Chapter 4
Chapter Four
Evan waited for an answer. Then he waited for a reaction. Any reaction. But all he got were gaping mouths. He did not like being kept waiting. He did not like London. The sooner he left, the better.
However, like his butler, Carlson, liked to remind him, Evan needed a wife. His daughter, Lilly, needed a mother. And when he witnessed a young lady ruining herself at his neighbor’s garden party, he saw the perfect opportunity.
After that spectacle, she will need to be married off quickly, which means I will not have to waste time courting her. And marrying me can save her from ruin.
He felt satisfied by the mutually beneficial arrangement he would be proposing.
Lady Shirley finally curtsied. “Your Grace,” she said, giving him a simpering smile. “What a wonderful surprise.”
He inclined his head in greeting. “Good afternoon.”
“To what do we owe the honor, Your Grace?” Lady Shirley said.
He looked at Lord Shirley, who looked mildly fascinated by the visitor. The older man did not make any motion to speak, so Evan directed his attention to the lady of the house, who seemed to be taking charge. “Did you not hear me? I am here for Miss Shirley’s hand in marriage.”
They stare at him for a moment, as if expecting him to continue. He was used to people looking at him like this. But why would he continue? His statement was straightforward enough.
Lady Shirley recovered herself first. “Of course,” she said. She grinned, looking delighted. “I always knew her beauty would not go to waste. I knew from the beginning that our dear Amelia would be a duchess. Did I not, Lord Shirley?”
“Yes, dear,” her husband said, sounding bored.
“Let me go get her,” she exclaimed, practically bouncing in place. She spun toward a young lady, who was standing nearby, tugging at her sleeve. “Quick, come here, Amelia, dear!”
Amelia stumbled forward, flustered. She was not the right Miss Shirley, though.
“Your Grace,” Amelia said, curtsying. She smiled prettily, but it did not reach her eyes, which looked pained. She blinked rapidly, as if she was fighting back tears.
“No,” he said quickly. “Not her.”
Lady Shirley froze. “Not Amelia?”
“No.” Why did I not ask for the lady’s name? He had heard someone say ‘Miss Shirley’ when the crowd had joined them on the riverbank, but that was it. He should have known there would be more than one Miss Shirley.
“One moment, please,” Lady Shirley said, her voice tense. She spun on her heel and dashed across the room to another young lady, who was standing near the far wall.
Lord Shirley moved to sit in one of the armchairs near the window. “Would you care to sit, Your Grace?” he asked.
“No, thank you,” he said.
Miss Shirley looked at him, at a loss for words. “Shall I ring for some tea?” she asked, for lack of anything better to say.
“I will not be staying long enough to drink it.”
“Oh,” she said. She looked away, blinking rapidly.
“Why are you crying?” He could not help but ask. Was it because he was not choosing her to be his duchess? She certainly did not look very excited at the prospect when her mother dragged him into the room.
“Forgive me, Your Grace. We just received some tragic news.” She looked away.
Strange. Lord and Lady Shirley are certainly not acting like they received tragic news. Lady Shirley is positively elated right now.
Before she could elaborate, Lady Shirley came hurrying into the room, dragging the new lady by the arm. She was slightly out of breath. “This is Bethany, Your Grace,” she said. “She is a little young for marriage, but she will make a fine duchess. Only Amelia is prettier than she.”
Amelia cringed at her mother’s casual insult, but if Bethany noticed it, she did not care. She lifted her chin in defiance as she gave a cold curtsy in Evan’s direction. Her eyes were rimmed in red, as if she had been crying, only to wipe her tears away hastily before her mother dragged her.
She was also not the lady Evan had in mind. Perhaps I misheard the name.
“Are there any other Miss Shirleys living here?” he asked.
The mother blinked up at him. “I do not understand, Your Grace. We also have twin girls, but they are only sixteen. They are not out in society yet—”
“Stop talking, my lady.” He needed silence to think. This visit was already proving to be more frustrating than he thought it was going to be.
The lady’s mouth snapped shut. Anger entered her eyes, but Evan could not bring himself to care.
Maybe I misheard the name. “Perhaps I am at the wrong house. I should leave.”
Before he could make a move to the door, Amelia spoke up. “Perhaps you are asking for Marina, Your Grace?” Her eyes looked hopeful.
Bethany’s face lit up. “Yes! I believe you met her at the garden party.”
“Bethany!” Her mother said sharply.
The youngest sister ignored her mother’s reprimand. “I shall fetch her at once, Your Grace.” She all but ran out of the room. A moment later, she came back with Marina, who looked bewildered. Her eyes met Evan’s, and then she looked down, her cheeks turning red.
Evan relaxed at the sight of her. Finally. This was the girl he was thinking of. He bowed slightly. “Miss Shirley.”
She curtsied. “Good afternoon, Your Grace.”
He turned to look at Lady Shirley. “I am here to ask for Miss Shirley’s hand in marriage.”
The Viscountess stared at him. “I—I do not understand. You want Marina?”
“Precisely.” They were finally on the same page, although he did not know for the life of him why it had been so difficult for them to understand each other in the first place.
“Her? Are you sure?” She looked bewildered.
“Why would I be here if I were not sure?” He looked at Lord Shirley, impatience tugging at him. “May I please have your daughter’s hand in marriage?”
The man shrugged. “As long as my wife agrees.”
“Forgive me, but I simply do not understand, Your Grace,” Lady Shirley said. “My eldest and my youngest are both available. Why—”
“It was my dog in the river,” he said, interrupting her.
“Miss Marina Shirley thought he was drowning and quite recklessly tried to save him, which led to her unfortunate mishap with the dress. I need a duchess, and I need to make amends for my part in the scandal. Marrying her will kill two birds with one stone.”
Lady Shirley looked delighted, but Bethany and Amelia cringed slightly at his words. Marina was glaring at him, her arms crossed. “I think I would rather go to Boston.”
He blinked. What did Boston have to do with anything? Why did she look at him as if he had insulted her? My marriage proposal is perfectly rational. I do not know why she looks so displeased.
“She does not mean that,” Bethany said quickly. She grabbed her sister’s arm and leaned up to whisper in her ear. Evan could barely make out her words. “The Heartless Duke is still better than finishing school in America.”
The Heartless Duke.
So that was what they were calling him these days.
At least they do not refer to me as the Brainless Duke. Rational thought is superior to emotion any day of the week.
Lady Shirley smiled up at him, completely ignoring her daughters. “My daughter is honored by your generous proposal. We are delighted to welcome you into the family.”
He looked at Marina, who was still glaring at him. “The wedding should take place as soon as possible. I will arrange for it to be held in one week.”
“I can’t,” Marina whispered.
Lady Shirley did not seem to hear her. “One week is perfect!” she said. “Imagine, my daughter a duchess!”