Marry in Haste (The Vaughns #2)

Chapter 6

T hough Eddie yearned to settle on a course of action before arriving at Crosby House, the lady in question deserved to have her say in the solution, so when he arrived on the doorstep, he hesitated only a moment before pulling the doorbell. And the door swung open before his hand released it.

“I am here to see Mr. Crosby and Miss Crosby,” said Eddie, presenting his calling card to the footman.

It was taken, and in a blink, he was ushered in and divested of his umbrella. Eddie’s mind swirled with what to say and how to explain himself, giving no thought as to where he was being led until Mrs. Patricia Osgood appeared in the corridor, her hands held primly before her as she leveled a narrowed look down her nose at him.

“Have you finally decided to pay a call to discuss the damage done to my niece’s reputation?” asked Mrs. Osgood.

“I wish to speak directly to Miss Crosby if you please. And her father. I saw him not long ago and hoped he’d returned—”

“He is not at home, but he has given me authority over such matters.”

Eddie shifted in place, his fingers tapping against his thigh as he considered that. “I have come to see if we can come to an understanding.”

Mrs. Osgood’s brows rose, her stern expression melting into a smile. “What wonderful news—”

Holding up his hands, Eddie rushed to add, “I came to explain what has happened and sort out a manner in which we can mitigate the disaster my friends leveled upon me and Miss Crosby.”

In quick order, he relayed his meeting with Mr. Crosby and the revelations that followed; while much of it was entirely unnecessary as far as this lady was concerned, the worry that Mr. Crosby might think Eddie had lied pushed him to divulge every detail.

“While I admit that this is bound to cause some discomfort, I am certain we can sort out a solution to this ill-conceived prank,” he said.

“Prank?” said Mrs. Osgood, her spine stiffening. “You think raising my niece’s expectations is naught but some jest that can be swept aside? Regardless of the motives, the fact is that your name is bound to hers, and she is already the subject of mockery. Would you compound it by breaking with her? To make her the laughingstock of London?”

Pain sparked in his stomach, and though Eddie yearned to argue the fact, one truth had become clear as he’d wandered the city: though the jest had been directed at him, it was more fully aimed at Miss Crosby. Of all the ladies in London, they’d selected the one infatuated with him, and though Eddie had never spoken a word against her, his friends knew all too well that he did not reciprocate those feelings. They had been laughing at her and wouldn’t be the last to do so.

“Please, may I speak with Miss Crosby?” Eddie’s throat struggled to swallow as his mouth dried. “We need to discuss this matter.”

Mrs. Osgood’s eyes narrowed on him, but she nudged her chin toward a door, and when she opened it, Eddie found a whole gathering of ladies jabbering away; only a few noticed him standing there at first, but their expressions were a mixture of shock and glee.

Dash it all! This was Mrs. Osgood’s at-home day? Having never paid a call on the lady, Eddie had only one chance in seven of this visit aligning with it, but what little luck he’d ever boasted (which was not much, to be certain) was turned against him.

The parlor was packed with people, and though Eddie wanted to dismiss it as nothing out of the ordinary, he knew it was a likely byproduct of the announcement. As much as he longed to turn heel and deny these harpies their entertainment, his eyes fell on Miss Crosby in the far corner, encircled by her friends. At the very least, he ought to speak with her.

As he wove through the gathering, little titters and whispers followed him, but the object of his attention and her friends didn’t notice; their entire focus was on Miss Crosby, who looked strung taut, her expression pulled into a broad grin that was more panicked than pleased. The lady was usually in a flustered state, but for all that he’d thought he’d seen her at her worst, Miss Crosby looked ready to shake apart like a poorly made locomotive.

Seeing her so overwrought struck Eddie’s heart, sending a flash of pain through him. Miss Crosby may be odd and more than a little awkward, but she was a sweet creature, and the thought that he’d had a hand in her current agitation weighed heavily on his soul. The prank hadn’t been his doing, but she was more its victim than he.

One of the young ladies spied him first, drawing the rest of the group’s attention to him, and Eddie gave as warm a smile as he could manage, given the circumstances. Miss Crosby’s eyes widened to the size of saucers, her gaze pleading, though he didn’t know what she was asking for.

Miss Buckley recovered first, a smirk on her lips as she glanced between Miss Crosby and Eddie. “I see your time of reckoning has arrived, Joanna.”

The lady in question pinkened, and though her expression remained mostly calm, it was those eyes and her cheeks that always gave her away. As her complexion deepened red, she averted her gaze. “Lilith, please. You cannot believe I had anything to do with it.”

Eddie glanced between the pair with a furrowed brow as Miss Buckley laughed, patting the lady who was supposed to be her friend on the arm with a hint of something sharp in her smile.

“Come now, Joanna, it was quite the gamble you took with that little announcement in the paper,” she said. “I admire your courage, though the execution was quite flawed. Did you think it would press Dr. Vaughn to act after so many years of nothing?”

The others around her tittered before adding their own commentary about the situation. Each was voiced in a manner that was sunshine and honey, but like bees, stingers lay hidden amongst the sweetness. Clearly, they believed her to be the mastermind behind the prank.

Eddie had an escape.

His cousin had posed that very same theory just a few hours ago, and even Miss Crosby’s friends thought her the culprit. No doubt gossip would spread from there. All Eddie had to do was nothing, and he would be free of any blame or responsibility. Simple. This wasn’t his fault, after all.

