Page 20 of A Lady’s Mishap (The Lockwood Family #5)

20

E lodie stood on the pavement, gazing at the storefront display of elegant hats. The array of ribbons, feathers, and fine lace was mesmerizing. Did she really need another hat? No, but they were so pretty. Yet, after hours of shopping, her feet ached, and her enthusiasm waned.

Melody appeared beside her. “Shall we go to Gunter’s for some lemon ice?”

Elodie perked up. “That is a lovely idea,” she said with a smile.

Looping her arm through Elodie’s, Melody led the way down the bustling street. The scent of freshly baked bread wafted from a nearby bakery, mingling with the crisp afternoon air. “How are you faring, Sister? And I would prefer the truth.”

“I am fine. Just fine. Perfectly fine, in fact,” Elodie replied, her words spilling out in quick succession.

Melody gave her a knowing look. “Perhaps if you said ‘fine’ one more time, I might believe you.”

Elodie laughed. “I am far more interested in you. How is married life?”

That was the right thing to say because a bright smile came to Melody’s lips, spilling into her eyes. “Marrying Wesley was the best decision I ever made. I am happier than I ever dreamed possible.”

“Well, I am happy that you are happy.”

“Thank you, Sister,” Melody said, glancing over at her. “Dare I ask how being the diamond of the Season is going?”

Elodie groaned. “It is awful. It should have been you.”

“I would have been miserable as the diamond,” Melody said. “I much prefer anonymity.”

“As do I,” Elodie admitted, “but the queen decided to ruin my life.”

With a shake of her head, Melody replied, “The queen did not ruin your life.”

“No, but I am tired of all the stares and whispers,” Elodie said, her voice tinged with frustration. “I am expected to dance at balls and perform at social events. It is exhausting.”

“What a dreadful burden,” Melody teased. Then her tone shifted. “Now, tell me the truth. What is going on with you and Anthony?”

“Nothing,” Elodie rushed out.

Melody’s gaze sharpened. “That is not what Bennett and Winston told me. They said you two have been spending a considerable amount of time with one another.”

“We are merely friends,” Elodie insisted.

“Very well, do not tell me,” Melody said.

Elodie hesitated, then bit her lower lip. “How did you know that you were in love with Wesley?”

“My heart told me that the search was over,” Melody said. “I am not saying that it was easy, but it was worth it.”

In a low voice, Elodie said, “Anthony admitted that he cared for me.”

“I see, and what did you say?”

“Nothing,” Elodie confessed. “We were interrupted, and the moment passed.”

Stopping on the pavement, Melody turned to face her sister. “Do you care for Anthony?”

“I do,” Elodie said, seeing no reason to deny it. “But he wishes to just remain friends.”

“Is that what you want?”

Elodie shrugged, a gesture that failed to mask her turmoil. “Does it matter?”

Melody huffed. “Of course it matters,” she replied. “Sometimes you must fight for what you want. Do you want Anthony in your life?”

“You make it sound so simple.”

“It is simple,” Melody argued. “Life is too short for regrets. If you care for him, tell him. Do not let fear hold you back.”

Elodie sighed, resuming her walk. “If I do not get lemon ice soon, I might wither away and die.”

Melody matched her stride. “You can run from the truth, but you cannot hide from it.”

“Then I shall never stop running,” Elodie retorted with a grin.

But Melody was not deterred. “Do you love him?”

Elodie stopped abruptly, turning to face her sister. “Love? I said nothing about love.”

“You did not have to,” Melody said. “I can see it in your eyes when you speak of Anthony. You love him.”

“Love is a strong word,” Elodie declared.

Melody placed a hand on Elodie’s shoulder. “Sometimes, the mind takes longer to accept what the heart already knows.”

“And what does my heart know?”

Leaning closer, Melody said, “You love Anthony.”

Elodie’s lips pressed into a thin line. “I care for Anthony, but love… that is impossible.” Her words stopped. “He is vexing and troublesome… and kind. Considerate.”

“Handsome?” Melody pressed.

Elodie’s cheeks flushed. “Yes, he is very handsome. But none of that matters. I could never marry him.”

“Whyever not?”

Elodie reached up and adjusted the brim of her straw hat. “It is safer to remain friends.”

Melody nodded, though her expression remained thoughtful. “You are right. It is safer.”

“Thank you,” Elodie said.

“And I have no idea what is going to happen next or how things are going to work out. All I know for sure is that Anthony makes you happy. Is that not enough?”

