Lord and Lady Peregrine were the first to arrive, elegant in brightly colored silks and satins. Emmanuel greeted them formally and amiably, directing them to their seats. They were quickly followed by Lord and Lady Becket, who bussed him excitedly on the cheek, before taking their places at the table.
“It’s all very exciting, isn’t it?” Lady Edric declared with a joyous smile.
Lady Peregrine gave a strained smile and Lord Edric squeezed her hand in solidarity. Emmanuel smiled, just as excited as his aunt but trying to maintain his decorum. Lord Gefferton and his steward walked in together, barely acknowledging the Duke before taking their places. Everyone sat up expectantly as footsteps were heard and soon, Lady Gefferton passed through the doorway. Behind her was Isabella, beaming happily. Her golden eyes lit up as they landed on Emmanuel, and he stepped away from the table to hand her to her seat.
He bowed over her hand with a smile. “My dear Miss Addison, you are a vision tonight.”
He would not have thought it possible but her smile widened. “Thank you, Your Grace.”
Emmanuel seated her, then took his own seat at the head of the table, and nodded to the butler for the first course to be served.
He barely tasted his soup, his hand shaking the whole while. Even though he had already asked, and she had accepted his proposal, doing it in public was something else entirely.
He risked a glance at her and found that she was just as pale as he assumed he was. Lady Gefferton and Lady Edric covered what would have been an awkward silence with their excited chatter. By the time the fish course was replacing the soup, his nerves had calmed somewhat and he was debating internally whether it would be best to wait for dessert or coffee to propose.
I think dessert, and then we can celebrate with champagne.
His eyes dropped to her bosom, where his ring was suspended on a silver chain. He smiled at it, appreciating how her creamy skin provided the perfect backdrop to his ruby.
Suddenly, he could not wait a moment longer and got to his feet.
“Lords, Ladies and Gentlemen, pray silence,” Emmanuel said clearly.
Conversation around the table died quite suddenly.
He took a deep breath. “I have an announcement to make. Two months ago, my aunt and Miss Addison’s mother had a meeting in which they decided that their charges might make a good match.”
Both ladies giggled in delight.
“Well, when we—both Miss Addison and I—heard this plan, we did not take it well.”
Isabella smiled and nodded.
“However, once we met and spoke, we realized that the ladies were right. We do make a good match. And so today, I would like to formalize that relationship.”
He stared intently at Isabella and then took a deep breath as she stood to face him. “Miss Isabella Addison, would you do me the honor of consenting to be my wife?”
Isabella simply beamed.
Chapter 24
Confrontation
Celebrations went on until the early hours. Isabella had given up somewhere after midnight and declared her fatigue. She needed to go and lie down.
“Perhaps my future husband can be allowed to escort me to my bed chambers?” she asked the largely drunken gathering.
There was a chorus of protests from her parents. “You are not yet married,” her mother declared.
The Duke held up a hand solemnly. “I promise to behave myself, and I shall be right back. Mrs. Pinfield is upstairs waiting, anyway.”
“All right, Isabella, just this once.” Her mother wagged a finger at her.
Sarah stood up. “I can take her. It’s no trouble.”
Isabella frowned at her in utter annoyance. “No. I don’t want you. Go away.” She might have drunk a little more champagne than was wise.
“Oh, boo,” Sarah waved a hand at her, pouting sulkily.
Emmanuel took her hand with an elegant bow and led her unsteadily out of the room. She could hear her father complaining in the room they had left and her mother placating him dismissively.
She turned to Emmanuel with a conspiratorial smile. “Alone at last.”
Emmanuel smiled back. “Would you like to take a walk?”
Isabella smiled sadly. “I would, but I really am tired.”
“Very well. I shall escort you to your bed chamber.”
They walked silently up the stairs and down the lamp-lit hall. They paused in front of her door and faced each other. “Well, thank you for a lovely evening, Your Grace.”
“You are most welcome, Miss Addison.”
Isabella turned to her door but Emmanuel stopped her. “Wait. Just one thing.” He reached for her bosom and she tensed but all he did was lift her silver chain and turn it so he could undo the clasp.
He slid her ring off the chain and then reached for her hand. “It is time,” he whispered.
She smiled shakily, extending her hand to him. He slipped the ring carefully onto her finger and then covered her hand with both of his. He raised his eyes, smiling at her.
“There, now we are truly betrothed.”
Her lip trembled. “Should we seal it with a kiss?”
His eyes dropped to her lips. “Do you want us to?”
