closed the door and advanced on them. ‘Thank goodness I have found you. What did you think you were about? Gregory, you know perfectly well that this is our one chance to safeguard Marguerite’s reputation and have your early marriage accepted without gossip. Have you any idea how close you came to being discovered by two of society’s most avid tattlemongers?’
‘It was my fault,’ Marguerite admitted, waving aside Gregory’s protests. ‘I suggested we discuss tactics and we were, honestly, Sara. Just talking. Gregory had been working in the library earlier and we decided that if he pretended to go back after dinner I could discover him and be shocked and lecture Lucian about it in public and everyone would see that I was becoming emotionally involved with Gregory and then he would come in and I would fly to his side and he would take my hand and...’ She shrugged. ‘We would play it by ear, but I think by the time we had finished Lucian would have had to take us both away to discuss Gregory’s intentions and everything would be perfect.’
‘And I kissed her because it was such a good idea and to give her courage before she went back to the drawing room for the big scene. And it got out of hand,’ Gregory confessed, looking as hang-dog as a young man with a piratical scar and eyepatch could.
Was I ever this young? Sara wondered. And yet these two had conceived a child together and had survived weeks on the Continent and, if it had not been for the accident, might well have begun married life in a respectable, if humble, manner.
‘I do not think tonight would be a good night for the plan, but you might try it, say, the day after tomorrow. Another day of being seen to fret over Gregory’s well-being and “helping” him would make it more convincing,’ Sara suggested. ‘And let us pray it succeeds, because I, for one, cannot stand the strain on my nerves much longer.’ And the guests would think that Lucian’s happiness over his own betrothal had made him soft-hearted towards the young lovers if he gave his consent once her own betrothal was known.
‘Marguerite, I suggest you go back down to the drawing room. Gregory, a strategic retreat to your bedchamber is in order and I advise you to avoid being alone with Lord Cannock tomorrow—he was muttering about horsewhips when I last saw him.’
* * *
Lucian gave his appearance a hasty check in the hall mirror, ran a hand through his hair and straightened his neckcloth under the interested gaze of a passing footman before braving the drawing room again. His heart was thumping and he realised he had not felt this nervous since he was a raw youth. Sara had agreed to marry him. He should be delighted. He was delighted—she was everything he needed, had hoped for, in a wife. But there was a nagging doubt now where before there had simply been certainty. Did she need more than he could give her? Could he live up to the expectations of this complicated woman? Marriage was for life and it would change their lives for ever.
Lucian gave himself a brisk mental shake. He knew what he wanted and Sara was no green girl who did not know her own mind. He strode into the drawing room and found his quarry was standing, one foot on the fender, glass of port in his hand, arguing the rival merits of snipe, woodcock and grouse as game birds with a group of the male guests.
Lucian waited for a lull in the conversation. ‘Might I have a word, Eldonstone?’
Sara’s father turned, one grizzled eyebrow raised. ‘Of course. My study?’
‘If you don’t mind, sir.’
When they were alone Sara’s father waved Lucian to a chair. ‘Port? Brandy?’
‘Brandy, if you please.’ There was no cause to feel that knot in his gut. He was an excellent match for Sara and there was, surely, no reason to fear her father’s approval would be withheld. Not that he needed it with a widow who was of age, but it would distress her immeasurably if her family were hostile.
‘I have come to ask your blessing,’ he said as the older man handed him the glass. ‘I have asked Sara to marry me and she has very graciously consented.’
‘Have you, by God?’ Eldonstone sat down. His expression was impossible to read.
‘Yes. I am aware that this visit did not get off to a good beginning because we had chosen to anticipate this decision,’ he began. He was damned if he was going to be defensive about becoming Sara’s lover, but an acknowledgement of Eldonstone’s feelings was certainly in order.
‘You’ve changed your tune. Marriage was out of the question, I seem to recall.’
‘Certainly it was while we were unsure that our feelings would endure. Neither of us wants this marriage to be less than happy.’
‘You’ve a glib tongue, Cannock.’
‘I have an honest one, sir. I thought I would be looking at the cream of the crop of next year’s Marriage Mart, some well-bred little chit scarce out of the schoolroom. Observing some at close quarters and in proximity to Sara has shown me that what I would truly value in a wife is a woman of character and intelligence.’
‘And you are telling me that my daughter, who you quite rightly say is a woman of character and intelligence, has agreed to marry you?’
A nasty dig, that. This was a man who had fought his way round the Indian sub-Continent and then taught himself how to be a marquess in middle age. He was never going to be a soft touch.
‘I am almost as surprised as you are,’ Lucian agreed, refusing to let Eldonstone rile him.
‘Hah!’ It was a bark of laughter. ‘I trust Sara and she, it seems, trusts you. But if she is wrong you’ll have her brother to deal with and I will be standing right behind him to finish off anything that is left breathing.’
‘As I would expect. You forget, perhaps, that I have a sister. I share your sentiments about men who betray the trust of a lady.’
‘Is that why you refrained from retaliating when Ashe hit you? I was most impressed.’ Eldonstone lifted his brandy glass in an ironic salute.
‘Brawling on my hosts’ doorstep when Clere was merely being protective seemed unlikely to endear me to Sara.’ Lucian returned the salute and took a mouthful of the dark liquid. ‘My compliments to your wine merchant.’
‘Good, isn’t it?’ They sipped in comfortable silence for a while. ‘Doubtless brothers-in-law would enjoy sparring a little.’
‘Oh, yes.’ And there was no need to wait until he was Ashe Herriard’s brother-in-law. Just as soon as they found themselves outside and safely out of sight of the ladies he intended returning that punch with interest. ‘You will want to discuss settlements. I’ll have my secretary assemble some figures for you.’
‘You can discuss that with Sara and she will ask me if she needs advice. I presume I have no need to worry about your ability to keep her in the manner I would wish for her?’
‘None at all.’
‘Then I suggest we take our brandy back to the drawing room and rejoin the other guests. When do you want to announce this?’
‘Tomorrow night before dinner?’ Lucian suggested. Now they just had to get Marguerite’s love life choreographed to climax at the most advantageous moment and all would be well.
They strolled back to the drawing room as the clocks struck eleven. It seemed incredible that so much had happened