Elodie stared back at her sister with exasperation. “Why are you encouraging this?”

“Because I know you, and I know you need Anthony.”

“I don’t need anyone.”

Melody smiled. “That is the lie you tell yourself. Trusting someone, relying on them—it is not a weakness. It is a strength.”

Elodie’s gaze drifted over her sister’s shoulder as she asked the one question that she feared the answer to. “What if I make a mistake?” she asked softly.

“What does your heart tell you?”

Closing her eyes, Elodie saw Anthony’s face, clear as day. Realization washed over her, sudden and undeniable. Somewhere along the way, she had fallen for him. And not just fallen. She loved him deeply, with all her heart.

Melody gently placed a hand on her sleeve. “You should tell him how you feel before it is too late.”

“But it is too late,” Elodie said. “He said he wants to remain friends.”

“I promise you that his actions suggest otherwise,” Melody responded.

Before Elodie could respond, a black coach came to a jerking stop beside them. The door swung open, and Lord Montrose stepped out, his expression dark and determined. Without warning, he grabbed Melody’s arm.

“Unhand me,” Melody shouted, struggling against his grip.

Lord Montrose’s gaze flickered between the two sisters. “Good gads, there are two of you. Which one of you is Elodie?”

Melody narrowed her eyes. “Why should we tell you?”

With a smirk, Lord Montrose replied, “Because Lady Elodie and I have a date with an anvil priest.”

Elodie scoffed, her voice laced with defiance. “I will never marry you.”

“Ah, so you are Elodie,” Lord Montrose sneered, reaching for her.

Melody stepped between them, swatting his hand away with unexpected ferocity. “Do not touch my sister.”

Lord Montrose’s laugh was harsh and mocking. “Or what? What are you going to do? You are just a woman.”

Melody’s expression grew determined as she reached into her reticule, withdrawing a small pistol and pointing it squarely at Lord Montrose’s chest. Her voice was steady. “Leave us alone,” she ordered.

For a moment, Lord Montrose’s smug expression faltered, but then he grabbed Elodie’s arm, yanking her in front of him like a shield. “You would not dare try to shoot me and put your sister in harm’s way.”

A calculated gleam came into Melody’s eyes. “I assure you, I do not miss.”

“No one is that good of a shot.”

Melody cocked her pistol. “Do you want to take that chance?”

With a swift motion, Lord Montrose shoved Elodie towards Melody, forcing the sisters to stumble into one another. He took a step back towards his waiting coach. His voice was loud and cantankerous. “You may have won this time, but it is too late. Lady Elodie’s reputation is already ruined.” He gestured to the growing crowd. “I will marry Lady Elodie one way or another. She will be mine.”

Without another word, Lord Montrose climbed into the coach and slammed the door shut. The carriage rolled away, leaving a trail of dust in its wake.

Melody wrapped her arms protectively around Elodie. “Are you hurt?”

“No, thanks to you.”

“Who was that man?”

Taking a step back, Elodie steadied herself. “That is Lord Montrose. He is an awful man who made a bet in the betting book at White’s that he would marry me.”

Melody grew tense. “Well, he is going to be sorely disappointed.”

Elodie glanced around at the crowd, their gazes piercing and judgmental, their whispers hidden behind fluttering fans. “We need to leave. Now.”

“Yes, we should,” Melody agreed.

They did not speak as they walked towards their coach. A footman opened the door and they stepped inside. Once the door was shut, Elodie leaned back and exhaled, her voice tinged with anger. “You should have shot him in the foot when you had the chance. It would have served him right.”

“Perhaps I should have.”

Elodie glanced out the window. “Lord Montrose is right about one thing. When the ton gets wind of this, I am ruined.”

“You did nothing wrong.”

“Does it matter?” Elodie asked. “Reputations have been ruined for far less.”

Melody leaned forward, her voice filled with conviction. “Do not worry. I will fix this.”

“Some things cannot be fixed, and I do not want them to be,” Elodie said. “I am not afraid of being a spinster.”

Even as she said her words, a pang of regret stabbed at her heart. What would Anthony think? Would he distance himself from her—a walking scandal? That thought terrified her more than she wanted to admit.

Melody reached for her hand. “I know that look. You want to give up. But now is not the time. It is the time to fight.”

“Fight for what?” Elodie asked, her voice rising. “Lord Montrose will ensure that I am ruined to force my hand in marriage.”

