34. Chapter 34 #3
His intended curtseyed low. “Your ladyship.”
“A pleasure to meet you,” his mother said. “I have heard much about you. About your sweetness and bravery and how you’ve stolen my son’s heart. My husband tells me William has declared he would relinquish his painting rather than lose you.”
A faint blush suffused Kitty’s cheeks, making her look even more adorable than she already did. “That would be a pity, because your son has exceptional talent.”
“Then you would give him up, if I asked you to?”
William found her hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. “No, your ladyship. I don’t believe that would serve his happiness or my own.”
“You must see what a darling she is, Mother. Persuade Father to change his mind and allow us to wed at once.”
“What’s the hurry?” She fixed him with a look that sent heat rushing up his neck. “A six-month courtship is not such a very long time to wait.”
“But Kitty has nowhere else to go, Mother. If we do not wed at once—”
His grandmother interrupted him. “I will make her my ward.”
All eyes turned to the Duchess.
“Don’t seem so surprised. She is my husband’s kin of sorts.
If William is determined to marry her, I will sponsor her and ensure she is accepted by society.
Train her to know what is expected of her as a nobleman’s wife.
No one will question her respectability if she is received by me.
You will court her, William, and if you are still of the same inclination in six months’ time, you may propose again. ”
“No.”
“I beg your pardon, William. Don’t you approve of my magnanimity?”
“I do, Grandmama—except for the last part. My offer of marriage has already been made and accepted. I will not disengage myself, even to win your approval.”
“What if you change your mind?”
“I won’t.”
“I suppose there is no harm in allowing it to continue. In private, of course.”
“And leave me subject to my cousin’s attentions?”
The Duchess’s eyes flashed. “What’s that you say? Is that meddling aunt of yours trying to foist one of her odious daughters on you?”
William nodded. “Lady Louisa.”
His grandmother sniffed loudly. “Unacceptable. Once I’ve spread the word that Miss Lacey is my protégé, you may have your whirlwind romance and announce your betrothal. It wouldn’t do any harm to drop a hint in the Dowager Lady Harting’s ear even before then.”
William turned to face his parents, his eyebrows raised in question. “And then we can marry—with your blessing?”
His father rose and laid a hand on his shoulder. “You may wed Miss Lacey on your twenty-first birthday, but not a day before. I will not risk your future wife’s reputation because of your impatience.”
Though delighted Father had come around to seeing Kitty’s worth, it was not the answer he wanted. To a man in love, it would be a very long six months.
But having taken up his cause, his grandmother was not to be gainsaid.
“If that is your only concern, Harting, I see no reason to make them wait. A month will suffice. Society expects me to arrange a match for my grandson and won’t be surprised if he’s removed from the Marriage Mart before he reaches his majority.
Nor will they question the bride I choose for him.
With my sponsorship, Miss Lacey’s reputation is secure.
Come, Christopher. You and Alicia remember what it is like to be young and in love. ”
William stared at his father, waiting for a response. His heart leapt as he observed an exchange of glances between his parents and a widening smile on his mother’s face.
“Very well. It is up to you, Miss Lacey. Will you let the Duchess take you under her wing whilst my son courts you publicly and the banns are read?”
“I will.”
They were the most beautiful words Kitty could have spoken, foreshadowing the promises they would make at their wedding.
Charlotte rose from her chair. “Well, if that’s settled, perhaps the pair of you would like to hear the new duet Anthony and I have been practising.”
Not really, but as Kitty mumbled a positive response, they followed the musical duo upstairs and into the room where they normally practised.
His twin exchanged a glance with his friend. “I don’t think they’re interested in listening to our music, do you?”
“No.”
With that, Anthony left the room. Charlotte paused beside William, whispered in his ear, “Five minutes,” and then shut the door behind her.
He couldn’t believe it. His twin, whom he could have sworn didn’t have a romantic bone in her body, had engineered them some time alone together.
It was time he didn’t intend to waste. He wrapped his arms around Kitty and pulled her close.
“I love you, Kitty.”
His words were cut off by a kiss. “I love you too, William, but now is not the time for talking.”
She ran her fingers through his hair, which did nothing to calm his racing pulse. “I’ve been wanting to do that for a long time.”
He grinned at the audacity of his future bride and drew her flush against him as he lowered his mouth for another kiss. A kiss full of the promise of a lifetime of love together.