Page 32

One week later

H e was nervous. He was enough of a man to admit that to himself.

It wasn’t that he had never been forced to prove himself to people who didn’t believe in him or have faith in him.

He’d done that too many times to count. But it had always been as himself, as Leo Kingston.

This new avatar of the Baron Starkley was as unfamiliar and uncomfortable as his new boots.

He wasn’t sure how he was going to convince Regina’s parents to entrust him with her future when he was still coming to terms with it.

Richard had been an absolute menace taking him in hand and having him re measured by his tailor.

With the amount of times he was stuck with pins he’d nearly asked the tailor if he had mistakenly imagined Leo was there for bloodletting instead of new clothes.

The mount of fabrics and shades draped over him felt entirely unnecessary.

Yesterday the tailor had delivered no less than a dozen new waistcoats all in different shades and patterns of brocade silk, twenty snow white linen shirts and cravats, two pairs of gloves lined with cashmere, four jackets and ten pairs of trousers with more to be delivered to the country house within the month.

Evening wear, day wear, hunting wear, a wedding suit, more bloody shoes and boots and two coats.

All had been altered from readymade options to save time.

Everything fit perfectly. He didn’t even know how Richard had managed it.

Richard’s sister, Ada, had whisked his mother off to the modiste for lord knew how many new dresses and undergarments, although his mother seemed far more pleased with the results.

She sat beside him in a dark green velvet travel gown, her hair wrapped in a silk turban. Naomi Kingston didn’t wear bonnets.

He and his mother had spent the night at their new country estate in Cheshire, Starkley Manor.

He didn’t know what they thought a manor was but the damn thing looked more like a castle than anything else.

In the morning, he’d decided to travel the short distance to Staffordshire to pay his respects to Regina’s parents, taking all his paperwork with him.

His mother, the dear woman that she was, had insisted on coming with him but he was almost certain she was regretting that choice now.

“Stop shaking your leg,” Naomi complained for the third time, and he placed a hand on his knee, squeezing slightly to remind himself.

“Sorry.”

“I haven’t seen you this anxious in a good long time,” she commented, watching him in amusement.

“Well, I’ve never had in-laws before.”

“If what you’ve told me is reliable then the likelihood of her parents denying you her hand is negligible.”

“Yes, but I still want them to like me.”

“Ah.”

“They are important to her, mother. Which means they are important to me as well.”

She nodded but the smirk lingered.

“You think I’m being ridiculous don’t you?”

“Not at all. Although it is very amusing to witness.”

“Do you like your new earrings?” he asked in an attempt to change the subject.

“Oh yes. I think I was always made to wear jewels.”

“Oh?”

“Yes, but nothing so insipid as diamonds.”

He laughed at that and shook his head, turning his head to look out the window at the rolling green hills.

Perhaps it was bit undignified, a man of his years rushing to see a young woman of two and twenty, but he didn’t care.

He was desperate to see her. He had reassured her as best he could that night in her parents’ garden, but he had been dreading the prospect of staying away from her for that long.

On one hand it was silly. He’d spent longer than a week away from her since meeting her, there was no reason for this intolerable impatience.

But on the other hand, now that he knew she felt the same, he wanted the rest of their courtship to continue.

She was his wife, or very soon would be.

He wanted days strolling in the garden and nights in bed.

He wanted to drink her in unapologetically and kiss her until they were both out of breath.

The carriage finally came to a stop, and he took a deep breath before the driver opened the door, letting him and his mother out.

It was a sweet little estate, certainly larger than anything Leo would have been able to manage before this, with a garden in the front.

Ducks floated in the reflector pond that stretched the length of the driveway, and ivy covered the face of the house, with windows winking through the verdant sheet.

He took his mother’s arm and led her to the weathered front door. Before he could knock it opened revealing an Indian butler. Of course he would be. Of course, Captain Mason would have thought to bring as much of his wife’s homeland back with him.

“Good afternoon sir,”

“Good afternoon, I am Lord Starkley, I am here for Captain Mason and his wife.”

The man blinked as if processing the information, he had just received, then took a step back to allow Leo and his mother to enter.

The first thing Leo noticed was the white mandalas painted on the lacquered floors in sprawling detailed flourishes.