Rearing back, Melody asked, “You would not consider marrying that audacious man, would you?”

“Heavens, no,” Elodie responded. “I would rather wrestle a crocodile with my bare hands than walk down the aisle with Lord Montrose.”

Melody relaxed slightly, a smile on her lips. “That is good.”

Elodie clenched her fists, her frustration palpable. “I should have punched him again.”

“You have hit him before?”

“Yes, and it was quite satisfying,” Elodie replied, her tone brightening for a moment.

Melody released her hand and leaned back. “I would not leave the townhouse for the foreseeable future. I fear that Lord Montrose will be stupid enough to try abducting you again.”

Elodie smirked, her defiance returning. “Next time, I will strike him down with my nail.”

Her sister arched an eyebrow. “You still have that nail?”

“I do, and it has come in handy a time or two,” Elodie replied.

Their conversation came to a halt when the coach stopped in front of their townhouse. Elodie was furious that Lord Montrose had done something so dishonorable and in front of so many witnesses.

But one thing was certain. She refused to let Montrose win—not with her reputation and certainly not with her future.

Anthony sat in the dim corner of White’s, his glass of brandy swirling slowly in his hand. The lively hum of conversation and clinking glasses around him felt distant, muffled by his troubled thoughts. He had chosen the solitude of this corner intentionally. He was not in the mood for company. The looming scandal of Stephen being sent to debtor’s prison hung over him like a dark cloud. The ton would soon learn of it, and the ensuing gossip would be merciless. Yet that was not what truly troubled him.

It was Elodie.

What would she think of him? Would she see his actions as justified, or would she view him as cold-hearted for sending his own brother to prison? He had made the only choice he could, but the thought of losing Elodie’s good opinion twisted his gut. Worse still, the idea of losing her altogether was unbearable.

He took another sip, the brandy doing little to help with his unease. His thoughts were abruptly interrupted by the smug, drawling voice of Lord Montrose.

“Well, well, look who it is,” Lord Montrose sneered, swaggering up to Anthony’s table. “I assumed that I would find you here.”

Not bothering to look up, Anthony asked, “What do you want, Montrose?” His tone was clipped, his patience thin.

Lord Montrose sank into the chair across from him, a triumphant glint in his eyes. “Elodie is mine now.”

Anthony’s grip on his glass tightened, his knuckles white. He set the drink down deliberately before responding, “She will never be yours.”

“Ah, so you have not heard?” Lord Montrose asked. “We were to elope to Gretna Green, but her meddling sister got in the way.”

“Elodie would never agree to marry you.”

Lord Montrose’s grin widened as he leaned forward. “She has little choice in the matter. No one will want her now.”

Anthony’s jaw clenched, his voice a growl. “What did you do?”

Lord Montrose shrugged. “Nothing. I merely suggested we marry, and she all but leaped at the chance.”

“Montrose!” a familiar voice shouted.

Anthony turned his head to see Bennett and Winston striding towards them, their faces flushed with barely contained fury.

Bennett reached the table first, leaning over Lord Montrose with a penetrating glare. “How dare you try to abduct my sister!”

Anthony shot to his feet, his chair scraping loudly against the floor. “He did what?” The words came out in a shout.

Lord Montrose’s smirk was unwavering. “It was all but a misunderstanding, I assure you. But now that you are here, what shall we do about this little scandal?”

Leaning closer, Bennett’s face hardened. “You will stay away from my sister. Or else.”

“Or else what?” Lord Montrose asked with a chuckle. “Face it, gentlemen, Lady Elodie will marry me. I have made sure of it.”

Winston stepped forward, his fists clenched. “I should challenge you to a duel.”

“Name the time and place,” Lord Montrose said.

Anthony’s voice cut through the rising tension. “No one is challenging anyone to a duel.” He pointed a finger at Montrose, his voice firm. “You have gone too far this time.”

“Not from where I am standing,” he responded, rising to his feet. “Now, if you will excuse me, I am going to call on your sister and offer for her. Perhaps she has come to her senses.”

Taking a step closer to Montrose, Anthony said, “You are a blackguard.”

Lord Montrose tsked. “Name-calling, Belview? You must be desperate. Jealous, even. I bet you are upset that you did not think of this plan first.”

Anthony’s voice was calm, though every word was measured. “I would never force Elodie into a marriage she did not want.”

“That is why you are going to lose,” Lord Montrose said with a cocky smile. “And if this approach does not work, there are other ways to force her hand.”

