace but Taviston propelled her down the steps and into the garden. They reached a clearing with a small circular fountain and two benches. The trees surrounding them bore lanterns on their branches, providing adequate light with which to see each other. Taviston dropped her elbow and walked to the far side of fountain. He turned his back to her. Victoria very much feared he was gathering strength for his fury.
Wheeling around he flung out an arm, pointing in the direction of the house. “That was the most outrageous thing I have ever witnessed!” he whisper-yelled, his voice quaking with rage.
At least, she thought it was rage at first. However, the clearing was very well lit, and she might have detected a tiny little bit of amusement in his eyes. If she tried hard, she could imagine it was laughter that was making his voice shake.
So she said, “It was, wasn’t it?”
He stood with his arms crossed now and tried to look fierce. “I should be furious with you.”
She walked around the pool of glistening water, towards him, and said merrily, “You most certainly should be.”
At this point she could see that he was having trouble keeping his lips from turning up into a smile. He finally gave it up and succumbed to a hearty laugh. Victoria joined him. After a few minutes they were both laboring to drag in a breath but eventually their mirth trailed off into the cool night breeze.
“Victoria, that really was beyond all. How could you?”
“How could I not? Lord Northfield informed me of the gossip circulating. I had to do something. You were brilliant, by the by. I have never heard a more romantic proposal.”
Taviston sat down on the stone ledge of the fountain. “I appreciate your quick thinking. But may I ask when did you ever visit my garden?”
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