Page 20 of Falling for the Earl (Improper Ladies #2)

L ucy hoped to see Hugh on Sunday, but he didn’t come. On Monday, she roamed the house, until her aunt grew annoyed with her and urged her to sit down and write to her father. Lucy had put off writing to him. Every time she’d begun, the story of her abduction sounded so alarming, no matter how she phrased it, she feared he would be dreadfully upset. He might demand she come back immediately from this iniquitous city to the safety of Bath. And she just couldn’t leave now.

She was scratching out a letter in the parlor when the front door knocker sounded. William went to answer the door. She sat up and waited. Then she heard the deep voice she longed to hear.

She was on her feet when William showed him in. A little fearful of what he might tell her, she tried to gauge it from his expression, but his face gave her no clue. “Won’t you please sit down, Lord Dorchester?”

Hugh shook his head with a smile and came to take her hands. “Are we back to using formal address again?”

Her knees trembled, but she managed to frown at him. Was he teasing her? Had he told his mother? Would her lie make her unacceptable to his family? Would it soon be over between them? She wished he would tell her.

Hugh urged her to sit on the sofa and joined her there. He turned toward her. “I went to the docks yesterday to see if Isabel and her new husband were there ready to depart on a ship bound for Ceylon.”

“And were they?” she asked impatiently as she searched his eyes for an answer.

“Yes. Isabel got her way in the end, as she threatened to create a scandal by returning to live in the parish with Benson. I gave them a basket of fruit from our hothouses to eat onboard and stayed to watch them sail.”

Lucy released the breath. “I wish them a safe voyage.”

“As do I. I feared for Isabel’s health and told them I thought it unwise for her to travel.” A smile pulled at his lips. “Of course they took no notice of me. Do lovers ever listen to sound advice?

While he spoke, his eyes sent a very different message. Lucy swallowed and licked her bottom lip.

Hugh put his arms around her. He palmed her chin and pressed a kiss on her lips. “I meant to court you, my love. To give you my grandmother’s ring, which is still in the bank. But I find myself unable to wait.”

Her heart beat so fast, she thought she’d faint.

“Will you marry me, Lucy?” he asked. He smiled, but his voice sounded strained. “As soon as is humanly possible?”

“Of course I will, my darling.” She reached up to touch his face. “Kiss me again.”

They broke apart at the sound of her aunt’s footsteps on the stairs. Hugh moved to put some distance between them on the sofa. “It seems the only way to keep you out of trouble,” he added with a rueful smile.

“Oh!” Lucy laughed. “Hugh, you are a disgraceful tease.”

Aunt Mary came in, her eyes wide with shock. “Lucy. My lord, please forgive my niece’s deplorable manners. She is overcome with her ordeal.”

Hugh stood and went to greet her. “Lucy has agreed to become my wife, Mrs. Grayswood. I hope you will give us your blessing.”

“Oh, my goodness!” her aunt cried. Throwing etiquette to the winds, she left him and rushed over to hug Lucy. “This is wonderful news.” Making a concerted effort to calm herself, she turned back to Hugh, who stood abandoned and amused. “My lord, forgive me. I am overcome. This is so unexpected. Especially, after all we have been through, and I cannot thank you enough for rescuing Lucy, and finding out where I might find my daughter Anabel…” Scarlet-faced, she looked helpless, having run out of words.

“Thank you for your blessing, Mrs. Grayswood,” Hugh said. “I must go, but I shall call again later today for a drive to the park. Lucy and I can discuss the future.”

Aunt Mary nodded, still dazed.

Lucy rose and went to place a hand on his arm. She smiled up at him. “I’ll see you to the door.”

In the hall, she went to open the front door, but he drew her back into his arms. “I am impatient, Miss Kershaw.”

“As am I, my lord?”

Hugh kissed her again.

Lucy stood with him in the street. She threaded her arms around his neck. “Let the whole world see,” she murmured as he pulled her close. “I don’t care.”

He pulled away after a kiss, which made them both breathless. “I believe you will lead me a merry dance, Miss Kershaw.”

“I hope to,” she admitted.

“And you no longer worry about the rumors?”

For a moment, the fear of scandal hovered. Then she breathed a sigh. “It appears that Mrs. Vellacott will just have to come to accept the rumor as truth,” she said slowly, her eyes sad.

“The news from Carlisle of Lord Berwick isn’t encouraging,” Hugh said. “Suffering the recent loss of his wife and now his sons, he would be in very low spirits.”

“I am so sorry for him. I’ll pray his lordship survives. I was in the process of writing to Papa. But I now have so much more to put in my letter,” she said. “He will be thrilled to learn of our betrothal.”

“I will drive to Bath as soon as I can to ask his permission.” He smiled. “Will he forgive me for my lack of manners?”

Happy tears filled her eyes. “Of course. Papa will be overjoyed that I am marrying such a pillar of society. How could he not be?”

