Chapter Fourteen #2
As the hour grew late, she and Gwenys retired to their quarters to prepare for the soiree.
Miranda had tried to remain cheerful for the sake of her niece, but the effort had worn her down. She was glad for a moment of privacy where she was able to let her true feelings out.
Her heart was broken. She had heard nothing from Solway all day.
Well, she would seek him out tomorrow if he did not show up at Berry’s party tonight.
Had she wounded his pride to the point he wanted nothing more to do with her? Would he ever forgive her?
Lottie, her personal maid, bustled in to assist her in dressing. “Which gown are ye going to wear, m’lady?”
Miranda had considered donning the blue silk, but at the last moment chose a bolder emerald silk that was the height of fashion and the newest of all her gowns.
She hoped it would make a striking impression and catch Solway’s eye—should he show up tonight.
The color was perfect for her, bringing out the softness of her dark-cinnamon curls and the brightness of her green eyes.
As it turned out, the effort was all a waste of time.
Solway did not attend Berry’s soiree.
Miranda tried to hide her dismay and simply enjoy the evening.
The company was quite pleasant, for most of the guests were longtime friends of theirs and not the sort to engage in ridicule or spread malicious gossip. She was ready to stand up for herself, and certainly for Gwenys, too. But there wasn’t a need.
However, this made her think of what Solway had told her.
He had remarked that she fought fiercely for Gwenys, and was capable of fighting for herself, except when it came to the Lawsons. They were the only ones who still held the power to wound her. Why did she allow them to hold this over her?
Well, it was something that required more thought. But not this evening.
Her good friend and neighbor, Gwendolyn Carstairs, brought over a gentleman she wanted Miranda to meet. He turned out to be the Marquess of Milbury, an amiable and charming man who was about the same age as Solway and presently in search of a wife.
“I have volunteered to help Milbury find his perfect mate,” Gwendolyn said, obviously pleased by this new project.
But…
Oh dear. Gwendolyn wasn’t thinking to match Miranda with him, was she?
Miranda realized she would have to find a moment to take her friend aside and advise her to change her plans. If she were to marry anyone, it would be Solway.
Goodness, her heart ached for him. Why wasn’t he here?
“My sons, to my dismay,” Milbury said, regaining her attention, “wrote to Miss Carstairs about me.”
Gwendolyn laughed softly. “Apparently, the boys somehow got the impression from our dear Fiona that I had matchmaking abilities, and they sent me the loveliest letter. Lord Milbury, did you know she used to be our neighbor here on Duchess Square?”
He nodded. “Yes, I’ve heard much about her time in residence here and the good friends she made.
I think I was able to recognize all of you without need for introductions because she spoke often and so fondly about all of you.
I was at her home with my boys when she told them about your matchmaking talents, Lady Gwendolyn. ”
“We adore her too,” Gwendolyn replied with a nod.
“I suppose I have done a bit of matchmaking in the past, but not for quite a while now. Your boys completely charmed me in the way they made you out to be quite desperate. Of course, they exaggerated in the hope I would take pity on you and help you out.”
“The letter was appalling,” Milbury said with a wincing smile at Miranda.
She cast him a sincere smile in return. “Oh dear.”
“They made me out to be pathetic and utterly incompetent,” he added with gentle humor. “I suppose I am when it comes to matters of a romantic nature. I shudder to think the impression you must have had of me, Lady Gwendolyn.”
“Oh, no,” Gwendolyn insisted, her eyes gleaming with mirth. “They were so sweet in describing you. I saw at once you were a kind and loving father. They obviously love you very much. And they gave me a list of their specific requirements in a mother.”
Miranda was intrigued. “What was on their list?”
Milbury groaned. “All sorts of nonsense.”
Gwendolyn shook her head with vehemence. “Not at all nonsense. Oh, they did mention some silly things, but they understood what was most important. They wanted a mother who would love them as if they were her own. The prospective candidate also had to truly love their father.”
“I think it is a lot to ask,” the marquess said.
“Not about my boys, for I would never consider a lady who did not take them into her heart. But as for me, I would not insist on a love match. I had such a marriage with my wife and would happily settle for someone kind and intelligent, someone who would be a good influence on my boys.”
Gwendolyn regarded the marquess thoughtfully. “No, your sons are right about this. I think any lady you choose must love you and the boys. You need someone who will be more than merely a governess for them. She must be a true wife to you, as well.”
He shrugged. “Well, this is not so important for me. I’ll be pleased if she cares for me, but I am most worried about my boys. They have had a difficult time of it since losing their mother. She was a wonderful woman and they miss her quite badly.”
“And you, Lord Milbury?” Miranda asked.
He nodded. “Yes, I still miss her very much.”
Miranda could see that he had a kind heart and would make a good husband for the fortunate lady he ultimately chose.
Gwendolyn was still eyeing her keenly. As a prospective match for Milbury?
Miranda blamed herself for giving the impression she was available. Yes, Gwendolyn must have thought she did not love Solway. After all, Gwendolyn had been there when she ran out of the parlor like a frightened squirrel instead of listening to her heart and accepting his offer of marriage.