Unable to stop himself, Anthony reared his fist back and punched Lord Montrose squarely in the nose. Lord Montrose stumbled back, collapsing into his chair, blood trickling from his nose. He stared up at Anthony with wide eyes, his voice shaking. “You broke my nose!”

“If you ever go near Elodie again, I will do more than that,” Anthony warned. “This is your last warning.”

Without waiting for a response, Anthony turned on his heel, striding purposefully towards the door. He knew what he had to do. There was only one thing that could be done to save Elodie’s reputation. He had to convince her to marry him, and quickly. The question was whether she would agree.

Bennett and Winston followed closely behind as they exited White’s. On the pavement, Anthony turned towards his coach, only for Bennett to grab his arm and stop him. “Where are you going?”

“To Elodie,” Anthony replied.

“Why?” Bennett asked.

Anthony faced him, his jaw set with determination. “To convince her to marry me.”

Bennett crossed his arms. “Again, why?”

He hesitated for a moment before admitting, “It is the only way to save her reputation.”

Winston’s lips curled into a knowing smile. “Try again.”

Anthony knew it was time for him to confess his feelings and hope that his friends would not object. “Because I love her. I always have, and I always will.”

Winston’s smile grew. “We know.”

Anthony blinked in surprise. “You do?”

Bennett nodded, his expression both amused and serious. “It was painfully obvious when you bought her that miniature horse. But somehow, Elodie did not see what was right in front of her.”

“You have no objections?” Anthony asked.

Bennett smirked. “I have many, but none that truly matter. You are exactly what Elodie needs.”

“I agree,” Winston added.

Anthony could not help but be buoyed by his friends’ responses, but doubt still lingered. “Do you think she will agree to marry me?”

The smirk faded from Bennett’s lips. “Not if you tell her that it is the only option. My advice is to confess your love and hope that is enough.”

“And if it is not enough?” Anthony asked.

Winston chuckled. “You could always keep buying her animals until she agrees. I hear that pet pigs are all the rage right now.”

Anthony took a deep breath, his resolve hardening. “Wish me luck.”

Alone in the coach, Anthony tried to compose his thoughts. He had planned out a speech in his mind, but the words felt wholly inadequate. How could he convince Elodie of the depth of his feelings? As the coach rolled to a stop in front of her townhouse, he knew one thing for certain: he needed to be completely honest with her.

He pushed the door open before the footman could assist him. The butler greeted him with a knowing look as Anthony stepped into the entryway.

“Where is Lady Elodie?” Anthony asked.

Gesturing towards the rear of the townhouse, the butler replied, “She is in the gardens.”

Anthony did not need to be told twice. He strode purposefully towards the gardens, stepping out into the soft glow of the afternoon sun. There she was, crouched next to Emma, laughing softly as the puppies tumbled around them. The sight sent a warmth spreading through his chest. How had this woman come to mean so much to him?

“Elodie,” he said, his voice surprisingly steady.

She turned, her face lighting up with a smile that lifted his spirits immensely. How did she hold so much power over him? “Anthony.”

Anthony kept his face expressionless. “We need to talk.”

Her expression quickly shifted to one of caution. “I assume you heard the news.”

“I did.”

She turned back towards Emma and placed a hand on the little girl’s shoulder. “Why don’t you take the puppies inside for a treat? I promise I will be along shortly.”

“ We will be along shortly,” Anthony corrected.

Elodie’s eyes softened with approval. “Yes, we will.”

Anthony watched as Emma headed towards the door of his townhouse with the puppies following closely behind her.

Once they were alone, Anthony said, “I broke Lord Montrose’s nose.”

Elodie did not look the least bit bothered by the news. “Good, he deserved it.”

“I will not disagree with you there,” Anthony said. “What he did to you was horrific and I am sorry.”

Her brow furrowed. “Why are you sorry?”

He took a step closer to her. “I should have been there to protect you. I want to be there to protect you.”

“You cannot protect me from everything, Anthony,” Elodie sighed. “Because of one mishap, I brought scandal to my name and my family’s.”

Anthony closed the distance between them. “You did nothing wrong.”

Elodie’s eyes grew downcast. “At least I do not have to worry about being the diamond of the Season anymore.”

“Do you want to know what I believe?” he asked.

“What is that?”

He tipped her chin up gently, forcing her to meet his eyes. “I believe that everything happens for a reason. Every single thing, the good and the bad, leads you to right where you are meant to be.”

