Chapter Sixteen
Thomas rode back to the inn in the Bonham carriage with his family crest on the door.
The vehicle was almost, but not quite, as impressive as it could have been.
The driver had hurried from London and changed horses on the way, so it was not being pulled by the fine, matched bays he’d bought for it.
In every other way, he had been his most splendid and pretentious self when he’d returned to the Skeffington house. His clothes, his grooming and his manner had all been perfect. It had not impressed old Skeffington. Nor had it impressed his granddaughter.
Bonham was annoyed. No one ever refused him and yet it had happened twice in one morning.
His requests were always met. He’d hardly ever had to demand.
But Skeffington had ignored him and walked out.
An offer of marriage should have been accepted immediately and with enthusiasm. Instead, it had been refused by Louisa.
Bonham might be annoyed, but both Thomases—Smith and Carew—were mortified. The old man had been the same as always. It was hardly a surprise. But he had been counting on Louisa. He’d assumed she was not the sort of girl to make love with a man she felt nothing for.
The Duke of Bonham had proposed. But perhaps she’d given herself to Tom Smith?
Thomas was not sure why she would bother with that fellow.
He’d come up with a stupid idea to help her.
He had failed again and again. He’d failed himself as well.
If any part of this escapade had been meant to prove he was worth more than his title, that had been a failure as well.
That was why he’d given up on Mr Smith. He’d come today, in his full ducal glory, to claim his bride but it had meant nothing to her.
As she’d refused him, she’d talked about the bother a union would cause for her, and getting gravy on her sleeves, which wouldn’t have mattered to him at all. She hadn’t mentioned love at all. Not even once.
Of course, neither had he.
He winced. Bonham might be a duke, but when the mood was on him to play the role, he could be a puffed-up idiot. He’d arrogantly assumed that, like any other woman, she’d be honoured by an offer from him and had put no thought into it at all.
‘God’s teeth!’ He slammed his fist into the seat cushion, which did nothing to reduce his own mortification. If he’d been a woman, he’d have refused a proposal like the one he’d just made.
And it hadn’t been just any woman he’d been offering for.
Louisa Skeffington hadn’t spoken much when they were in London.
But when she had, she’d refused to be dazzled by his title and had always spoken to him honestly.
Hadn’t he always complained about people who would not show their true faces to a duke?
There was nothing more honest than a woman turning down the chance to be a duchess.
Louisa was perfect. Just what he’d said he’d always wanted.
She’d been under his nose for years and he’d ignored her.
Now, when he was finally ready to show some sense, he’d made a hash of things.
He couldn’t blame her for rejecting him.
But she’d asked him for one last favour.
It was his final chance and he must not disappoint her again.
The carriage pulled into the courtyard of The Spotted Hog. A groom opened the carriage door, put down the step and stood ready as Thomas climbed to the ground. A footman rushed ahead to open the inn door for him. As Thomas entered the inn he saw Percy waiting for him in the public room.
His friend looked past him as he entered. ‘Where is Louisa? I thought you would bring her back with you. Didn’t the old man allow you into the house, Bonham?’
Thomas sat down, unsure of how to continue. It would be easiest to avoid mentioning the proposal, since that was the most embarrassing part of the trip. The rest of it hadn’t been that bad.
‘The butler let me into the house without argument. He was afraid to stop me. Your grandfather did not realise that I had already been there.’
Percy looked confused. ‘You mean he did not know you were Smith?’
Thomas shook his head. ‘He thought I was there to advocate for my cousin. So that’s what I did.’
Percy laughed. ‘The old idiot.’ He squinted at his friend, assessing him. ‘Although you do act differently, you know, Bonham. You can be a bit of a pompous ass sometimes when you’ve got the signet on.’
Thomas sighed. ‘Sometimes I wonder why we are friends, Percival.’
Percy winced at the use of his full name. ‘So do I.’ Then, he grew serious. ‘I assume the old man would not budge on the matter of Louisa’s money.’
‘Not even for the pompous Duke of Bonham,’ Thomas said gloomily.
‘And what of my sister? I thought you said you would be bringing her back with you.’
‘She would not leave without her money.’
At this, Percy looked grave. Thomas was surprised to feel a slight chill that was quite different from their earlier friendly banter.
Something inside of him twisted and tightened in the way it used to when he’d been castigated by his father over some minor fault and was about to get a stern talking to.
Today, with Percy, he had a horrible feeling that the mistake was not a small one and the blame rested firmly on his shoulders.
‘You have money,’ Percy pointed out. ‘More than enough to help her.’
‘I offered to give it to her,’ Thomas replied. ‘She reminded me that it would not be proper for her to take it.’
‘I had thought that you’d found a way around her objections,’ Percy said pointedly.
‘Just what do you mean by that?’ Thomas said.
‘I think you know.’ The words were not just cold, they were icily calm.
‘Let us say that I do not,’ Thomas countered. There was no sense in confessing to something that Percy was only guessing at. ‘Tell me what is bothering you.’
‘You came back late the other night, with your cravat in a mess and your buttons half undone. I assumed there would be good news the next morning. If not, then certainly today. Since you have said nothing, it is my right as her older brother to ask about your intentions towards my sister,’ Percy said, laying his hands flat upon the table.