An offer given in front of all her friends.
He had laid bare his heart and she had trampled on it. How could she have been so cruel as to humiliate him like that? And done it after he had valiantly saved Gwenys.
Miranda made an excuse to move off to chat with other friends before Gwendolyn got more ideas. Besides, was it not obvious that Gwendolyn herself was a better match for the marquess?
Their discussion served as a warning that she had better repair the damage she had done to Solway before it was too late.
She loved him. Why deny the obvious? It was time she found the courage to marry him.
Having made her momentous decision, Miranda now wanted to return home. But Gwenys appeared to be having a lovely time. It came as no surprise that the effervescent girl was surrounded by admirers.
Gwenys cheerfully held court, but Miranda saw that her niece’s eyes did not shine for any of the young men around her.
She was polite to all of them, of course. But none of them would ever hold her heart.
The night was nearing its end when there was a buzz around the room. Someone new had arrived.
At this late hour?
Could it be Solway? Miranda’s heart began to pound with anticipation.
“Laird Douglas Lanark,” Berry’s butler announced.
Miranda shook her head, certain she had heard wrong. How was it possible?
Gwenys leaped to her feet. “Douglas?”
Forgetting all the rules of etiquette ingrained in her over the years, she raced toward the man she loved and fell into his open arms.
Dear heaven.
These two.
Douglas let out a whoop as he scooped Gwenys in his arms and hugged her fiercely. “I missed ye so much,” he told Gwenys with aching sincerity.
She responded with tears and smiles.
“I love ye, Gwenys. My heart refused to beat without ye, my sweet lass.”
“Nor would mine beat without you by my side. But you are here now, and it is bursting with happiness.”
They shared a thoroughly compromising kiss.
Oh dear.
Miranda knew she ought to put a stop to this, but simply could not bring herself to interfere with their joy.
Unfortunately, this too-happy reunion would be reported in all the gossip rags tomorrow morning.
Berry came to her side. “Let them be. They are so obviously in love. I promise you, Miranda, true love always wins out.”
“I hope so. Gwenys is not yet of age to give her consent. You saw what her father and stepmother attempted to do to her yesterday. That spineless man is under his wife’s thumb and is not going to allow his daughter to marry the man she loves.
I know the horrible stepmother and that evil Lady Trowbridge are going to interfere. ”
Berry shook her head. “Her father can deny them until he is blue in the face. That young man is going to marry her, even if it means turning right around and racing up to Gretna Green.”
“I fear this is what they’ll be forced to do,” Miranda replied with a gloomy sigh.
Douglas, still maintaining an arm around Gwenys, now approached Miranda.
“I could no’ wait until the summer to see yer niece again.
I heard what Lady Berry just said. She’s right.
Gwenys is burned into my heart and I will no’ be deterred.
Out of courtesy, I intend to seek her father’s permission for her hand in marriage.
I’ll be calling on him first thing tomorrow morning. ”
Gwenys was beaming. “And Douglas will have his carriage ready for us to ride off to Scotland if he denies us. Aunt Miranda, you must come with us. I cannot marry without you by my side.”
Leave London? While her business with Solway was still unfinished? There was no chance he would leave his Parliament duties to ride north with them, so she had to talk to him tomorrow at the latest.
If she left with Gwenys and Douglas, would he lose hope and take up with someone else?
Lady Trowbridge was just the sort to pounce on him, offering herself up to him because the wicked woman knew how much it would hurt Miranda.
Under normal circumstances, Solway would have nothing to do with that woman.
But he was hurt, rebuffed, and no doubt licking his wounds over the callous way she had treated him yesterday.
“Please, please, Aunt Miranda,” Gwenys implored her. “You must come with us.”
Miranda could not bring herself to deny her niece. “Of course.”
Hopefully, she would turn out to be wrong about Lord Lowery and he would surprise them all by giving his consent. Then Gwenys and Douglas could marry right here in London. No mad dash north required, and the lovebirds happily wed within the week.
However, Miranda’s heart ached in the knowledge that she was about to lose Gwenys to this worthy man. Douglas would make her very happy, but it was still so hard for Miranda to let Gwenys go.
She would, of course. Her niece deserved this love marriage. Miranda was the stupid one who had built those massive walls around her heart out of fear. Why could she think clearly about others and not herself?
“Douglas, you had better bring Solway with you when you call upon Gwenys’s father. It will make matters easier if her father can be convinced to cooperate.”
Douglas’s expression turned fierce. “Aye, I’ll bring him along. I’ll bring the entire Lanark clan along with me, if I must. But I’ll be wedding Gwenys before the week is out, whether in England or Scotland, and no one is going to stop me.”
Berry’s husband ordered champagne served in celebration and offered a toast to the happy couple. “True love always wins out,” he said, repeating Berry’s earlier words.
Well, Berry and Gideon certainly believed it. So did Gwenys and Douglas, if their besotted expressions were any indication.
Did this mean there was still a chance for her and Solway?
Where was he? Why hadn’t he come to the party with Douglas?