Hugh laughed. “You make me sound very stuffy.” Hugh wiped the tears gently away with a finger. He gathered her to him, and his kiss was not like what one would expect from a pillar of society. “Sarah will be thrilled and my mother too. I will relay our news to them when I reach home. Tomorrow, I’ll take you to see them.” At the curricle, he turned back with a grin. “In the meantime, expect a visit from my sister at any moment.”

Lucy smiled, suspecting he was right as she watched him drive away. Then she went in to talk to her aunt about the coming nuptials. She imagined Aunt Mary, who hoped Hugh could help her, was still too concerned about Anabel and the ensuing scandal to think of grandiose ideas concerning the ceremony and wedding breakfast. Lucy couldn’t be sure and must remain firm. Hugh expressed the desire for quick nuptials. And with her father planning to go to Carlisle, she would prefer a small, quiet wedding. But Hugh was an earl, and she was very conscious of his position in society. His wishes on the subject were paramount.

As Hugh predicted, Sarah arrived within the hour. She rushed in to throw her arms around Lucy. “Have you recovered from your ordeal? How awful it must have been! Were you very frightened?”

“Yes. I was at the time. There’s so much to think about now, I seldom dwell on it.”

“I’ve wanted you for my sister-in-law, since we first met,” Sarah confessed, sitting beside Lucy on the sofa. “And I must admit to working to that end, because I saw how attracted Hugh was to you. I like Miss Ashton—Mrs. Benson. We saw a lot of each other growing up in neighboring estates, but I always thought for them to marry would be a mistake. They were never more than friends.” She smiled. “Now tell me everything, before I tell you my news. I’ll give you a clue,” she said with a mischievous smile. “Another of our family could be about to get married.”

Lucy stared at her. “You and Mr. Beaufort?”

Sarah shook her head. “He has asked to court me.” She giggled. “He kisses divinely.”

Lucy grinned. “When did this happen?”

“In the garden at the Feldman’s rout. Behind a hedge. There was a fountain tinkling in the background.” Sarah sighed. “It was very romantic.”

“It must have been,” Lucy said delighted for her.

“And I have other news! Mama has a new suitor! Viscount Forester. Apparently, they met again during a dinner last week and renewed their friendship. A widower, he was a good friend of Papa’s.” Sarah laughed.

Delighted, Lucy laughed. “That is wonderful news!”

Sarah’s eyes sparkled. “The doctor says that Mama’s health is no longer a concern. She is now turning her attention to your wedding and wishes to visit your aunt.”

“Aunt Mary will be thrilled,” Lucy said. But would Hugh accept the lavish wedding they might plan for them? She rather doubted it.

*

“I quite like Miss Kershaw,” Hugh’s mother said in the morning room. “Sarah considers her a good friend. She seems to have a good head on her shoulders. But I know nothing of her family.”

Hugh stretched out his legs over the rug. “Lucy’s father resides in Bath. Should the ailing Marquess of Berwick pass away before Mr. Kershaw does, he will inherit the title.”

“Yes, I read of that sad occurrence in the newspaper. Berwick has lost his two sons. How tragic.” She reached up to stroke Hugh’s cheek. “Well, it appears change is coming for all of us. I suspect Sarah and Mr. Beaufort’s marriage will soon follow.”

“It appears likely. I must admit I couldn’t wish for better for Sarah. Luke is an excellent fellow.”

His mother gazed at him wryly. “You must be pleased, as you brought it about.”

Hugh raised his eyebrows. “Mama! How could you think me so meddlesome?”

She shook her head. “I believe you and your sister are very alike in some ways.” She smiled. “Fortunately, I am confident that the decisions you make will be sound ones.”

“Are you disappointed I’m not to marry Isabel?”

“No,” she said pensively. “The betrothal was thrust upon you against my wishes, when you were a mere ten years old and Isabel a baby. You both should find your own paths in life.”

Hugh smiled, pleased that she understood, but his mother was always scrupulously fair. “I’ll bring Lucy to see you tomorrow.”

“Because her family are not in Society, I know very little about Miss Kershaw. As she’s to be my daughter-in-law, I would like to learn more about her. Especially,” she said, her eyes twinkling, “as you’ve been set on her for quite a while.”

“Mama. You have been confined to your bedchamber for most of it. How could you know that?”

“Mothers are born with an innate understanding of their children, and I am no different.”

“Might it have something to do with Barker, your abigail?”

His mother smiled at him. “A good lady’s maid is worth her weight in gold.”

“So, you are pleased that Isabel and I didn’t marry?” he repeated, needing to be sure, although he would never be swayed from marrying Lucy.

“I wanted you to marry for love, Hugh. And you do love Lucy, don’t you?”

“Yes, Mama.” He bent to kiss her cheek. “Very much.”

He didn’t add how impatient he was to make Lucy his wife before he left the room. He had planned to woo Lucy, to arrange the perfect setting to propose, but when he’d seen her, he’d known that none of that had mattered. Only that she would say yes .