Chapter Four #2
“What, that she is a lady of means? It is obvious in the fashion of yer clothes and the elegant style of yer living. But I dinna care about that. I have my own wealth and would never need to touch hers.”
“Your Grace, are you that seriously interested in my aunt?” she asked, pursing her lips as though not pleased by the notion.
Gwenys was honest with him, so he meant to be honest with her in return. He was surprised that she did not seem pleased by his intention, but she was a straightforward lass and he would find out the reason as they continued their conversation.
“Aye, I am. But we got off to a terrible start and I fear there may be no coming back from this fiasco of her abduction. She may never grow to trust me. Especially after what she has already endured from her wretch of a husband.”
“Your kinsman, Douglas Lanark, speaks very highly of you.”
Bram nodded. “The feeling is mutual. He is a very good man. My heart rests easy knowing he will inherit the title once I am gone.”
“I hope you shall have many good years left,” Gwenys said with a grin.
“Douglas fervently hopes so, too. He thinks Scotland needs you fighting on her behalf in the House of Lords. He said that only sixteen of your noblemen are permitted to serve, and you’re always chosen to lead their delegation to Parliament. That is quite impressive.”
He shrugged. “I have a big mouth.”
“Oh, I think it is your intelligence that impresses.” She took another sip of her tea and set down her cup.
“My aunt thinks I am a bit of a featherhead, but I really am not. I noticed immediately the respect you and Douglas command around here. It isn’t merely that you are a duke.
People may fawn over you because you are a powerful man, but having their respect is another matter altogether.
No one around here looks upon you with disdain when your back is turned. ”
He arched an eyebrow. “Well, that is good to know.”
“Oh, I think you are aware.”
“Actually, I am never sure what others think of me. Most greedy people are fairly obvious, for there is a certain calculating look in their eyes that they canno’ hide from me.
But some, albeit few in number, are very good at masking their true purpose.
I expect Miranda’s husband was that sort of man and had her fooled completely. ”
“I don’t think he was all that smart,” she said, once more pursing her lips. “How could he choose that harlot of a mistress over my aunt? What’s worse is that Miranda blames herself. This rankles me so much. She is being so unfair to herself.”
That Miranda should feel any responsibility for her husband’s heinous conduct caught Bram by surprise. “Why does she blame herself?”
“She believes that she was so caught up in wanting to be in love that she chose to ignore the warning signs and allowed herself to be swept up by my uncle’s courtship.
He was Lord Lawson until shortly before they married.
Then he became Earl of Lowery upon his father’s death, and that wily old man put conditions on the bulk of his son’s inheritance. ”
“Conditions? I assume one of them was the requirement of marriage to a lady of a certain stature?”
“Yes, exactly. My father, who was the younger brother, has since inherited the title and the entailed assets that came with it. My stepmother resents that Miranda got a good deal of the unentailed assets because of the excellent marriage settlement negotiated by Miranda’s own father.
That woman is so greedy and intolerant, and her daughter is little better.
But I’ve digressed. The fact is, Miranda blames herself for allowing her husband to make a fool of her. ”
“That is no’ right,” Bram muttered. “She was young and innocent. Her husband knew what he was doing, lying to her, purposely waging his campaign to win her heart when he knew all along he would betray her. It is a foul fiend who makes promises that he never intends to keep.”
“I agree, and so do her friends. We have a lovely circle of friends on Duchess Square. They adore Miranda.”
“But it seems she values herself less than her friends do. Poor thing. And because of this, she’ll never allow anyone close enough to risk opening her heart again.”
“Precisely,” Gwenys said with a nod. “Gaining her trust might be an impossible task.”
“Aye, lass. It seems so. But I’d still like to give it a try. She’s worth the effort.”
“Your Grace, she is worth the effort.” But she suddenly frowned again, as though she was not happy with his intention to woo Miranda.
Did she doubt he was honorable?
“Gwenys, do ye disapprove of me?”
Her eyes rounded as she stared at him in obvious surprise. “Oh, not at all. But this cannot be a game for you. I beg you, if it is merely the challenge that attracts you to her, then leave it be. You’ll only hurt her worse, and I will never forgive you.”