There was no confusing how rich the Masons were, but this house felt like a home, much like Richard’s home in Cheshire.

The butler took Leo’s hat and gloves, along with his mother’s travel cape before leading them both to the salon.

It was only while he was sitting there waiting for them to enter that he considered that perhaps he should have written ahead to inform them of his arrival.

He hated unannounced guests. Even if they had to be expecting his arrival considering the nature of their connection, it still had to be annoying for him to arrive without warning.

His only thoughts had been of Regina, and making sure they understood he was serious about marrying her and joining their families together.

These people were Regina’s family, and they would be his as well. It was essential that he not make things any harder for her than they likely already had been after the ball. Now he was wondering if he hadn’t done the opposite.

“Mr. Kingston,” Leo rose to his feet as Regina’s mother strode in with her husband. “Good evening,”

“Good evening,” he greeted them. “Allow me to introduce my mother, Mrs. Naomi Kingston.”

“Good evening to you,” Mrs. Mason said, meeting his mother’s eyes evenly.

“It is Lord Starkley, actually,” his mother corrected, calmly. “His excellency, the Baron Starkley to be precise.”

“Quite right, good evening my Lord Starkley,” the captain replied with a short bow.

“Has that been proven?” Mrs. Mason asked, still watching him carefully.

“Maddie,” Captain Mason hissed softly. She shot him an unrepentant side glance in response.

“You think my son is a liar?” Leo knew that tone well enough to wonder if he should have left her at home and faced the Mason’s alone.

“I can’t say. I don’t know your son at all.” Mrs. Mason replied evenly.

“She is right to ask, mother,” Leo said softly, glancing at her.

He shook his head imperceptibly and she pursed her mouth and looked away, acquiescing for the moment.

He turned back to his future mother-in-law.

“Yes, Mrs. Mason. It has been verified and registered with The Crown through all the proper channels. I would not put Miss Mason at risk if I wasn’t certain. ”

“Why did you wait to come forward?” Captain Mason asked.

“I didn’t know myself until a month ago.”

Mrs. Mason’s eyes lit up with realization. “That old woman, Mrs. Burghley-Harrison.”

“Yes, she knew my grandfather. It’s through him that the claim is passed. He was the third son of my paternal great grandfather.”

“Why then, is your name Kingston?” Captain Mason asked.

“My grandfather took my grandmother’s name when they married. His family had cut him off, so he chose to carry on her family name instead of keeping his own.”

Captain Mason nodded. “So your name is Leopold Starkley in fact.”

“No, it is Kingston.” Leo had been clear about that from the beginning, even in front of that lawyer sent on behalf of the crown.

Mrs. Mason frowned. “But—”

“They didn’t want him or his family. The title is one thing, but I have no interest in carrying on that family name. My grandfather chose Kingston, my choice is to honor that choice by continuing his legacy.”

Mrs. Mason almost smiled at that and for the first time Leo saw some of the cheeky humor he loved so much in Regina. “Very well, Kingston it is.”

“Yes, however I’m afraid this doesn’t answer my wife’s question. You found out over a month ago, why would you wait this long before coming forward?”

“Because I didn’t want the title, I still don’t if I’m honest. But I developed very strong feelings for Miss Mason, and I didn’t want her to have to choose between her duty to you and her fear.

I needed to know her feelings before I acted.

She is very loyal and very determined, so it was difficult to get her to be candid. ”

“Yes, she is,” her mother mumbled.

“Only two of many reasons I find her to be so special.”

“Your estate, Starkley Manor is nearby, is it not?” Captain Mason said.

“Yes, it is still being set up, otherwise I would invite you all there. I only wanted to make myself and my intention known to you as soon as possible.”

“You will stay,” Mrs. Mason said with a nod.

Leo blinked, staring at the woman. “I—”

“You and your mother will stay here for the time being.”

His mother nodded with a clap. “I agree entirely, we must get acquainted eventually. Better sooner than later.”

“I wasn’t intending to force extensive hospitality onto you ma’am,” Leo said, keenly aware of the thin ice he remained on with Regina’s mother.

She seemed annoyed by his protestations but then turned her attention to his mother, who was smiling. “Your room, would you prefer it to be east facing or south?”

“East for Leo, south for me,”

“Thank you.”