Meg returned the young woman’s heartfelt hug, guilt curdling like sour milk in her belly. The sensation only grew stronger when Cade’s mother approached, a warm smile on her lips.
“My daughter is right,” she said, leaning over to press a welcoming kiss against Meg’s cheek. “This is happy news indeed, even if it may be unexpected. After the worry Cade’s given me these past few months, it’s such a relief to see his health improving and a smile on his face again. Obviously, I have you to thank for that, my dear. And for coaxing him out of his exile. We feared for a time that he might never rejoin the family. You have my lasting gratitude for bringing him back to us all.”
“I was only in Northumberland, Mama,” Cade remarked. “Hardly at world’s end.”
“You might as well have been in Timbuktu for all that we heard or saw of you,” the dowager retorted, a martial glint sparkling in her eyes. “And after Edward’s visit…well, I told myself you simply needed time—to heal and adjust. I can see now that what you really needed was the influence and affection of this lovely young woman.”
She smiled again at Meg, visibly calming as her ruffled maternal feathers smoothed once more. “And now we shall have the delight of a wedding to plan. You must tell me about your parents, my dear, so I may write and invite them for a visit. I am sure we will have much to say to each other.”
A wave of melancholy swept through Meg as she thought of her mother and father and the fact that when she did eventually marry, neither one of them would be at her wedding.
“About that, Mama…” Cade began. “There’s no need to write—”
“Of course there is. Unless you mean to say that they are on their way already?”
“No, ma’am, they are not.”
“Well then, they must come.” She paused as a new thought apparently occurred. “Oh, pray do not tell me you have yet to secure her father’s consent? Margaret will need it, you know, since she is obviously not of age. What are you, child? Nineteen? Twenty?”
“Nineteen, Your Grace,” Meg confirmed.
“Just as I thought,” the dowager said with a nod. “Her parents must be advised, though I can scarcely imagine them refusing to ally themselves with one of the best families in England, particularly given the nature of your introduction to one another. Neither of you could help being snowbound together, of course, and I am sure Cade acted the gentleman at all times, but the fact remains that Society might look askance should circumstances become known. Unless Margaret was traveling with a relation. Perhaps even her mother?”
“No, her maid,” Cade said. “But there will be no difficulty.”
The dowager made a humming noise in her throat. “Well, we shall make sure there is not, since I have sufficient influence. Still, a united front is always best. Her family must come to London and I will host a ball.”
“That is quite impossible,” Cade said.
“I fail to see why—”
“Forgive the interruption, Your Grace,” Meg said in a quiet but firm voice. “But what Lord Cade is trying to say is that both of my parents are deceased. I have no male relations who wish to claim me, and my elderly great-aunt, with whom I was lately planning to reside, will most certainly be happy to see me wed.
“I should probably also tell you that my father was an admiral in service to His Majesty’s Royal Navy, and that my mother was the daughter of a viscount. She was disinherited on her marriage to my father due to the family’s disapproval, and no one from their side has ever attempted to make contact again.”
Meg drew a breath and linked her hands together. “So, you see, the only prohibition to a union between myself and Lord Cade would be from you or a member of your family. I hope you will not decide to retract your consent now that you have heard more about me.”
For a long moment silence hung once more in the room. Then Cade’s mother came forward and took Meg’s hand.
“Retract my consent?” the dowager said. “Heavens child, what kind of ogress would I have to be to do such a thing? How long ago did you lose your parents?”
“My father died five months ago. My mother passed a few years earlier.”
Lines of sorrow creased the older woman’s still beautiful face. “You poor dear, to suffer such dreadful losses at so young an age. I grieve with you.”
“Thank you, Your Grace,” Meg said, a reawakened sense of guilt giving her a nasty pinch.
She didn’t know precisely from where her impassioned speech about herself had come. Perhaps unintentionally she had been trying to give his family a reason to take a dislike to her and end this sham engagement between herself and Cade. Yet apparently she had succeeded instead in solidifying her acceptance as Cade’s intended bride.
She could still tell them everything, she knew. It wasn’t too late. But even as she mustered the determination to confess the truth, the words stuck in her throat; aware that once she spoke them, her last hope of salvaging her reputation and future would be gone.
“I ought to have realized from your attire that you are in mourning,” the dowager continued, obviously attributing the distress that Meg knew must be showing on her face to sadness over her parents’ deaths. “After all, what pretty young woman would wear grey unless necessity required? But as much as your devotion does you credit, you must give yourself leave to wear brighter shades again soon. Surely your papa would not wish it otherwise?”
“No, Your Grace. I know he would not.”
“Good. And enough of such formalities. We are to be mother and daughter now. You must call me Ava, or Mama if you like. No more ‘Your Grace.’”
“Yes, Your Grace. I mean, Ava.”
The dowager smiled.
“In fact, since you have brought up the idea of Meg coming out of mourning,” Cade said, “I was thinking that she could join Mallory when she makes her entrance into Society. Obviously, Meg would not be a typical debutante, since she will already be engaged, but it would be nice if she could enjoy at least one Season before she marries.”