Miss Crosby’s eyes rose from her toes, and the pleading he saw there was as obvious as if the lady had spoken, begging him not to believe them. Despite everything else going on around her, what worried her most at the moment was that he might think poorly of her, and that realization struck him to the core. With her face flaming red, her embarrassment was on display for all who bothered to look at her (though all eyes were on him), and seeing her squirm like a worm on a hook chased away any thoughts of escape.

Heat sparked in his chest as he considered the vultures surrounding them, ready to feast upon Miss Crosby’s dignity. Even those who were supposedly her friends seemed more keen to pick at the carcass than to bind up her wounds and support her through this trying time.

How dare they!

She certainly did not deserve this treatment, and his throat tightened as he considered how readily he’d wanted to leave her in their clutches. To act would be to seal his fate, but watching the poor lady crumble was too much for even his sense of self-preservation to withstand. Her salvation was within his power, and Eddie couldn’t withhold it.

*

Tremors seized control of Joanna, threatening to make an even greater fool of her this afternoon, but locking her knees, she forced herself to remain upright. Do not cry. Do not fall to pieces. Yet whatever strength Joanna possessed fled as the others teased and twitted her while Dr. Vaughn stood witness to it all. The door was so close. Only a few steps, and she would be free—though there was no fleeing the memories of this moment, which would torment her for years to come.

And Dr. Vaughn heard it all! Would he, too, believe the worst of her? Was this conversation the death knell for their future together? Even if he didn’t believe her capable of such subterfuge, no doubt he would be embarrassed to associate with her. To be the object of such derision. No matter what she said, the others waved her assurances away and winked at her as though enjoying the joke alongside her. Though only they laughed.

Joanna opened her mouth once more, but Dr. Vaughn’s voice broke through the gaggle of giggles.

“My dear Miss Crosby,” he said, reaching for her hand.

Every muscle in her body constricted, straining as he lifted it to his lips, pressing a kiss to the knuckles.

“‘Dear’?” echoed Lilith, her wide eyes bouncing between the gentleman and lady.

Dr. Vaughn winced as his thumb caressed her skin, sending sparks shooting down her arm. “I am here to discuss the announcement in the newspapers.”

Sparing only a glance at the others, he held Joanna’s gaze. His brown eyes were always so enchanting; their richness and the spark of tenderness that burned there drew her in, helping to relax her straining muscles—though her pulse quickened. With that impish smile of his and the curls that draped across his forehead in that dashing manner, Dr. Vaughn looked divine, and Joanna lost herself for the briefest moment as he turned the full power of his attention on her.

Dr. Vaughn lowered his voice as though speaking only to her, though it carried to the others. “I apologize for my crude attempt to curry your favor in such a public manner—”

“You placed the announcement?” gasped Lilith, her brows rising high.

“In truth, it was my friends. They’ve long known my feelings for you, though I’ve never been brave enough to admit them aloud,” he said, his eyes never drifting away from Joanna. Warmth seeped into his gaze and flowed into her, settling into her chest like a bonfire. “They meant it as a jest—”

“They said you are married,” said Miss Jolly.

Dr. Vaughn nodded, though his attention still never wavered from Joanna. “An error of judgment on their part. A well-meaning mistake to nudge me into action, but it is just what I needed to come today. Though I had hoped for a more private setting.”

A rueful smile graced his lips, but Joanna could barely think with his thumb caressing her hand.

“I just hope that Miss Crosby will forgive that impulsivity and agree to be my wife in earnest,” he whispered. “After so many years, I cannot wait another moment.”

Tingles raced across her skin, setting every nerve aflame as she stared into his eyes. Dr. Vaughn gave her a covert wink, and Joanna stared at him. Did he truly mean it? Despite having dreamt of that very thing just the night before, the sudden change in her circumstances held her tongue captive. Pulse racing, Joanna was certain her heart would never calm again as Dr. Vaughn awaited her answer, his eyes silently prodding her to accept.

“Oh, such wonderful news!” cried Aunt Patricia, slipping in to wrap Joanna in her arms. Leaning close to press a kiss to her niece’s cheek, she whispered, “I told you a gentleman would recognize your value one day.”

The others circled round her, doling out congratulations as she was passed about the room, but Dr. Vaughn cleared his throat, drawing the ladies’ attention back.

Nodding at Joanna, he said, “She hasn’t answered.”

“Of course, she accepts,” said Mrs. Mead, waving her hand at the fellow with a huffing laugh. “Why wouldn’t she?”

Dr. Vaughn’s expression shifted ever so slightly, the warmth in his smile straining as though holding back a silent sigh, but it vanished when he approached Joanna once more, offering his hand to her.

“Nonetheless, I want to hear it from her lips. Will you marry me, Miss Crosby?”

“You want to marry me?” Though it was little more than a whisper, the question slipped out. As much as her foolish little heart longed to snatch him up in an instant, Joanna’s rational side (however weak it was) couldn’t help wondering at the shift. Did he truly wish to be her husband?

But those thoughts vanished as the gentleman lifted her hand to his lips again, his expression softening as though that touch was the dearest thing in the world to him.

“More than anything,” he whispered.

Unable to speak, Joanna nodded, her face splitting into a grin that filled the whole of her. She longed to throw her arms around his neck or make some other grand display, but with so many eyes on them, she contented herself with taking his arm, snuggling up close to him as the room erupted in applause.