Bram considered her words with a heavy heart. “I would never do this to her. If I were to pledge my heart to Miranda, she would have it to love and hold forever. I promise ye, I’ll tread very carefully. Have I not made it obvious that I like her? Indeed, very much.”
“I sensed this,” she said, now letting out a soft breath as she cast him a sweet smile. “I hope you are a patient man, because it will take quite some effort. She’ll look for every reason to dismiss you because it is easier to push you away than ever allow you close.”
He finished the last of his ale, pleased that he would have Gwenys as an ally in his courtship campaign.
Then he noticed Lady Wharton entering the common room.
“Blessed saints,” he whispered, and then groaned.
There was no way Gwenys would ever admire or support him if that spoiled, vengeful woman chose to approach them.
But it appeared she was about to do just that, for she had now spotted him seated with Gwenys and no doubt leaped to the wrong conclusion.
Her expression immediately turned vindictive.
“Och, Gwenys. Trouble’s coming.”
“What do you mean? That lady? Oh, she does not look happy.”
“This is no’ going to turn out well, lass. I’m so sorry. I’m only glad Miranda is no’ here to see what is about to unfold. She’ll want nothing to do with me after this, and I fear ye may no’ either.”
“Goodness, is she about to create a scene? Who is she? She’s beautiful, but she does not like that I am seated beside you. Is she your mistress?”
“What? Och, no! Gwenys, where did ye get such an idea? Do ye think I am the sort of man who would court yer aunt while also keeping a mistress? No, I’ve had nothing to do with Lady Wharton for many years.
That ended long ago. She is firmly in my past, and I would like nothing better than to keep it that way.
But the Fates seem to be working against me by bringing her here just now. ”
“She looks jealous.”
“Aye, lass. She is no’ a nice lady. She’s petty. Envious. The sort who would revel in another’s misery.”
“Then why did you ever consort with her?”
“Men do no’ always think with their brains.
She was beautiful. It was years ago, and I was no’ particularly thinking of getting serious with any lass.
She was offering herself to me without any commitments required on my part…
er, since she was already married. I am no’ saying what I did was right, only that…
” He rubbed a hand across the back of his neck, for he was feeling decidedly uncomfortable.
“Suffice it to say, I dinna give a fig whether she had a sweet nature or not. Lady Wharton and I never developed any feelings for each other beyond a casual, convenient dalliance years ago. I assure ye, it ended quickly because I realized she was no’ a nice person and no’ really convenient at all. ”
“Seems she was not ready for it to end.”
“Och, she did no’ give a care about me and moved on to other lovers immediately after we parted ways.
Pardon my crudeness, but I dinna wish to lie to ye about it.
Our liaison meant nothing to either of us and wasn’t going anywhere.
As I said, she was married at the time. And kindly dinna lecture me on sin and such.
I would never interfere with a happy marriage.
By the time I met her, she and her husband already hated each other and seem to hate each other worse now, judging by the bile in her gaze. ”
“Oh, that is awful. Perhaps she feels as hurt as Miranda did when her husband betrayed their wedding vows.”
“Nay, lass. I dinna think so. She was the one who strayed first in their marriage. I haven’t seen her in years,” he said, hoping there would not be a similar scene to the one had in the library a short while ago in front of Miranda.
Blessed saints, would Gwenys now hate him too?
She placed a hand over his wrist and quietly squealed. “Oh, she looks angry enough to stab me with a butter knife. My goodness, for a smart man you’ve certainly made a mess of your love life. But I suppose people can be quite stupid when it comes to love…or mere love affairs.”
“I never said I had any brains back then,” he confirmed once again. “Blast, she’s going to make me regret ever having had anything to do with her.”
Bram rose, intending to steer Brianna out of the dining room before she could insult Gwenys.
But Brianna had already reached their table.
He held his breath.
“Well, Solway. Is this your pressing business this evening? Bedding the young lady? She looks to be barely out of the schoolroom.”
“Why thank you,” Gwenys said, smiling brightly. “In fact, I am one and twenty. Hardly a child. However, His Grace is a gentleman and is not bedding me, as you so crudely put it.”
“Lady Gwenys is under my wardship while in Scotland.”
“That’s right. He is my guardian and protector.” Gwenys frowned. “Ah, you must be the old friend His Grace was telling me about. Lady Wharton, is it? And yes, I see what he means by old friend.”