by Lucy Monroe
Yet, if rumors could be believed and his years as a spy for the Crown had taught him they often could, her father had rejected seven offers for Irisa’s hand in the last four years. One from a duke and two more from peers of the realm.
Langley poured two glasses of port. “I’ve spoken with Irisa and she is not adverse to your suit.”
There was something in the older man’s voice Lucas could not quite decipher, a grim relief, almost bitterness.
“I did not expect her to be.” She had never shown any indication she would find his suit unfavorable.
Handing one of the heavy leaded crystal glasses to Lucas, Langley lifted his own slightly in a toast before settling more comfortably in his chair. “We’ll have our lawyers draw up the marriage settlements then.”
“I’ve already spoken to my man and he suggested getting together the first part of next week to negotiate the terms.”
“That will be acceptable. Have him contact my solicitor to set up the appointment.” Langley drew himself more firmly erect in his chair. “There is one other matter we need to discuss before I have Irisa called.”
Lucas idly allowed his gaze to drift around Langley’s darkly paneled library and wondered if he were about to hear a lecture on taking care of Irisa. Lucas had every intention of doing so and prepared himself to assure the older man on that score.
“I’m sure you are aware that Irisa is not my only child.”
“I know you have a son and another daughter, yes.”
From the information he had gathered, neither child had a close relationship with their father. Langley’s heir, Viscount Ravenswood, spent very little time in London and it was rumored even less time at Langley Hall. He was not a social man and according to tittle-tattle, there was a very good reason. Rumor also had it that Irisa had played some role in the injury that had left her brother’s face disfigured when he was a young man.
Even with his skills in ferreting out information, Lucas had been unable to substantiate this particular rumor or the details of Ravenswood’s injury. One day, he would ask Irisa about it, but for now their imminent marriage was of much greater import.
“They are both the product of my first marriage.”
He had heard that. “Yes.”
Langley nodded, evidently unsurprised Lucas would have investigated the subject. “It pains me to discuss the circumstances of my first marriage, but I’m sure that Irisa would feel the need to make some details known to you before accepting your offer. She would not want you misled.”
For some reason, what should have been a compliment on Langley’s part came out sounding more like an accusation.
“I’m very pleased with Lady Irisa’s forthright character. It is one of the chief reasons I felt we should suit.” That and the fact he could not wait to share their marriage bed.
“Just so. However, I wish to save her the embarrassment of discussing matters that are best left unremarked upon by a lady, matters regarding my older daughter,” Langley replied.
Lucas believed he knew what Langley was so worried about. Irisa’s sister was married to Pierson Drake, the man with whom Lucas had just invested a great deal of capital. He was also the natural son of a duke’s daughter. Lucas found no offense in the other man’s birth, but imagined that Langley was not so sanguine about the matter.
He had noticed Irisa’s father had a tendency toward prudery and intractability. He wondered how Lady Thea’s marriage had come about in the first place. In any case, Drake’s illegitimacy would have no impact on Lucas’s proposal of marriage toward the man’s sister-in-law.
However, his history of gathering intelligence prompted Lucas to remain silent and hear what Langley planned to say. Perhaps there was more to this situation than the information he had already obtained.
“My marriage to Jared and Thea’s mother was not a happy one,” Langley said with what sounded like genuine regret, “I am not proud to admit that the problems were by and large my fault. I was young and foolish, allowing jealousy to cloud my thinking regarding my wife’s actions.”
Lucas did not see what this had to do with Irisa, but again his past training kept him quiet.
“I hurt Anna and when she had our children, she kept the birth of our daughter a secret from me. They were twins, you see?”
Nodding his head, Lucas encouraged Langley to continue.
“In a fit of pique, Anna fled England with my daughter. When she did not return to me and her son, I assumed she had died.” Langley stopped speaking, his gaze going unfocused for a moment, then he seemed to collect himself.
“Indeed, she had. What I did not know is that she had left behind our daughter to be raised by friends in the West Indies. Thea was brought up in an entirely different culture than our own, although the couple who raised her were members of the ton. That is the only excuse I have for the fact that she married a man like Pierson Drake.”
“I’ve just invested in your son-in-law’s latest shipping venture. He’s a brilliant man,” Lucas inserted, intent on preventing an outright insult toward a man he now considered to be his friend.
Langley’s mouth twisted, but his voice was neutral when he continued speaking. “Yes. Well... Be that as it may, Thea was already married by the time she made herself known to me. I have accepted her husband because I have no choice, but I would hate to see their relationship, or the fact that her sister is quite the original to adversely affect Irisa’s future.”
Lucas thought Langley’s concern a trifle melodramatic. Neither Drake’s past, nor Thea’s originality were great secrets to the ton. He had long been aware of these facts and had already decided to ask for Irisa’s hand.
“I am interested in marriage to Irisa. I would not presume to hold her responsible for the actions of her family.”
No more than he had felt responsible for his mother or brother’s choices. For rectifying their mistakes where at all possible, yes, but he had staunchly refused to be tarred with the same brush.