Elodie’s eyes held vulnerability as she stared up at him. “And where is that?”

Anthony hesitated, his carefully rehearsed speech forgotten. Now that he was standing in front of Elodie, his mind went blank.

He cleared his throat and hoped for the first time that his words were enough. That he was enough. “I do not know the precise moment when I fell in love with you, but I did. I love you wildly, madly, infinitely. And I do not apologize for it. I never will.”

Elodie’s eyes widened slightly. “You… love me?”

“I do,” he said, placing his hand over his heart. “I have waited for you my entire life, and I do not regret a single moment.”

“Anthony—” she began.

He interrupted her. “You do not have to say anything. But you do have to accept it. I love you. I want you always in my life as my wife. I want to love you the way you deserve.”

Elodie lifted her brow, her expression unreadable. “Since you are apparently planning out our future, may I say something?”

“Of course,” he said with a slight wince.

“I have always found you vexing. Maddening. The bane of my existence,” she started. “But something has changed between us. I was afraid to admit it, afraid of what it meant.”

“Elodie…” Anthony started.

She placed a hand on his chest. “Somewhere along the way, I fell in love with you, too. I fell in love with what I found in you. And I saw home in your eyes. I am sorry that it took me so long to realize that.”

Relief flooded Anthony’s chest as he took her hand in his. “Before I convince you to marry me, I need to tell you something. Stephen is in debtor’s prison. He was behind the blackmail, and he planned to use Emma as a pawn. I had to protect you and her. I hope you understand.”

Elodie’s gaze was filled with compassion. “You did the right thing.”

“There will be a scandal,” he warned.

Elodie’s eyes twinkled with merriment. “I have a scandal of my own. We will be scandalous together.”

Anthony’s lips quirked into a smile. “Do you truly mean that?”

She grew serious. “My heart has waited so long to be loved by you. I do not want to wait another day to start living with you.”

Anthony leaned closer, making their faces inches apart. “I suppose now that we are in agreement, we should kiss on it.”

“You’d better be a good kisser,” she teased.

Not wanting to wait another moment, he pressed his lips against hers. Her lips were soft and warm beneath his, responding with a sweetness that stole his breath. He poured everything he felt into that single moment—his love, his devotion, his hopes for the future.

How he loved this woman! She completed him in a way that defied explanation, as though she had always been a part of him, waiting to be found.

A cheer went up around them, causing them to break the kiss.

Anthony turned his head and saw Elodie’s entire family gathered by the door. Bennett approached them with a paper in his hand. “I thought you might need this.”

He accepted it and realized it was a special license for them to wed. He looked up in astonishment. “When did you?—”

Bennett smirked. “Winston and I appealed to the Archbishop of Canterbury about your peculiar circumstances, and he agreed that you two should be wed at once.”

“What do you think?” Anthony asked, turning to face Elodie. “Shall we wed tomorrow?”

Elodie grew thoughtful. “How long do you think it would take for me to make a waistcoat for Lord Henry?”

“Why does your horse need a waistcoat?”

“I would assume you would want Lord Henry to look his finest at our wedding.”

Anthony chuckled, shaking his head. “It might be best if we leave the animals at home during our ceremony.”

Elodie feigned a dramatic sigh. “Very well, but Lord Henry will be quite disappointed.” Unable to resist, Anthony leaned in, capturing her lips in a soft, lingering kiss. His hand rested gently on her waist as he pulled her closer. “I promise I will make it up to you,” he murmured.

“You’d better,” she retorted, her playful smile tugging at his heart.

“So, tomorrow?”

Elodie tilted her head as if considering. “Yes, but I will need to work it around my nap.”

With a chuckle, Anthony turned them to face her family. “We are getting married tomorrow!”

“It is about time,” Bennett quipped, casting a glance over his shoulder at Lady Dallington. “Mother has been planning the wedding luncheon for weeks.”

The back door of his townhouse opened, and Anthony’s gaze shifted as his mother stepped out, guiding his father with tender care. Despite his father’s frailty, both parents beamed with happiness.

“We have been watching shamelessly from your father’s room,” his mother admitted, her eyes glistening with emotion. “And we could not be happier for you two.”

Elodie glanced up at him, her gaze warm. “I do not think tomorrow will come soon enough.”

For the first time in a long time, Anthony felt utterly content. He held the woman he loved in his arms, surrounded by family, and a lifetime of happiness stretched out before them. Forever could not come soon enough.