Her eyebrows went up and she lifted her face. Emmanuel slowly lowered his face, closer and closer. His eyes alternated from her eyes to lips and his tongue darted out and wetted his lips. Isabella sighed in anticipation. She closed her eyes, feeling the warm wetness pressing down on her skin and then his tongue questing politely for entrance into her mouth. She granted access and he immediately invaded her, planting his flag and staking a claim on her body.
She moaned in utter submission, letting her body relax into him. Heat spread from her center to every particle of her being and she wondered if it would be a repeat of the clearing. She wanted to pay enough attention to understand what was happening to her but she felt too drunk and uncoordinated.
Emmanuel pulled her away from him. “We cannot. Not here.” He whispered, which meant he had to know what she was thinking. She nodded, trying to contain her disappointment.
“I will bid you goodnight.”
“G-good night, Emmanuel.”
He leaned forward, and kissed her on the forehead, then walked away. Isabella watched until he disappeared around the corner, then she sighed and opened the door to her chamber.
* * *
Emmanuel decided to send Lord Gefferton a note, asking him to meet him in his office. His head was pounding from last night’s festivities but not as much, he suspected, as it would be for everyone else. They had all drank a lot more than he did. He was not a heavy drinker, since he never knew when his leg might flare up and he would need some laudanum.
He loathed the dreams he got when he mixed alcohol and laudanum and the unsettled feeling he had for days. He was already unsteady on his feet and the addition of that haziness just made things worse.
He sat at his desk, nursing a cup of coffee as he waited for Lord Gefferton to join him. Andrews had informed him that he delivered the note himself and Lord Gefferton had promised to be at Emmanuel’s disposal presently.
There was a knock at the door followed by the turning of the knob. Lord Gefferton came in and seated himself without preamble, folding his arms against the chair and staring balefully at Emmanuel.
“I received your note. Your valet seemed to think it was urgent that I see you.”
Emmanuel sighed. “I have something I wish to discuss with you. It involves your steward.”
Gefferton’s eyebrow rose. “My steward? What could you possibly have to discuss with me about him?”
“I need to know where he comes from, and how long he has been in your service.”
“What business is that of yours?”
“I have reason to suspect that your steward was involved in the robbery and murder of my parents.”
“What? That’s preposterous.”
“Is it?”
“Of course. My steward is no brigand.
”
“Is he not? Because I saw him the other day, exchanging money with an unsavory fellow apparently for services rendered. Said services included shooting at your daughter.”
Lord Gefferton frowned. “You must have been mistaken.”
“I also recall his eyes from the incident with my parents.”
“How could you remember that? You were barely a child.”
“You seem quite bound and determined not to believe me.”
“I simply have not seen any proof of these allegations. Mr. Chandler has served me faithfully for many years. I owe him some loyalty.”
“Do you not owe me the benefit of the doubt? Tell me how long this man has worked for you.”
“A long time. About fourteen years.”
“Is that so?”
“Do you doubt me?”
Emmanuel merely looked impassively back at him. Lord Gefferton sighed.
“I understand your desire to avenge your parents, Helmsfield, but you are barking up the wrong tree.”
* * *
Emmanuel decided that if he could not get a straight answer out of the Viscount, he would ask his daughter. The ladies were sitting on the veranda, having afternoon tea and gossiping about whatever it was ladies gossiped about. Lord Peregrine was off fishing with Mr. Chandler. This was a good time as any to make enquiries.
He knocked lightly at the doorway leading out to the veranda, smiling shyly at all the ladies present.
“May I join you beautiful ladies?” he asked the room in general. There was an awful lot of oohing and aahing, some cooing and general coyness but Emmanuel got the message that yes, he was perfectly welcome to join them.
“Thank you, ladies.”
He took a seat, on the same couch as Isabella, leaving a respectable distance between them. He did not miss the pleased smiles exchanged between Lady Gefferton and Lady Edric and the moue of distaste on Lady Peregrine’s face.
He did not know if Isabella’s sister knew anything but it was clear that their father had been poisoning her mind with something. Either that or Lady Peregrine simply harbored a distaste for wooden legs, or perhaps brown beards.
Who knows?
He mostly kept quiet, listening to the conversations around him. Isabella was shooting him expectant glances and he turned to her eventually and smiled.
“So how are you feeling today?”
“I am in the very pink of health.”
“That is good to hear.”
“So what has motivated you to join us this afternoon?”
Emmanuel shrugged. “I just thought that I have not really spent time with the ladies. It pays to be on their favorable side.”
