Page 21 of The Duke’s Bride (The Duke’s Alliance #6)

The children kept up a non-stop barrage of questions all the way to the piano emporium. Beau found them charming and relished the opportunity to broaden their knowledge of their capital city.

‘Will you come with us to the Tower after luncheon, please, please, Mr Sheldon; do say that you will?’

‘I have no objection but we must wait and see what your mama has to say on the subject. Look, that is our destination.’

Thomas snatched his hand away and was about to dash across the road with complete disregard for an enormous diligence that was trundling past. Beau just managed to catch the back of his cape and prevent him from being crushed beneath the horses’ hooves.

He swung the boy from his feet and dropped him to the ground.

‘What the devil did you think you were doing? Are you so full of your own importance that you do not believe you have to wait for other road users to pass by?’ His words were harsh, but they were meant to be.

He had aged ten years in that second. If anything had happened to the child he would have been devastated.

Then his sister joined in with her own reprimand.

‘You are a stupid boy – Mr Sheldon is right. You could have been killed because you didn’t bother to look.

Perhaps you need to have leading strings put on again.

’ This was the kind of comment one would have expected from an adult and his momentary horror turned to amusement.

Thomas hopped from foot to foot completely unmoved by what had been said to him. ‘I beg your pardon for almost getting killed, Mr Sheldon, but I am desperate to choose my piano.’

Beau ruffled the boy’s hair and then holding both the children firmly he strode across the road when there was a safe space to do so. The nursemaid trotted along behind, having added nothing of value to the expedition so far.

It took less than an hour for both children to have selected the instruments they wished to have delivered to the house at the earliest possible moment. He shook hands with the owner of the establishment and handed over the letter giving him permission to conclude the deal.

‘As you can see the children are eager to have these items as soon as possible. If you arrange for a carter to pick them up today I can see no reason why they could not be at Fenchurch within a week. I guarantee that the countess will settle her account immediately, and no doubt there will be a bonus for the speedy arrival of the harp and the piano.’

‘Both will have to be tuned when they arrive. Do you wish me to make arrangements for someone to call and do that?’

‘That will not be necessary; I shall do it for them.’

The children stopped to gaze into the shops they passed and he instructed their nursemaid to remain at their side at all times. It was a mile to the hotel but it took them over an hour to complete the journey because the children were so interested in everything they saw.

‘Look, Mr Sheldon, we can see the Tower from here. I cannot wait to visit.’ Thomas and his sister had gained sufficient confidence to walk without holding on to him. He followed the child’s pointing finger and saw a hired carriage pull up outside the hotel.

Viola stepped out and walked arm in arm with a handsome gentleman.

She was laughing up at him as if he was someone important to her.

A surge of rage ran through him. He wanted to draw the man’s cork, knock him senseless; then reason returned.

With it came a moment of clarity. He was hopelessly in love with her, but how could he reveal his feelings whilst he was hiding his identity?

He stood motionless, for the first time in his life indecisive. Then Elizabeth grabbed his hand.

‘Look, Uncle Richard is here to see us. Do we have your permission to run ahead?’

‘You do indeed, sweetheart.’ Thomas took off immediately, but she hesitated. ‘We still want you to accompany us on our expedition. The fact that our uncle is here does not mean that Mama and my brother do not wish to have you there as well.’

He was moved by her entreaty. They were delightful children and would make perfect cousins for Rushton and Giselle’s two daughters. The nursemaid had run after the children, leaving him to stroll at his own pace lost in delightful possibilities for his future.

At what point must he reveal his true identity? He did not wish to marry without his family present and in order to accomplish that he would have to take her to Silchester Court. He had only been away for a month and they would not be expecting him to return until July at the earliest.

He increased his pace. He wanted to meet Mr Alston, hear what had been discovered at the lawyers and see what help he could offer.

He did not even know how old Viola was. She looked no more than two and twenty but that would be a physical impossibility as her children were approaching their ninth birthday.

