Chapter Fourteen
Atterbury House
Grosvenor Square
Mayfair, London
Nathaniel grinned to himself. Earlier in the afternoon, he’d taken Diana driving through Hyde Park.
It had been splendid, and oddly enough, he’d never taken any other woman driving or on any sort of outing.
Not since the last one he thought he’d marry.
But there was something compelling and special about Diana, and he wanted to experience everything with her, for it all felt new to him in her company.
However, because she was scheduled to accompany her daughter on an errand later in the afternoon, his time with her was limited.
That suited his own needs just fine, for Nathaniel was determined to snap her up and secure their future before her brother ruined everything with shoving her into the marquess’s path.
When he was shown into the house, he asked to speak with Viscount Atterbury, and the butler eyed him askance for a quick second before showing him up to the drawing room.
Not long after, Percy joined him.
“What a surprise, Lord Holdcraft. I rarely have callers of any sort, let alone one of your caliber, but if you wish to see my mother, unfortunately, she is out.”
“I actually came to see you.”
The young viscount gestured toward a grouping of furniture, then proceeded to sit in a chair near the fireplace that remained dormant even though there was a bit of a spring chill in the air. “Why is that?”
Nathaniel sank into a matching chair, then half turned to face the other man. “We’ll get to that in a moment, but first, how are you faring with the death of your grandfather?”
“Oh.” Atterbury shrugged. “I’m doing well enough. Unfortunately, I didn’t spend much time with him while I was away at school, and then with my father whenever he was hunting.”
Right, and that was how he’d found his father, dead during one of those hunts. He nodded. “It seems the older one grows, the more difficult dividing one’s time can be.” While he indulged in small talk, he hoped his courage would bubble to the surface.
“Indeed. I have one year left at university, and where I thought to become a solicitor eventually, I’ve now been handed the reins of a viscounty.” He shook his head with a frown. “Is it bad to admit that I’m not certain I wish to be that?”
“Not at all. Most of us have had such thoughts at one time or another.” Truly, Percy was still young yet and had much maturing to do.
God, does that mean I have done the same since Diana came back into my life?
The other man heaved a sigh. “I don’t know the direction I wish to take the title. Hell, I barely know anything about the estate.” A hint of ruddy color slid up his neck above his cravat and collar. “To be honest, I have no clue or guidance on where to start.”
“I remember that feeling.” Nathaniel rested a leg on a knee.
“However, I’m certain your father had a solicitor and a man-of-affairs.
Call a meeting with them both. If you find you don’t get on with either, you can let them go and hire your own.
” That in itself was a large task. “Also, if you’d like, I can help you with all of these things as well as talk about what you want for your estate and your future.
” He wished he’d had that when handed his own title.
“That is fantastic. Thank you.” The young man nodded with enthusiasm. “So helpful, for I don’t know where to start and I don’t want to disappoint my mother.”
Poor boy. He was already under a lot of strain. “I rather doubt that will happen. She dotes on you and your sister.”
Surprise jumped into the viscount’s eyes. “Mama told you about us?”
“She has talked to me on and off about the two of you, for she loves you to distraction. To be honest, I would like to learn more about you.” He cleared his throat, for the time had come to broach the point of the visit. “In fact, that is one of the reasons I wished to talk with you today.”
“Oh?”
Nathaniel nodded. “As you probably already know, your mother and I were acquaintances long ago, before she married your father. Our fathers’ properties in Surrey border each other, so we grew up together.
” What else to say that would give him some background that might explain why he got on extremely well with Diana so quickly?
“When I was a young man a couple of years younger than you, I carried a tendre for her, thought myself in love with her, but since my best friend is your uncle, he forbade me from any of that. And she was engaged to your father besides.”
Too long-winded, Holdcraft. Do better.
“I might have heard something about how you all grew up, but why are you telling me this?” Confusion reflected in his eyes.
“Well, I needed to give you some context before this next bit.”
“Very well.”
He took a deep breath and let it ease out to calm his nerves.
Never had he wanted anything more than opening the door to a possible future with Diana.