“Oh, what a lovely idea!” Mallory agreed with alacrity. “I’ve been a little nervous about my come-out. I would feel so much better if I had another girl with whom to share all the excitement. Please say yes.”
Meg stared at Cade’s sister. Why does she have to be so nice? She thought. Why do they all have to be so nice? Except his brother, she realized, who hadn’t said a word since she’d told them about her false engagement.
Turning her attention back to Mallory, she nodded. “If you’re sure you wouldn’t mind sharing with me, then yes, I would be delighted.”
“Forgive me, dear,” the dowager said to her. “With all this talk, I quite forgot how weary you must be from your journey. Why don’t I show you to your room. I am sure the housekeeper has prepared something by now.”
“Thank you,” Meg replied. “That would be most welcome.”
“Cade,” his mother said, turning to him. “You will have your old room, of course.”
“Of course,” he said.
Old room? Does that mean he will be living here? She had assumed he would have his own establishment in Town. A quiver went through her at the thought of Cade being only just down the corridor. How far away will he be staying?
“If everything is settled for now,” the duke said, finally reentering the conversation, “I should like a word with Cade.”
As Meg watched, Cade glanced at his brother, the two locking gazes to exchange a silent message of some sort. What that message might be sent a frisson of worry through her. Then Cade’s brother turned and strode toward her.
“Miss Amberley…” he said, stopping before her. “…Meg, if I might. Allow me to extend my felicitations on your impending nuptials. Welcome to the family.”
For a moment she thought she detected a faintly mocking gleam in his deep blue gaze. But then he blinked and it was gone. “Thank you, Your Grace,” she said. “You are most kind.”
He smiled, his lips moving into a handsome upturn that once agai
n reminded her of Cade. He said nothing more.
Mallory claimed her arm a moment later and steered her toward the door, launching into a description of the court dress for which she had just been fitted. The dowager gave them both an indulgent look, then led the way from the room.
Ten minutes later Cade sank into one of the comfortable brown leather wing chairs positioned before the fireplace in Edward’s study. With a grateful sigh, he stretched out his legs, enjoying the relaxed, masculine nature of the room. On the air drifted the scents of leather, ink, and foolscap, the sweet-sharp tang of alcohol joining the mix as his brother poured draughts of brandy into a pair of fine, mouth-blown Italian snifters.
Crossing, Edward handed him one of the glasses. Cade accepted with an appreciative nod and took a drink, noting the excellent taste and quality of the beverage. “French?” he inquired.
“Of course,” Edward said as he took his own seat.
Cade’s lips curved in a wry grin, deciding it best not to inquire where his brother had come by the contraband liquor. Edward might be a firm supporter of the war effort, but he was also a gentleman with a certain set of standards to maintain. War or not, he drew the line at drinking bad spirits.
“So,” Edward began in a casual tone. “Now that you’re comfortably settled, perhaps you’d care to tell me just what it is you think you’re about?”
Cade’s fingers tightened on the stem of his glass. Damnation. I should have known I couldn’t slip anything past Ned. Still, he reminded himself, Edward didn’t have more than his suspicions—not yet anyway. He owed it to himself and Meg to try and brazen it out, even if the odds of success were slimmer than the chance of finding hair on a goose.
“What do you mean?” He yawned, raising a supposedly negligent hand to cover his mouth. “I’m afraid I do not follow.”
“Of course you ‘follow,’” Edward retorted, giving him a hard-eyed stare. “Don’t try to cozen me, brother. That faerie story you spun for us all upstairs may fool Mama and Mallory, but it won’t wash with me. Miss Amberley is a beautiful young woman, but I do not for an instant believe you have tumbled headlong in love with her. In lust, perhaps, but love…”
Cade set his snifter onto a side table. “And why could I not have fallen in love? Meg is a wonderful girl, sweet and charming and amusing. Smart, too. She plays a damned fine game of chess, I’ll tell you. She’s bested me more than once already, and looks like an angel while she’s doing it.”
His brother regarded him over his brandy glass. “Has she indeed? I can see you like her a great deal. But what of Calida?”
A muscle ticked in Cade’s jaw. Glancing away, he gazed at the blaze burning in the grate. “What of her? She is dead.”
“Yes. And although the rest of the family never realized that you loved her and planned to make her your bride, I did. I also know how much you’ve mourned her loss. Now, you expect me to believe you are besotted with this new young woman after a mere three weeks acquaintance?”
Taking up his glass, Cade drained the liquor inside. “That’s right.”
“Why are you marrying her, Cade? And I want the truth this time.”
“I have given it to you.”
Edward bit out a blistering curse. “Like hell you have. Stop lying. You never used to keep things from me, not even as boys.”
Looking up, Cade met his gaze. “In case you hadn’t noticed, we’re not boys any longer.”
“No, but we are still brothers, and that should count for something, perhaps everything. Did you compromise her? And I don’t mean by letting her take up temporary residence in your house because of inclement weather.”
Cade sighed in his head, suddenly weary of the game of trying to deceive his brother. Edward was right. They had always told each other everything, no matter how foolish or base it might make them appear. To protect Meg, he’d been willing to attempt the deception, but continuing now would risk angering Edward——perhaps even alienating him—and that he would not do.