‘I promised to help her get her money back from your grandfather,’ Thomas replied. ‘This time the plan is hers. I am only helping. We will implement it tomorrow morning.’
‘And when you do?’ Percy did not move.
‘That will be up to Louisa,’ he said.
Percy continued to glare. ‘Supposing you fail? What will happen then?’
That also should be up to Louisa. But he could not seem to get the words out. ‘We can’t leave her there,’ he said, frowning.
‘We?’ Percy echoed, still not smiling.
‘Well, you have talked about taking her in haven’t you?’
‘There are some things I can help with and there are others I definitely can’t. I can take her in, of course. But in the matter of marriage? I would be no help at all,’ Percy said, giving him an expectant look.
He didn’t dare tell him Louisa’s plan to pretend to be a pregnant widow while raising his bastard. That was both dishonourable and embarrassing. There was no way around it other than to admit the truth. He sighed. ‘I made her an offer Percy. She refused me.’
‘The little idiot,’ Percy snapped and pushed himself up out of his seat. ‘We will soon take care of that.’
Thomas held out a warning hand. ‘We are not settling anything. As I said before, what happens next is up to Louisa. I am hoping she will be easier to persuade once we have dealt with your grandfather.’
‘And how long do you estimate that might take?’ his friend demanded, eyes narrowed.
‘It might be finished tomorrow,’ Thomas assured him. But what if it went wrong? ‘Perhaps a few days. A week at most.’ At least, he hoped that was all it would take.
‘And if you are wrong?’
If she could not find the will and decided to remain with her grandfather he was not sure what he would do. Beg her to try again? Wait until the old man died?
He’d gladly do it. He’d come up with this ridiculous plan because he hadn’t wanted to lose his friend, Louisa. But now that she was his lover? And his one true love?
A wave of panic struck him. Percy was right. He was a pompous ass. That would be the last memory she had of him. What if they were never alone together again? What if she got her money and still wanted nothing to do with him? He might have ruined his chances with the only woman he could ever love!
He stared at Percy, confused. ‘I confess I have not thought that far ahead.’
‘I have known you for years. You have always shown unfailingly good judgement,’ Percy said, still not happy.
‘Recently, that has not been the case,’ he admitted gruffly.
‘Do you include your involvement in my sister’s business in this recent poor judgement?’
The question was far more complicated than Percy knew. As was the answer. He thought for a moment before saying, ‘I regret the way I went about it. But in the end, I expect it will be the best decision I’ve ever made.’
Percy considered this, staring at him as if searching for answers Thomas was not ready to give. Then, he sighed. ‘How long will it take for you to settle on a way forward? We may not have too many months before the reasons you must marry my sister become obvious.’
Surprisingly, the thought was more exciting than worrisome. In less than a year, he could have a child with Louisa. He smiled at Percy, amazed by the idea. ‘I assure you that I have only the best and most honourable intentions towards Louisa.’
‘Who is my sister,’ Percy reminded him, still stern.
‘Thus, my responsibility. Let me help you come to your decision.’ His normally amiable friend leaned forward and stared at Thomas with murder in his heart.
‘If the matter is not settled by week’s end, I am taking her from the house and out of your presence.
When I see you again, your title will not protect you.
I will not stand by and watch you break her heart or besmirch her honour. ’
‘Break her heart?’
From where he stood, it was quite likely to be the other way around, especially if her brother spirited her away for her own good before they could make things right between them.
‘She has given me no sign that her heart is involved.’
‘No sign?’ Percy cried and slammed the table with a fist. ‘She has been in love with you since we were schoolboys.’
‘She has?’ He searched his mind for what he might have missed. Even a single word would give him some hope that he hadn’t doomed his chances this morning.
‘If she hadn’t wasted so much time mooning over you, I’d have had her married off at least two years ago. She has sabotaged every attempt at a match, hoping you would finally realise she existed. But you never did.’
‘She has been waiting for me?’ he said, feeling numb but happy.
‘Just the sight of you had her walking into walls and acting like a witless fool. She could not manage two steps without tripping over her own feet when we were in town. But since you’ve been paying attention to her, she barely stumbles at all.’
‘True,’ Thomas said slowly, thinking of how quickly she’d climbed the hill in the dark.
‘When you proposed this ludicrous plan, I hoped that you’d finally opened your eyes and noticed what a fine girl she was. But it appears not.’
‘I… Well…’
He hadn’t.
‘I have now,’ he said with newfound confidence.
‘I certainly hope so. Because I will not see you trifle with her affections any longer. I don’t know what you have done to put her off marrying you. You had best set it to rights in short order or I will have to take steps.’
Considering what he’d done with her at the standing stones, it was a surprisingly magnanimous offer. ‘You have nothing to worry about,’ he vowed. ‘I mean to make her my duchess, even if I have to beg repeatedly for her hand.’
He took a deep breath and risked an honesty that he had not yet dared with Louisa.
‘I love her too.’
Percy smiled again, obviously relieved. ‘I am glad that’s settled. This was a damned awkward conversation and it would have gone much worse for both of us if you did not.’ He signalled the barmaid for ale.
Thomas relaxed as well, accepting the mug he was offered and raising it in a toast.
‘To brotherhood?’
He could not help the question in his voice.
‘To brotherhood,’ Percy agreed with a grin.