“I hadn’t thought about your mother, hadn’t seen her during all the years of her marriage because I had my own interests.
During that time my parents died, and I was handed the reins to my own viscounty.
” He shrugged. It was difficult putting so much history into a few minutes of talking.
“I hadn’t been aware she was a widow until recently. ”
Atterbury’s gaze never left his face. “What happened?”
“Well, we came back into each other’s lives unexpectedly. And there is a connection between us, a bond that has only strengthened as time goes on, which we discovered over the course of the past few weeks or so.”
A snicker came from the younger man. “What are you trying to tell me, Lord Holdcraft? Best to just get it out.”
“Right.” Nathaniel nodded. “The truth is, I suspect that I am in love with your mother.” There, he’d finally said it out loud, and he rather enjoyed saying it.
The viscount’s eyebrow rose into his hair line. “Oh?”
“Indeed.” He offered a grin that felt more relieved than happy.
“In fact, there isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for her.
I live to make her smile or hear her laugh.
I want to look after her for the rest of my life, protect her from the ills in the world.
She challenges me to be a better man. In her I’ve found hope again, and I want to build a life with her.
” That was the gist of it, truly. “In short, I’m asking for your permission to marry her. ”
“What?” The younger man stared at him with shock and surprise warring for dominance in his expression. “You love my mother.” It wasn’t a question.
“I do. Quite desperately, in fact, and I fear I’ve wasted enough time already, so I’d rather not put off the next steps if at all possible.” Was he desperate or simply excited?
“Uh, Lord Holdcraft, you don’t need my permission. If you wish to ask my mother to marry you, then do so.”
Was the answer to the question that simple, then?
“Perhaps, but you are her son, and as such, you are the head of the house. I also wanted to make certain you had no issues with me before I plead my case with her. If fate is kind and she accepts, I’d like for us to be a family without easily fixable issues up front. ”
God, how long had he wished for a family of his own without realizing it?
“While that makes sense, you should talk to my uncle, especially since he’s your best friend. He’s her brother and an earl now. Wouldn’t he be the best one to speak to about this?”
Which was what he was trying to avoid. “Firstly, William doesn’t think I’m good enough for your mother.”
The other man’s expression fell. “Oh.”
Nathaniel nodded. “And secondly, I’d rather not poke a stick at that particular bear until I can secure your mother’s hand. Then I thought we’d face him together. Otherwise, he wants her to marry a marquess who I know won’t treat her as well as I can.”
Damn, I probably shouldn’t have said so much.
Silence reigned between them for longer than Nathaniel was comfortable with. As he opened his mouth to say something—anything—into the void, Atterbury interrupted.
“Because I’m curious, tell me why you like my mother.”
Now that was a direct question that would consolidate everything else.
“I appreciate the opportunity to delve deeper into that.” He paused as he tried to organize his thoughts.
“There is something about your mother—Diana—that has thrown my life topsy-turvy.” And it was more than the white-hot carnal sessions they shared.
“I could spend hours lost in her eyes. The sound of her voice is soothing. I’ve told her about my past, and she hasn’t judged me for it.
” He shrugged, for he could spend days cataloguing why he adored her.
“In short, she is unlike anyone else I’ve ever met.
” Merely thinking about her made him happy, and a grin skated over his face without him knowing it.
When was the last time he’d truly been happy and ready to take on the day? “She just makes everything… better.”
Atterbury regarded him with a goofy grin of his own. “It doesn’t bother you that she’s older than you?”
“Of course not.” How did he know that? “Why should it? Age is merely a number, and we are good together. I’d like to discover more of what we can do as a couple.
” Then he frowned. Did the questions mean her son would ultimately refuse the match?
“If you’re wondering whether I can take care of her in a manner to which she’s become accustomed, I can.
I have a decent income from my estate and investments.
I’m always looking to add more revenue streams and now is a good time for that.
The world is constantly changing and growing.
That means more opportunities will be available for men with coin to make a lot more of it.
Hell, investing in steel is a good idea.
I have a feeling this will prove invaluable to England soon. ”
“Good to know.” Percy resettled himself in the chair as he met Nathaniel’s gaze. “May I be truthful with you?”
