Chapter Twenty
The next few days passed by in a numbing whirlwind as Ophelia threw herself into the art of finding out where and how to showcase her skills as matchmaker to the ton.
It turned out the best way to do that was via the papers and gossip sheets.
William used his influence to elicit connections with the same journalists that had once harmed his reputation to help build her own, and she was beyond grateful for his help.
Evidently, those that had defamed His Grace’s past were eager to make amends, especially with the latest member of the Sutherland family on the way.
They were each desperate to be the first to report on the new babe when the child made his or her debut into the world next spring.
Ophelia soaked up the knowledge. Although it did not erase the feelings she had for Lucas, her realization of what she was giving up for her business if he had ever had feelings for her, which evidently, he didn’t, did help to soften them a little.
The gorgeous bouquet of flowers and note Dolph had sent two days ago also lifted her spirits.
She looked forward to Diana’s wedding this afternoon, although she dreaded the journey there.
She had agreed to travel with Miss Grey and Lord Worthing to support their budding relationship, since Miss Grey’s mother still opposed any future match with the Viscount and had once again denied her an appropriate chaperone in an attempt to stop her daughter going with him.
How could Ophelia have refused Miss Grey’s sweet note of pleading?
She was playing matchmaker after all, and sacrifices had to be made to ensure the match’s success.
In this case, a sacrifice that now filled her with dread.
Seeing the man she cared for with another woman was a unique torture.
One she would evidently have to get used to.
The clock struck noon, and Ophelia ceased her work on the art she hoped to soon publish to spread word of her business.
She needed to dress and ready herself for the wedding happening in a few short hours.
Soon, they would need to travel over to Lord Worthing’s townhouse and then to St George’s, to ensure they arrived in ample time.
If they weren’t careful, they could miss the ceremony entirely.
Ophelia emerged from her chambers to meet Dolph moments after he arrived in the parlour. She paused at the sight of him standing and staring out the window in profile. She clutched her reticule and entered the room.
‘My, you are handsome, Lord Phoenix,’ she teased lightly, wishing she loved him instead of Lucas.
He turned to her and stilled, his gaze raking over her from the tips of her slippers to the bandeau upon her head.
‘I cannot hold a candle to you,’ he said, his voice husky.
He walked to her and pressed a kiss to her cheek, while sliding a hand along her waist. ‘And I will kiss you whenever you please,’ he whispered. ‘Just say the word, my lady.’
While her body didn’t react as it had to Lord Worthing’s touch, she couldn’t deny that being wanted and desired was nice, especially from a handsome man such as him. She was fond of him, and perhaps, in time, she could indeed bring herself to fall in love with him. ‘I will, my lord,’ she replied.
‘Call me Dolph, remember.’
She smiled. ‘As long as you call me Ophelia.’
‘Of course, Ophelia. Shall we?’ he inquired.
‘Yes. From what I hear, the weddings move with quite a flourish at St George’s.’
‘They do. We are a bit early, but I would rather be early than late. I know how important it is for Lucas to be there for Diana.’
‘I admire their friendship,’ she added.
‘I am quite envious of it,’ he replied. ‘As you know, Lucas pushed most of us away during the period of his recovery. I must ask her what her secret was to have been able to keep him close.’ He laughed and guided Ophelia through the foyer, helped her with her cloak and followed her out of the door to his carriage.
As they walked, Ophelia began to wonder the same.
Why had Lucas and Diana remained such good friends when others had fallen by the wayside, like Dolph?
It wasn’t long before they arrived at Barnett House.
They exited the carriage and were escorted into the parlour where Miss Grey greeted them both warmly.
After exchanging pleasantries about how they loved each other’s gowns and accessories, Dolph inquired about Lord Worthing’s whereabouts.
Miss Grey chuckled. ‘It seems he had some pressing business matter he needed to attend to in his study first.’ She dropped her voice, a slight blush easing across her cheeks.
‘I wondered if he might be nervous. This is the first wedding he has been to in some time, and I know he has been betrothed before but that it ended…unsuccessfully. Perhaps you could check on him, Miss Granger?’ she asked.
‘I do not wish to embarrass him by making such inquiries,’ she added.
‘Of course,’ Ophelia agreed although being alone with Lucas was the last thing she wished to do.
But, as this was part of her job as matchmaker, she had little choice.
She left the room and soon was outside the door of his study, which stood ajar.
Lord Worthing stood behind his bureau dripping wax on a letter before pressing it with a desk seal.
He added it to a stack of correspondence he appeared to have just completed.
She knocked on the door and stepped inside his study. ‘Miss Grey says you are attending to last-minute business?’ she asked.
He started, paused his work and then shoved the stack of letters to the side.
When he glanced up, his gaze lingered over her in a way that made her blood heat before he went back to the task at hand.
‘Just sending out some correspondence,’ he said and cleared his throat, continuing to look down as he shuffled papers into tidy stacks on his desk.
‘I need everything to be in order before I propose.’
Propose?
A chill skittered down her spine and she balked. ‘So soon?’ she uttered before she could hold the words at bay.
He stilled, met her gaze and looked puzzled. ‘Is that not the point to finding a match? Once you have it, you secure it?’
‘Yes, yes. Of course,’ she said, closing the door a touch before coming further into the room.
She approached his desk, setting her palms on it to steady herself, before she continued.
‘But you want to be sure, do you not? You have not known Miss Grey long. Marriage is forever.’ Her heart picked up speed.
‘Are you completely sure you do not want a love match, my lord?’
With me?
She was breathless waiting for the answer. His gaze dropped to her mouth and décolletage briefly before he looked away and cursed under his breath.
That ugly little voice of self-doubt reared its head.
You have no title. No prestigious lineage. You are not enough for him. You never will be.
He stared out the window, resting his hands on his waist. She stared at his back, willing him to turn and say what she hoped he would: that he cared for her.
That he did not truly want Miss Grey after all.
When he finally faced her again, his gaze was dark and angry, and that coldness from the other day had returned. He shook his head. ‘Let me remind you that I hired you to secure me a marriage of convenience, Miss Granger. This is what I want. Miss Grey is who I need.’
His words hurt with the sharpness of a blade, but she stood her ground even though she could say nothing to counter his words.
‘Fairy tales and happily ever afters are not for me, Miss Granger. Perhaps you should focus on your fantasy life with Dolph, instead.’
‘Lord Worthing, I—’ If only she could make him understand she could never love Dolph the same way.
‘Your job is done, Miss Granger. There is no need for us to meet again after Diana’s wedding. I believe we have finally come to the end of our…arrangement. I will have my solicitor send you the outstanding balance owed to you next week.’
Ophelia blinked back the tears that heated her eyes and squared her shoulders. ‘Of course, my lord.’ She turned and left him in his study. Her steps faltered as she entered the hallway, but she put on her best smile as she reached the parlour.
Dolph greeted her and took her hand. ‘Ready?’ he asked.
She swallowed her heartbreak and nodded. ‘Of course,’ she lied.
While she should have been overjoyed at the prospect of her first client securing his match, Ophelia was devastated.
Perhaps she had been wrong all this time.
Maybe she could and would miss what was intended for her if the obstacles to overcome were too great.
For while she was determined to have a love match for herself, the man she loved seemed equally determined to secure a marriage without it.