Page 33 of I Never Forget a Duke (The Night Fire Club #1)
G eorge Paulson, the Earl of Canbury kept an office in a squat, two-story building on College Street, close to Westminster Palace. He generally spent his time away from Parliament there, taking callers and appointments with various officials.
Nicholas Vansittart, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, stood in the office now. He and George had been friends since Oxford.
“I can put in a good word for you,” said Nicholas, “but I don’t know if the position you’re after is attainable.
If you want to be Leader of the House of Lords, you’d be replacing Liverpool, which I only picture happening over his dead body.
The Lord Chancellor may be aging, but he seems determined to hang onto the position.
There may be a few secretary positions opening in the state department, but your most likely appointment will be as a diplomat, perhaps to Europe or maybe even India. ”
“I’d hate to be that far from my daughter. I’m all she has, you know.”
“Prinny likes you, which works in your favor. However, those scandal sheet rumors…”
“None of those are true,” said George. That was, since the death of his wife, George had taken it upon himself to explore the full range of human sexuality which meant that, yes, he’d taken a male lover from time to time, but he never wore women’s clothing in public.
More to the point, he’d been extremely careful for the last year or two, not doing anything that could jeopardize his chances of winning a position.
His ambitions had clearly struck a nerve if his enemies were planting these ridiculous rumors in the newspapers.
“You can’t believe the things they say of me in the papers. ”
“I don’t, but they do considerable damage to your reputation. We shall see, I suppose. And, to be clear, my job is not available.”
George chuckled. “No. Perish the thought.”
There was a knock on the doorframe. George looked up and saw his secretary standing there. “My lord, the Duke of Swynford is here to see you.”
Nicholas’s eyebrows shot up. “Swynford? That’s… unexpected.”
“Agreed, but I admit I am curious. Show him in, Drake.”
George couldn’t imagine why Swynford was coming to see him, although he had just enough time to get excited about his presence here. Swynford was wealthy and powerful and related to the king, after all. George felt his heart flutter with excitement wondering what Swynford could want.
George’s secretary brought Swynford to the door. George had forgotten what a big man Swynford was. He was tall and athletic, but more than that, he had the sort of confident presence that made him seem even larger.
George stood. Swynford met his gaze and then turned toward Nicholas. Nicholas introduced himself and then said, “I’d better be going. I have a meeting with Lord Castlereigh about some spot of bother in Ireland.” Nicholas saw himself out.
Swynford approached George’s desk. “My lord, I’ve come to you today because—”
“Please have a seat, Your Grace.” In truth, Swynford had about eight inches on George’s height and two stone on his weight, which made him nervous. At least when they were seated, they were close to the same height.
Swynford sat across the desk from George and waited for a moment before he said, “This feels more awkward than I expected it to.”
George was confused now. “I apologize, Your Grace, but I am at a loss as to why you are here. Are you certain you meant to meet with me ?”
“Yes. I’ve come to speak about Lady Adele.”
That had not been what George had been expecting. What could a man like Swynford possibly want with Adele? Did his mother need a companion? “She is not at present available for a new position, since she just accepted one with the Winchester family.”
“Actually, she rescinded that invitation.”
“She what?” George could not imagine Adele doing anything so foolish. And how did Swynford know that?
“At my request. My lord, let me cut to the chase. I wish to offer for LadyAdele’s hand in marriage.”
George could not believe what he was hearing. Was Swynford jesting? He did not appear to be. But how would Adele and a man like Swynford have even met?
He quickly shook that line of thought off.
Swynford was offering for Adele? That was incredible.
That was the kind of pedigree George most definitely wanted to be related to.
He still could not quite wrap his head around how this could have happened.
But perhaps he should not question it. Because there was a major issue.
George took a deep breath. “I must say, I am of course honored by this request, Your Grace, but I must also apologize as I am rather cash strapped at the moment. I cannot offer much of a dowry for Adele.”
“That is immaterial,” said Swynford. “I have no need of money. I merely want to marry Lady Adele. Do I have your permission?”