She was probably nearer his age than he realised, but it would not be polite to enquire.

This was one thing he could not ask Bishop as it would be immediately apparent to this intelligent young man why he had asked the question.

He would spend the next few weeks getting to know the family better and hopefully when he did tell her who he was, and make her an offer, she would be more ready to listen.

They had both stated categorically they had no intention of marrying, but as he had changed his mind he thought it possible she might too.

To his astonishment when he stepped into the foyer, the children, their mother and their uncle were waiting to greet him.

‘Mr Sheldon, I am Richard Alston. I have heard so much about you and I’m delighted to meet you in person.’ Alston was about his age, and he liked him immediately. He had an open expression and when he offered his hand Beau was pleased to shake it.

‘I too have heard about you, sir, and all of it complimentary I can assure you.’

‘Mr Sheldon, I hope the children were well behaved.’

Thomas looked appealingly at him. ‘They were exemplary. I have absolutely no complaints on that score and will be delighted to escort them anywhere in future.’

‘Children, run along with Sally and have your luncheon. I have reserved a table for us in the dining room and Mama is already there. She has already struck up a firm friendship with another elderly lady who is staying here and I have not been able to pry her away. Shall I see you down here in a quarter of an hour?’

‘You will indeed. I think it wise to see how we like the restaurant before we commit ourselves to eating here this evening. I hope you will be able to join us wherever we eat, Mr Alston?’

‘I have business to attend to at the docks this afternoon but have reserved a chamber here for tonight.’

It took Beau only seconds to remove his outer garments, wipe the mud and dust from his boots and check his topcoat and cravat were still immaculate. He had never thought to fall in love – had met dozens of hopeful young ladies over the years and none of them had stirred his senses.

The most recent addition to their large family, Sofia, who had married the younger of his twin brothers, Perry, had told him there was somebody out there for him and he would meet her one day.

How right she was. Like all his siblings he realised he had known the moment he had met Viola that she would one day become his wife and the mother of his children.

He found infants annoying but enjoyed the company of little ones once they were able to converse sensibly and listen to instructions. Certainly, he had always got on well with Rushton’s daughters and he already loved Elizabeth and Thomas as if they were his own.

His mouth curved at that thought. God willing, one day in the not too distant future they would indeed be his children, as he intended to adopt them legally.

He was the ideal person to prepare Thomas for his responsibilities when he came of age.

He would have to find an excellent tenant for both Elveden and Fenchurch Manor.

He found it difficult to stop smiling as he mulled over the prospect of becoming a family man at last.

Viola came from a similar background to Grace, and his sister-in-law, who had married Bennett, the brother closest to him in age and character, would be the ideal friend for her.

He did not consider for a second that his suit would be rejected when she discovered his deception.

All his life he had snapped his fingers and whatever he wanted had appeared.

He was the Duke of Silchester – one of the most eligible bachelors in the country – what possible reason could she have for refusing him?

* * *

During luncheon Viola explained what she had discovered at the lawyers that morning. ‘What do you think, Mr Sheldon?’

‘Your course of action is exactly what I would have suggested. It is perfectly possible that this Mr Fenchurch is a reasonable man and would not agree to Sir Frederick’s nefarious suggestion.

I imagine that his father’s relocation to Ireland was to get away from the family who appear to have an unpleasant reputation.

’ He was speaking sincerely and obviously did not consider the impact of his comment.

Her mother was not best pleased by his remark. She banged the table with a spoon, attracting unwanted attention from the other guests in the dining room. ‘Are you suggesting, sir, that Mr Alston and I arranged the marriage between my daughter and the earl knowing of his reputation?’

He looked somewhat startled at her attack.

Instead of being embarrassed or offended, he smiled.

‘As you did not move in the same circles as them, one could not have expected you to know he was not a suitable husband. I am certain you made enquiries and, as Lady Fenchurch said, Lord Fenchurch could be a charming and pleasant companion when he so wished.’