Langley’s face showed relief. “That’s fine then. I’ll have my daughter called down immediately.”
***
Although she had been expecting the words, she still sat in mute shock after Lucas made his very correct proposal. She found the prospect of sharing what must be shared in the face of his passionless proposal overwhelmingly daunting. He had not spoken a word of affection, had not even taken her hand.
The weak English sun beat into the garden, doing little to warm Irisa as she sat on the stone bench beside Lucas. He had not even gone down on one knee, but then she’d always thought that was a rather silly tradition. She could hardly blame Lucas for not wanting to keep it.
Oh, why were her thoughts flitting like a butterfly that had discovered a patch of wildflowers when they so desperately needed to be focused?
He raised his brow in question at her lack of response. “Surely this has not come as a complete surprise to you.”
She shook her head. That at least was true. “Um, no.”
His smile warmed her insides, dispelling some of the chill seeping into her from the cold stone of the bench...or was it from the knowledge of what must be said?
She twisted her hands together in her lap. “There’s something I must tell you before I can answer your question. I...I want you to know that if it changes your desire to marry me, I will understand.”
In a surprise move, he reached out and pried her hands apart, taking them in his own.
Rubbing the back of her knuckles with his thumbs, he said, “Your father already spoke to me on the subject and I assure you, I have no intention of withdrawing my offer.”
She thought she would not mind if he caressed her in such a fashion every day for the rest of their lives. There was something so soothing and wonderfully intimate about the way he held her hands. Even through two layers of gloves, she could feel the heat of his skin warming her own.
That is why it took her several seconds to assimilate what he had said. Her father had already tol
d him? Surely not. Papa would never admit to her illegitimacy. He took such pains, even among the family, to pretend the problem did not exist.
“Papa told you about the first Countess of Langley?”
“Yes.”
“He told you about her death? That she did not die when he thought she did?”
Again Lucas confirmed her words. “Yes.”
“But...” She could not believe it. She had not expected Papa to be so forthright, nor could she believe that Lucas did not intend to withdraw his offer. “You do not mind? The circumstances of my –“
Lucas interrupted her. “You do not need to speak of it. I agree with your father that it is not a matter for a gentle lady to discuss.”
Even if the gentlewoman doing the discussing was the one most affected? Somehow, Lucas’s attitude on the subject did not surprise her. However, she was shocked to her very toes that he could so easily dismiss the illegitimacy of the woman he wished to marry.
He gripped her hand more tightly, the intensity that so entranced her radiating from his very being. “I do not hold you accountable for the actions of your family, my dear. You are responsible for yourself alone.”
Although Lucas had extended honest respect and friendship toward Thea’s husband, Irisa had never dreamed he might be so understanding in regard to his future wife. Perhaps such matters were not as important to The Saint as she had led herself to believe.
She wanted to weep, she was so relieved. For even if Lucas was less straight-laced than she had assumed, surely he cared for her on a personal level. He must in order to be so magnanimous as to completely dismiss as unimportant the circumstances surrounding her birth. The outward evidence of his affection would undoubtedly come later, when he was certain of her.
She allowed a brilliant smile to crease her face. “I am honored to accept your proposal of marriage, Lucas.”
His perceptive blue eyes widened at the familiar use of his name, but he did not rebuke her.
He smiled instead. “I’m glad, Irisa. Very glad.”
He bent his head. He was going to kiss her. The knowledge bubbled through her like champagne. She closed her eyes, tilting her head slightly and she felt the barest brush against her temple. Lucas released her hands and stood.
Her eyes flew open.
He held his hand out to her. “Shall we go inside and share our happy news with your parents?”
***
Lucas arrived early the next day for his appointment to take Irisa for a drive in the park. Anticipation at the prospect of seeing her simmered through him. She belonged to him now.
As of tomorrow morning when the official announcement would be printed in the papers, the entire polite world would know it as well. Pulling his phaeton to a stop in front of the Langley townhouse, he was grateful for the time it took a footman to come forward to hold the horses. If the mere thought of seeing his fiancée was going to affect him in this manner, then they had better plan for a short engagement. Six weeks should be long enough to ensure no one would label it a runaway match.
In a characteristic fashion, Irisa did not make him wait upon his arrival. She entered her mother’s rather pretentious drawing room only minutes after he had been shown in, her heart shaped face wearing an expression of charming welcome.
She curtsied, the yellow and white striped silk of her gown brushing the floor while the ostrich feathers on her wide brimmed hat waved at him. “Good afternoon, Lucas.”
He bowed, keeping his gaze fixed firmly on her delectable person. “Good afternoon. Are you ready for our drive?”
She certainly looked it. The demurely cut neckline of her gown exposed a tantalizingly small amount of creamy white skin, but it was nevertheless enough to quicken his heart rate, particularly when taken in combination with the way the silk clung to the generous womanly curve of her bosom.
The short puffy sleeves both exposed and accentuated her arms until she pulled her shawl around her, smiling. “Yes, I’m ready.”