“All right, yes,” he admitted, rubbing his knuckles over his temple. “I compromised her—well, at least I sort of compromised her.”
Edward scowled. “How do you ‘sort of compromise’ a woman?”
“By taking advantage of her when you’re half delirious from drink and laudanum, then not quite completing the act. She’s still a virgin…so in my book that counts as ‘sort of.’”
The duke quirked a brow. “And so, to do the honourable thing, you have agreed to marry her.”
“Well…that falls under the ‘sort of’ category, too.” He shifted in his chair. “You see, we’re not actually engaged.”
“You’re not?”
He shook his head. “No. That is to say, we are engaged as far as Society is concerned, or will appear to be anyway. In reality, though, Meg and I have agreed that our arrangement is of a temporary nature. I’ve promised to give her a Season here in London, thus providing her with a chance to meet an array of eligible gentlemen. Once she finds a fellow she can love, she’ll toss me over and marry him.”
“Marry…Are the pair of you insane?”
“Not at all. It is a thoroughly sound plan.”
Edward huffed out a breath. “It is a thoroughly idiotic plan. What if she doesn’t find this fellow with whom she is supposed to fall in love? Worse, what if she changes her mind and decides to hold you to your pledge? You will have no choice but to marry her, secret agreement or no.”
“Ironic, Meg said those very things to me, when she was trying to talk me out of proceeding with the idea. But just as I told her, she will have no difficulty finding a man to wed. You’ve seen her. They’ll be prowling around her skirts like cats after a plump mouse, our engagement notwithstanding.”
“I suppose they will at that. Her apparent unavailability might even make her more attractive.”
“Exactly! As for the other, Meg is an honourable, trustworthy young woman, despite this current ruse of ours. I know she would never deceive me.”
“You’re sure?”
“I would stake my life on it.”
“Nevertheless—”
Cade cut him off with a hand. “No. Look, Ned, I put her in this situation, and it’s my responsibility to help her out of it, especially after Ludgate found us together at the house.”
“Ludgate? Who is that?”
“A nosy pudding of a man, who I have the misfortune to call neighbour. Quite likely, he’s tattled to half the country about us by now. I couldn’t very well stand by and let Meg be ruined, so I told him we were engaged. By rights, I ought to be the one to marry her after what happened between us. But…well, that seems a deuced poor reason to wed, not when other arrangements can be made that suit us better. I figure with you and Mama here in Town to look after her, she’ll do fine. I shall stay for a few days and get her settled, then take myself off back north.”
His brother arched a brow. “Leave? But you can’t leave.”
“Why can I not?”
“First of all, because you and Miss Amberley are supposed to be wildly in love, remember? I don’t think even the veriest simpleton would believe your tale of devotion if you desert her after less than a week.”
“Desert her? Now, that’s rather harsh—”
“Society won’t think it is, especially if word gets ’round that the two of you were alone together in Northumberland. They will see your departure as a tacit repudiation of your promise to her, and she’ll be as good as ruined. Matters will be dodgy enough at first, even with you at her side. Dance attendance on her and even the highest sticklers will unbend and call the pair of you romantic. Run off back to your estate and you might as well toss her to the wolves.”
Cade felt lines crease his forehead.
“No,” Edward declared in lowering tones. “If you intend to put this cockeyed plan in motion, you will have to stay for the duration of the Season. Or at least until she finds her future husband and jilts your sorry hide.”
Bloody hell! Ned was right.
For some idiotic reason, he’d been telling himself that once Meg was settled with his family in London, he would be free to return home and pursue his own plans and desires—alone. But his much coveted solitude would have to wait once again while he saw to her. He’d made Meg a promise and could not abandon her now.
“Very well, then, I shall stay and see to it that Meg finds a husband,” Cade declared. Picking up his glass, he held it out. “Now, I believe I could do with a refill.”
“Why does your brother keep looking at me that way?” Meg whispered to Cade that evening as they took seats on the sofa in the music room after dinner.
“What way? And which one, since there are three of them now present?”
“The duke,” she replied. “He has this…I don’t know…glint in his eye that gives me the distinct impression he knows about us.”
Cade paused a long moment. “Perhaps that’s because he does.”
“What!” she exclaimed, forgetting to keep her voice low.
All other conversation stopped, a cluster of dark heads and brilliantly coloured eyes turning her way. Even young Esme, who had been permitted the special treat of coming down from the schoolroom to join the family for dinner, glanced up from where she sat in her youthful yellow gown, quietly sketching with a pencil and paper.
As for the duke, he stood with a negligent elbow propped against the large, ornately carved white marble fireplace mantel. He was sipping a brandy with a casual air—unaware, from all appearances, of the trouble he had just caused.
“Is something amiss, dear?” the dowager questioned, her teaspoon poised motionless over her cup.
Meg’s gaze moved around the room, her heart beating so rapidly it was a wonder all of them couldn’t hear it, too. “N-No…I…of course not, Your Grace.”
Cade leaned closer and took Meg’s hand in his own. “I am afraid the fault is mine, Mama,” he said. “I was murmuring things in Meg’s ears that are best said in private.”
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