Isabella laughed. “That’s true.” She leaned forward and whispered, “Especially when they are planning your wedding.”
Emmanuel shrugged. “I gave up on controlling that aspect of my life long ago. I shall just go along with whatever you all agree.”
“Mmm.”
Emmanuel took a breath. “So, I wanted to make an enquiry of you.”
Isabella smiled. “Go on.”
“Your father’s steward…” Emmanuel noted her automatic grimace, “How long has he been with him?”
Isabella shrugged. “He has been with us for as long as I can remember. At least through my childhood. I cannot say how long.”
“So I suppose you cannot remember when he joined your household?”
“No, I can’t. Why don’t you ask my father?”
“He does not seem to recall.”
“Is it important?”
“I think so.”
Isabella turned to look at Lady Gefferton. “Mother might know.”
Emmanuel also looked over at Lady Gefferton. “Hmm, probably. Would you mind finding out for me?”
“Of course not. I would be happy to.”
He reached out and squeezed her hand. “Thank you.”
* * *
“What were you two whispering about?” Lady Gefferton asked Isabella as she came to collect her when the dinner bell rang.
“You mean His Grace and I?”
Lady Gefferton gave her a look. “Who else would I mean?”
Isabella giggled. “Well, funnily enough, he was asking me about Mr. Chandler.”
“Mr. Chandler?” Lady Gefferton’s voice went high with surprise, “What did he want with your father’s steward?”
“He wanted to know how long he has worked for us. Do you know?”
Lady Gefferton tapped her lip as she thought. “Well, it’s been quite a while. Perhaps fourteen years? Something like that.”
“That’s a long time.”
“Yes. It is. He started out so rough at the edges, you know. I could not for the life of me imagine why your father would want him. But he was quite insistent.”
“Strange.” Isabella looped her hand around her mother’s arm, focusing on climbing down the stairs without stumbling. Neither of them noticed Mr. Chandler lurking in the darkened corner, listening to their conversation.
* * *
“It gets more and more dangerous every day, My Lord. What do you intend to do about it?”
Lord Gefferton sighed. “I do not know what you expect me to do about it. I am not the one meeting with brigands on His Grace’s land.”
George’s eyes narrowed. “Who told you that?”
“Who do you think?”
“And how did he know?” George’s voice got inadvertently louder.
“He followed you.”
“Fiend seize it!”
“Whatever you intend to do, George, you need to be discreet.”
“What…you mean if I…kill the Duke?”
“Do not say you were not thinking it. You should have completed the job long ago.”
“I am no monster to kill children.”
“No, you just cripple them.”
George turned away, clenching his jaw. “This is not productive. Do not say another word to him.”
“I do not intend to. As long as you do your job.”
* * *
Isabella was distracted at dinner. She was thinking about the clearing, and the kiss last night. She wanted more, and she did not want to wait.
“Mother? What do you think about a small wedding? We could have it by the end of the week, right here at the Manor.”
Lady Gefferton stared at her as if she had lost her mind. “Don’t be silly, Isabella, the banns have not been called.”
“We can get a special license.”
Lord Gefferton narrowed his eyes. “Is there anything you are not telling us? Any reason for this haste?”
It was all Isabella could do not to blush. “Of course not, Father. I am simply in favor of small weddings. Everyone I would want at my wedding is already here. I am not interested in an elaborate affaire.”
Lady Gefferton turned to Emmanuel. “What about you, Your Grace? You’re remarkably quiet.”
“I am in support of anything Miss Addison would like. If she wants a small wedding, then we should have a small wedding.”
Lord Edric shook his head. “Ah, Son, such a mistake. You cannot begin your marriage giving your bride everything she wants. It sets her expectations too high.”
Lady Edric gave him a look. “You gave me everything I wanted.”
“Exactly. So I know what I’m talking about.”
That elicited laughter around the table.
“What would we need to have a wedding by the end of the week?” Isabella raised her voice to be heard above the noise.
“A special license, and a priest, I suppose.” Emmanuel said.
“Do not forget the gown,” Lady Edric pointed out.
“Oh, I have had that picked out for years.” Lady Gefferton retorted.
Isabella gave her mother a look. “I don’t suppose you carried it, did you?”
“Of course not, my dear, the presumption…” Lady Gefferton shook her head at her daughter.
Emmanuel smiled with amusement. “I am in support o
f presumption. And if you are serious, I expect we can send for the gown, and anything else you might need.”
A Sinful Duke She Can't Refuse (Steamy Historical Regency) Page 21