They said good-bye to Lady Langley and he led Irisa outside to his waiting carriage. He helped her into the phaeton, glad he had not brought along a tiger today. There were several things he wished to discuss with his fiancée and he did not want a servant listening in. Once seated, he set the horses in motion, carefully executing the phaeton’s entrance into the crowded London street traffic.
“You have a very good hand on the reins, Lucas.”
“Thank you. I learned rather young.”
“Do you think you would be willing to teach me?”
One of his mother’s many paramours had taught her to drive within months of his father’s death. His father had always refused to do so, assuming correctly that the ability would be one more way for his mother to find trouble. Lucas’s mouth set at the memory of her driving exploits and all of the carefully considered discussions he planned to have with Irisa flew out of his head.
“You want to learn to drive?”
“You needn’t make it sound like I’m proposing I join the troupe at Astley’s Amphitheatre. Driving is a perfectly acceptable pastime for a lady. Why, even Lady Jersey knows how to handle the ribbons.”
But she didn’t do it often. Perhaps Irisa didn’t wish to either. He already knew she was curious. Maybe she only wished to learn for the sake of knowing how. There was no reason to believe her motivations were anything like his mother’s, but then he did not see a reason to tempt her either.
“You have no need to learn to drive, m’dear. You will always have a carriage and coachman at your disposal.”
Irisa popped open her parasol and set it on her shoulder. “It’s not a matter of necessity. I think I should enjoy it.”
“I do not know if I will have the time to teach you,” he said repressively.
“Oh.” The one word came out with a wealth of disappointment. “I had hoped now we are engaged, I would be seeing more of you.”
He allowed a small smile when he realized the true source of her disappointment. “As to that, of course we will. It will now be unremarkable for you to be seen often in my company.”
She brightened at that. “I’m glad.”
She wanted to be with him. The knowledge further reinforced his belief that she would make a sound wife. He had no desire for a typical society marriage where he and his wife led two completely different lives from under the same roof.
He decided to introduce the first topic he wished to discuss before she made another outrageous comment and sidetracked him once again. “I would like to set our wedding date six weeks hence.”
He felt the sudden tension that gripped her. “So soon, my lord?”
He liked it better when she called him Lucas. “Do you have a reason for wishing to postpone it?”
“Well, as to that, not precisely. I just thought we could get to know each other better before marrying.”
“We will have a lifetime to learn all we could wish about one another.”
“Yes. Of course.” Her free hand twisted in the yellow and white silk of her skirt. “But, don’t you think six weeks is rather rushing it?”
He considered that for several moments, but discarded the idea. “It’s a perfectly respectable length of time for an engagement. It is not as if you had been compromised and there will be speculation about a runaway match.”
“No. It’s not as if I’d been compromised.”
If he did not know better, he would think she sounded disgruntled by that fact. “It’s settled then?”
“We’ll have to discuss it with my parents. My mother may require more time to plan the wedding.” She said the last sentence with unmistakable hope.
He didn’t want to crush her spirits, but he had no doubt Lady Langley would be more than willing to set the date in a matter of weeks. Lucas had the definite impression that both Irisa’s parents were over-eager to see her wed.
“Was there anything else you wished to discuss, Lucas?”
Another good sign. She could already anticipate his thought
s. “Yes, as a matter of fact there was. Your investment practices. You refused to answer my questions at the Bilkington Ball because we had no connection. That is no longer true and as your betrothed, I must insist on complete disclosure.”
“You want to discuss my investments?”
Lucas could not identify the strange undercurrent in her voice. He turned to look at her and he could almost swear her eyes were filled with outrage. His jaw set. She would have to get used to his interest in her affairs. He would not allow his wife to run amok.
“Yes, Irisa. I will not assume the disinterested role your father has seen fit to take in your financial affairs and activities.”
She gasped. “You would try to dictate how I spend my money?”
Why did she sound so shocked? “It would be most unnatural if I did not take an interest in how you did so.”
“Are you saying that you expect me to account for every farthing I spend?”
“Do not be ridiculous. How you spend your pin money is of little import to me.” He paused. “Unless you are spending it on such foolish things as investment in the ‘Change.”
“Are you saying you consider a new hair ribbon a more intelligent use of my money than for me to purchase stock on the Exchange?” Her voice came out low and strained.
“I consider a new hair ribbon a more appropriate use of your pin money, yes. You must leave the investments to me. I promise you I will take very good care of your future and that of our children.”
“Thea does not leave that side of things completely to Drake and he does not appear emasculated by the circumstance.”
Shock warred with shear outrage at her audacious comment. “My concern for you is not an indicator that I fear for my masculine role in our marriage.”
“You are saying this heavyhanded behavior is motivated by concern for me?” she asked, her tone dulcetly sweetly.
“Yes,” he ground out between his teeth.
Suddenly she seemed to relax. “I don’t want to give up investments, Lucas. I like the challenge and I like the time I spend with my sister planning them.” She laid her gloved hand on his forearm. “When I met Thea, we had little in common. She had been raised on a small island around people quite different from us. She has very independent ideas, you know.”