Page 87 of Road Trip With a Rogue
“Now, Papa. Don’t be mean to Miss. Hamilton. It wasn’t her fault. We were too far ahead. She didn’t stand a chance of catching us.”
Violet was conveniently forgetting just how close it had been, but Daisy wasn’t about to correct her. Better for Brand to think he’d set her an impossible task.
“You know what I’m like when I set my heart on something.” Violet reached over and took her father’s hand. “I’m dreadfully stubborn. Just like you. I couldn’t help it.”
Brand let out an unhappy huff, as if acknowledging that rather backhanded compliment.
Violet continued. “You told me you were exactly the same way with mother. You said you took one look at heracross the sheep-pen at the Harrogate country fair and justknewshe was the one for you. You didn’t stop until you’d made her your wife.”
Brand’s rugged features softened, just slightly. “That’s true enough. It was a love-match between your mother and me.” He glanced over at Daisy. “My Susie was taken from us far too soon. She died of a fever when Violet was just ten years old.”
“I’m sorry for your loss,” Daisy murmured.
“Well, it was the same for myself and Perry,” Violet insisted doggedly. “Love at first sight.”
Brand scowled. “But to elope, against my wishes—”
Violet squeezed his hand. “I know you’ve been worried that Perry’s a fortune hunter, but that’s not true at all. Tell him, Your Grace.”
She turned her beseeching blue eyes on Vaughan.
Chapter Forty-One
“It’s true,” Vaughan said, apparently unperturbed by Brand’s ire. “And believe me, Mr. Brand, your concern that my nephew lacks any kind of stable profession is something I have lamented myself, on numerous occasions.” He sent Perry a sardonic look. “That said, until I have sons of my own, Perry here is my heir presumptive, and as such he’ll benefit from an allowance of a thousand pounds per year now that he is wed.”
Brand’s expression relaxed a little. “Well, Your Grace, that’s extremely generous of you. I must admit that my objection to young Peregrine has nothing to do with him personally, but more an abundance of caution where my precious little girl is concerned.”
“Perfectly understandable.” Vaughan nodded. “There are scores of unscrupulous ‘gentlemen’ who would take advantage of an innocent young lady like Violet, especially if she came with the alluring prospect of a sizable dowry.”
“Quite so,” Brand said. “Peregrine, I understand your father is currently abroad with your mother?”
Perry nodded. “Yes, sir. I believe they’re somewhere near Naples at the moment.”
“Well then, I suppose I’ll have to wait until they return before we negotiate the settlements.”
Violet’s face broke into a relieved smile as she took this concession as proof of her father’s acceptance. “You’re not cutting me off?”
“Of course not,” Brand said gruffly. “You’re my only child. You’ll have a dowry of twenty thousand pounds. I’ll not have people calling me a miser.”
Violet beamed. “Thank you, Papa. I promise we’ll manage it extremely well, won’t we, Perry?”
Brand snorted in clear disbelief, and Daisy bit back her own smile at his cynicism. Perry and Violet reminded her of the characters Jane and Bingley, in the novelPride and Prejudice—both so amiable that they would doubtless be cheated by their servants and always exceed their income.
Brand turned back to Daisy. “Did anyone see them on the way to Gretna? The last thing I want is unseemly gossip floating about town.”
“I don’t believe so,” Daisy said. Brand seemed to appreciate straight-talking, so she decided to give her unvarnished opinion. “But I’ll be completely honest with you, sir. Even if word doesn’t get out about their elopement, there will still be talk if you simply announce their marriage. People will ask why they didn’t wait the usual three weeks to have the banns read in church, or have a have a big, public wedding.”
Brand’s expression darkened again. “What do you suggest? You know the ways of thetonfar better than a cit like myself.”
Daisy racked her brains, desperate to salvage something from this disaster.
“Well, you’re known to be a doting father, so I think people would believe it if we say you indulged Violet’s youthful impatience and agreed to a common license.”
“What else?”
“You should have a big celebration, to show everyone that Violet and Perry have your blessing. If there are rumors about the swiftness of the wedding, or any hint that they acted without your permission, such a public display of unity will go a long way to dispelling them.”
Violet almost leapt out of her seat. “Oh, yes! A party would be lovely! Say yes, Papa!”