“Of course.” Cold trepidation coiled through his gut.
“Mama told Eliza and me about you a couple of days ago.”
“Oh?” What the devil did that entail?
The younger man nodded. “We were catching up on each other’s lives.
When Eliza mentioned that Mama seemed happier, lighter than the last time we saw her, Mama admitted that she’d met a man who let her be herself and in the process had helped set her soul free so that she might fly.
I didn’t know what that meant at the time, but perhaps I do now you’ve said what you have. ”
“I see.” What had happened to his words? Why couldn’t he come up with something more erudite instead?
Young Atterbury continued. “What’s more, there was life and interest and a new softness in her expression that day I hadn’t seen during the course of my whole life.
” A mix of confusion once more took possession of his expression.
“While I don’t know what sort of man Papa was to her, I do know that she wasn’t happy most of the time.
To my way of thinking, a husband should make certain the woman he’s wed to is at least that. Why else would he say vows to her?”
Ah, Percy was young yet and had much to learn about the world, but Nathaniel appreciated the sentiment.
He cleared his throat. “There were some issues in that union, and she was deeply hurt from some of them, but they aren’t my stories to tell.
” Not once did he drop his gaze. “You have my word I won’t treat her like your father did.
I only want what’s best for her, to see her succeed, to give her love and space and understanding so she can continue to grow… exactly what she does for me.”
“I rather think my mother is quite fortunate to have met you, Lord Holdcraft.”
“While I appreciate that, it is beyond nerve-wracking to come here and talk about such things with you, so if you don’t mind, could you either put me out of my misery or tell me to take my leave.” Realizing that was rude, he held up a hand. “I apologize. I didn’t mean it to sound like that.”
Remarkably, the young man chuckled. “If that is what love does to a man your age, then I want no part of it any time soon. I value having a clear head.” Then he grinned.
“I can see how genuine you are about my mother, and I’m fairly confident she feels the same about you.
In this, I’m glad she has you, because I also believe she deserves every good thing in life.
” Slowly, Atterbury rose to his feet. Nathaniel scrambled to his as well.
“All of that being said, I give you my blessing. You may ask her to marry you.”
“Truly?”
“Yes, truly.” The younger man nodded. “I agree with you that Mama should go into this next phase of life with all the happiness the world can grant, and if she’s found that with you, I’d be a nodcock to throw a stick in that wheel.
” He held out a hand. “Also, I feel that in the absence of my own father, you will prove an asset for me and my future, perhaps can help guide me in the direction I need to go so I don’t muck up my own title. ”
“Thank you, and of course I’ll mentor you.” With nothing left to do, Nathaniel shook the offered hand. “In fact, I’d be honored to do exactly that.” Then he frowned. “Should I speak with your sister before asking your mother for a private word?”
“Ha!” The viscount snorted. “Eliza will be over the moon. She still has stars in her eyes and believes in love and romance, which is how all those young women are in finishing school. I’m afraid life will change their minds soon enough.”
In that, he had the air of a wizened little man.
“Besides, my sister will be thrilled that she’ll have the excuse to order a new pretty gown and all the fripperies.”
Nathaniel couldn’t help his own chuckle. “That sounds far too true.” He exchanged an exasperated glance with the younger man. “I shall call upon your mother this evening.” No sense in delaying things now that he’d made his decision.
“Good man.” The viscount led him across the room to the door. “I look forward to formally welcoming you into the family.”
Family.
Moisture rose to his eyes as his chest tightened. He hadn’t been part of a family for a very long time indeed, and now he was on the precipice of having just that. What was more, William would be his true brother, by marriage.
Tamping down on the emotions, Nathaniel paused in the corridor.
“Thank you for your time. Now I need to procure a ring. You wouldn’t happen to know what styles your mother prefers, would you?
” Yes, he’d already given her the pearls, and they’d looked fantastic on her, but he wanted something more expensive to grace her finger.
“I’m afraid I don’t pay that much attention, but I’m sure she’ll adore whatever you choose.”
With a nod, Nathaniel left the house.