Page 33 of Miss Hawthorne’s Unlikely Husband (The Troublemakers Trilogy #3)

It was cold comfort but it meant that there was more to his refusal than Richard’s race or his social status.

It wasn’t bigotry so much as a one-sided assessment.

He could work with that. More importantly, it meant that there was a way for Elodia to keep her father. “She will not want to give into him.”

“Nor should she.”

“No, you don’t understand. She believes that Melbroke deliberately concealed the truth of his relationship with her mother to protect his reputation. At the expense of her own.”

“You mean that nonsense rumor?”

“She knows about it and she knows why it came about.”

“His father was determined to hide it, but I know my nephew. He would never take up with a girl like that. If he had a daughter, that meant he had a wife.”

“Yes, but there is no legal record of the fact in England. When he migrated, he didn’t bring the needed documentation.”

She stared at him in shock before shaking her head. “That idiot.”

“I agree. But Ellie, she is… she is so hurt by all of this, I worry what she will do. I don’t know if you’re aware, but my sister and I lost our parents in a similar way to Elodia and her mother, suddenly and far too soon.

It’s not the same, I know that, but I cannot allow her to give up her father.

Not if he loves her as you say he does.”

“He does love her. But that doesn’t mean he won’t do something foolish to get his way.”

He couldn’t allow that man to ruin everything for himself and his child, to say nothing of the effect of Richard. He didn’t want to spend the rest of his life watching Elodia pretend she didn’t miss her father like he knew he missed his parents.

“I imagine this means our torrid affair must come to an end.” She gave him a forlorn look and he laughed before sliding an arm around her soft shoulders.

“Regrettably so. But I will always hold you in my heart,”

She let out that dry cackle he had grown so fond of, and patted his leg.

“Don’t let go of that girl, Thornfield, or I truly will box your ears.”

He nodded and leaned his cheek against her temple as he met A’wei’s smiling eyes across the room. “I won’t.”

The doorbell sounded and he frowned at A’wei’s sheepish expression. “Who’s that?”

“Erm,” she set down her teacup.

Within moments, he had his answer when a heavily pregnant Lady Starkley stormed in with Leo trailing behind her. He removed his arm from Aunt Theo, who let out a low whistle.

“Mr. Thornfield,” Regina greeted him, her expression thunderous.

Back to honorifics so soon? “Lady Starkley.” He rose to his feet, stealing a glance at Leo. He couldn’t read his expression at all. “How can I be of assistance?”

“Are you courting Ellie?” she asked.

Ah. “I am.”

“You are going to offer for her, aren’t you? This isn’t some half-baked idea to determine how you feel?”

“We are already engaged, why on earth would I want to give her to someone else?”

“I told you, Rajani,” Leo murmured.

Regina turned to glare at him. “He’s your friend. How could you possibly be objective?”

“Now that we know she is not in danger of being jilted, will you please sit down?” Leo replied, his mouth twisting with mild annoyance.

She batted his assistance away and lowered herself slowly into an armchair.

As cumbersome as she was, she was still terrifying.

Richard wasn’t foolish enough to tease her.

“It has been whispered that you were seen kissing her in broad daylight.”

“She was ready to call you out,” Leo commented with a small smile, leaning on the chair back. “Frankly, I’m surprised the rumor hasn’t reached her father.”

“Lord Melbroke is aware that we are engaged, even if he is less than pleased about the fact. So if you would be so kind, please be sure to correct the record.”

Leo’s eyebrows went up. “That is fast work.”

“Not fast enough for her reputation to be spared,” Regina interrupted, sounding alarmingly like her mother. “They have exchanged intimacies before their wedding and it is known.”

“Devika, you can hardly be the one to cast judgement on that front,” Leo replied. Regina gasped and then turned away from him, smoothing her skirts frantically. If Richard didn’t know better, he’d think she was blushing.

“Oh?” A’wei commented with amused interest.

“When will the banns be posted?” Regina asked, ignoring her friend entirely.

There was a story there, but having just escaped her ire, Richard wasn’t interested in having her gunning for him again. “Soon. I should like to come to an agreement with her father first, but I will likely marry her before the season is finished. The sooner the better.”

She nodded briskly. “That will do.”

“I’m glad you agree,” he replied, wondering what on earth she and Leo had done.

“I am sorry to come here uninvited and impose on you.”

“I don’t think you need an invitation at this point, Regina,”

She sighed and rubbed a jeweled hand over her enormous stomach, golden bracelets clinking against each other. “I was worried. Ellie is special. I couldn’t stand by and allow you to play a losing game with her beautiful heart when she is such a dear person and she has loved you for so long.”

“I can assure you that I have every intention to make her wait worthwhile. She is no less dear to me than she is to you.”

“We shall see about that,” she grumbled.

“Would you care for some tea, Gigi?” Ada asked.

“I think this calls for sandwiches and cakes as well,” Richard added, crossing to the bell pull and ringing it.

“The time for that was earlier; a good show deserves some refreshments.” Aunt Theo said with a cackle.

“Lady Starkley is entirely within her rights to confront me. Clearly, our Elodia is much beloved. I cannot be angry about that.”

“When do you go into confinement, girl?” Aunt Theo asked.

“Not before the wedding. I have to be there for her.”

“Agreed. Elodia would want that as well. I shall make arrangements accordingly.”

“Thank you.” She smiled at him, but she looked a bit more tired now. He remembered his mother during her pregnancy with Ada, and Regina was far more mobile than she had been. No doubt her condition was taking its toll, no matter how terrifying she was.

“Were you really going to duel me?” he asked.

“Absolutely,” she replied unapologetically, “But for Ada’s sake, I’d only wound you.”