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“Sanderson, Your Grace,” he supplied.

“Welcome to our humble abode, Lord Sanderson,” Elizabeth said, flashing her best hostess smile.

“I dare say it is more than humble,” Peter teased, eliciting a short laugh from her.

Stephen was still eyeing him suspiciously. “I am sure you have business here. I hardly think you came here simply to ask about the well-being of me and my wife. I appreciate the thought, but I would prefer that we move on to the reason you are here.”

He spoke matter-of-factly, earning himself a chastising look from his wife, but his eyes were fixed on the Earl, so he didn’t see it.

“I do have something to speak to you about, in regard to Lady Selina.”

“A suitor?” Stephen asked with a raised eyebrow, easing his wife onto the settee before taking a seat beside her and wrapping a protective arm around her shoulders.

Perhaps Selina should have felt insulted that her brother was surprised to see a suitor on their doorstep, but then she guessed that it was not quite out of place for him to be surprised or skeptical of her history with unmarried gentlemen.

“Lord Sanderson had asked for my permission to court our dear Selina, since you were not available. Forgive me for not bringing it to your attention,” Martha said, beaming with pride for having been the first recipient of the news.

At least her explanation caused Stephen to relax, and Selina could see the tension leaving Peter’s shoulders. It was definitely not easy dealing with overprotective elder brothers.

“I deeply admire your sister, Your Grace,” Peter began, trying to present his suit. “I would love to?—”

“It seems that we went to the same school, Sanderson. I didn’t realize it. I heard it during one of these balls,” Herbert interjected, startling him and drawing surprised looks from the other occupants of the room.

“Yes, I went to Eton,” Peter answered with an indulgent smile. “But I fail to see how this is connected to?—”

“I’m curious about the customs when you were a student. Do tell me if they were always that rigid in their ways or if they were a little more liberal when you were a student?”

“I do not think they have compromised standard. I am here to?—”

“Perhaps you developed your love for riding there? What better way to escape all their rules?” Herbert said, ignoring the warning look Stephen was giving him.

Suddenly, Selina understood what was happening. Herbert was doing his best to prevent Peter from proposing, knowing full well that her heart belonged to another.

“I wouldn’t say so?—”

“Perhaps we could ride someday?”

“Herbert,” Stephen said, shaking his head in warning.

Herbert deflated, leaning back in his seat.

“I am here to ask permission to marry Lady Selina,” Peter said.

There was total silence in the room as all eyes turned to Selina. Diana and Herbert’s eyes conveyed worry, Elizabeth was curious, Martha was excited—eager for her to accept the proposal—and Stephen’s expression was passive but watchful.

“Tell me, Lady Selina, will you make me the luckiest man in England by agreeing to be my wife?”

Peter knelt down to ask her, his warm eyes shining with hope.

Hope that she might very well destroy.

It was tempting, very much so, for her to accept. The man kneeling before her was handsome, funny, clever, titled, and well-connected. He was the perfect suitor for her.

But the problem remained that he was only perfect for her on paper. Her heart belonged to a duke who didn’t care about her. It would be a sin and a disservice to him to marry him while she carried another man in her heart.

It would be a disaster waiting to unfold, and she knew it. Because every day, she would compare him to Richard, and he would fall short. It would be evil to condemn them both to a life of misery simply because he was available. Peter was a good man, and he deserved a woman who loved him wholeheartedly.

Perhaps she had taken too long to decide because her aunt smiled brightly.