The Duke of Swynford wanted to marry George’s daughter and he didn’t need a dowry? Not to mention, if Adele were married, George would feel less guilty about taking a diplomatic position overseas, should His Majesty see fit to bestow one upon him.
He’d be a fool to say no.
“Yes, you absolutely have my permission. I am truly honored you have chosen my Adele, although I have to admit, I find this surprising.”
Swynford laughed softly. “Yes, I imagine you would. I find it surprising at times.” He shook his head.
“I do thank you for your permission, my lord. In the interest of keeping you fully informed, I asked Adele to turn down the position with the Winchesters. Since John Sweeney intends to sell his house, I have brought Adele to live at my home on Upper Brook Street. My mother also lives there and is acting as chaperone until the wedding, which I intend to have at St. Paul’s two weeks from tomorrow. ”
“That is a brief engagement!”
Swynford frowned. “Yes. And please be assured that the only reason for my haste is so that we can be married and remove to my home in the country by the end of the season. Nothing… inappropriate has occurred between us.”
George nodded. He wouldn’t have minded if it had. This was Swynford, after all. “Yes, all right.”
“That is, I have not… my mother is keeping a close eye on us, let us say.”
“It’s all right, Your Grace. I trust you. Or I soon will, as far as my daughter is concerned, I’m sure.”
“I do thank you. The announcement shall be posted in the paper as soon as I’ve secured St. Paul’s. And, fair warning, your daughter has asked for quite a large wedding.”
That seemed out of character. “ My Adele has?”
“My suspicion is that she worried no one would believe my intentions were genuine unless we put on a little spectacle. So, if all goes to plan, the ceremony will be followed by a wedding breakfast at my home. Then we will stay in London another week or so before leaving for my estate in Kent.”
“I suppose that makes sense. Adele is usually quite modest. I would not have expected her to want an elaborate wedding. I would not have expected her to marry a duke, though, either.” George shook his head, still unable to quite believe any of this was happening. “What can I do?”
“She will need a trousseau, so any funds you can spare should go to that. It can be modest. She is already living in my home, and she will want for nothing, but money for a few new gowns or some jewelry would be most welcome.”
George sighed. “Yes, I will see what I can pull together. She deserves great things, my Adele. She deserves this. She cares only for others, never for herself. She’s been like that her whole life.
My wife died about ten years ago, and Adele sat at her deathbed, always making sure she was comfortable and had enough to eat.
Never worries for fashion or her own comforts.
She is good-hearted and honest and… she told you of her previous fiancé, I hope? ”
“She did, yes.”
“She was devastated. I worried for her. Most of the reason I found her positions was so that she would have something to do, something to care about. When she lost hope of ever marrying, I’m afraid I did, too. But she… she will be such a good wife and mother. Have no fear about that.”
Swynford smiled. “I have no fear about that at all.”
“Good, good. I must say, I am overjoyed to be gaining a son, especially one from such a prestigious family as yours. I know my own flaws and how they must reflect upon poor Adele, and I am grateful you have overlooked them. Not everyone in your position would.”
“Yes, I am acutely aware. Not to put too fine a point on it, but several people have tried to talk me out of this marriage. But I’m afraid the more people who tell me it is a bad idea, the more stubborn I feel about seeing it through.”
George chuckled. “I knew your father a little, and he struck me as being quite similar. Some of the other peers in Lords referred to him as the Mountain of Swynford because he was often quite immovable.”
Swynford tilted his head as if this story confused him, and George worried he might have offended the man, but then he laughed and said, “I don’t believe I’ve ever heard that before, but that lines up with how I remember him.”
“I shall not try to talk you out of this because I am very pleased with the match.”
“That is most kind. I must be off to make some arrangements, but please do not hesitate to contact me at the Upper Brook Street house should you need anything. And you may, of course, call on your daughter any time you wish.”
“Thank you, Your Grace. Sincerely. Likewise, you may reach me here most days, and if I am not here, my secretary usually knows where I am.”
“Very good.”