Chapter Seven
Morning light filtered through the tall windows of Anthony's bedchamber at Blackwood House in London, pale gold breaking through the last remnants of yesterday's rain.
Outside, carriage wheels rattled over damp cobblestones while distant voices drifted upward from the street below.
London had already awakened and resumed its endless movement.
Anthony stood before the dressing mirror while his valet, Turner, adjusted the folds of his neckcloth with the solemn concentration of a man performing delicate surgery.
Turner had been with the Hawthorne family for nearly twenty years and possessed the unnerving ability to maintain complete composure regardless of circumstance.
Not once in those twenty years had Anthony witnessed surprise upon the man's face.
Not even after Anthony had returned from the war.
"Grey coat today, Your Grace?" Turner asked.
Anthony adjusted his cuffs absently. "Yes."
Turner nodded and continued his work, silence settling comfortably between them.
Anthony preferred silence. In silence, his mind began drifting elsewhere.
To golden hair beneath candlelight and blue eyes widening in astonishment. The way her lips had parted, just ever so slightly.
Anthony frowned at his own reflection.
He had to admit that he was surprised. He had not expected Lady Evangeline to accept his proposal with a directness nearly equal to his own.
Turner finished with the neckcloth and stepped back.
"There, Your Grace."
Anthony glanced briefly in the mirror. "Thank you."
Twenty minutes later, he descended the staircase toward breakfast and found Sebastian waiting in the morning room as though he had materialised solely to create difficulties.
Anthony stopped.
Sebastian looked up from the newspaper and smiled broadly. "Good morning."
Anthony stared. "Why are you here?"
Sebastian folded the newspaper neatly and reached for his coffee. "I thought we might breakfast together."
Sebastian gestured toward the table. "Sit."
Anthony considered turning around, but unfortunately he was hungry.
The breakfast table had already been laid with kidneys, eggs, toast, smoked fish, fruit, and coffee. Sunlight spilled across silver serving dishes while steam curled upward from the coffee pot.
Anthony sat reluctantly and Sebastian watched him with entirely too much interest.
"What?"
Sebastian smiled. "What happened?"
Anthony narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean?"
Sebastian leaned forward. "Anthony, you vanished from the ballroom looking as though you intended murder and returned looking..." He paused thoughtfully. "...different."
Anthony resumed buttering toast.
Sebastian took a leisurely sip of coffee. "Can you explain why I heard from Lady Frances this morning that the Duke of Blackwood intends to call upon Lady Evangeline Everly today?"
Anthony looked up slowly. "...Lady Frances?"
"Society moves quickly."
Anthony pinched the bridge of his nose and exhaled sharply.
"You found a prospective bride in a single evening," Sebastian congratulated. "I must say I am impressed. "
Anthony reached for coffee. "It is not as dramatic as you appear determined to make it." Sebastian looked unconvinced as Anthony met his gaze steadily. "It is a practical arrangement."
Sebastian nodded solemnly.
"I require a wife and she requires security."
"Mm."
"We have agreed that there will be no romantic element involved."
"And she has agreed to all this, Lady Evangeline?"
"She has," Anthony said. "It is a mutually beneficial situation."
Sebastian sat back in his chair and folded his arms across his chest. "And I suppose that you both do realise practical marriages have a rather irritating habit of becoming more complicated than intended?"
Anthony took a sip of coffee. "I won't allow that to happen."
Sebastian raised one brow. "Sometimes it's not a choice."
"In this case, it shall be."
Anthony returned to his breakfast. He had spent years carefully arranging his life the way he liked it, and he was determined that marriage would change very little.
Across from him, Sebastian watched him with unmistakable amusement.
"Lady Evangeline is very beautiful," he said. "I am sure you will be the envy of many men in the ton."
Anthony's knife paused briefly against his plate before he continued cutting his breakfast.
"She is not hard to look at," he agreed.
But in this case, beauty was irrelevant.
"Well," Sebastian said, getting up from his seat. "I will not keep you any longer, I know you are due at the Everlys. But join me for a drink tonight, to celebrate?"
"I do not think the matter requires celebration."
"Oh, come on, Anthony," Sebastian said, with a wink. "We always have a drink at the close of a business deal."
With that he turned to go, leaving Anthony alone in the morning room.
***
The journey to Everly House took considerably more time than Anthony would have preferred.
London moved around him beyond the carriage windows in its usual restless fashion.
Tradesmen rolled carts through crowded streets while ladies stepped from shops carrying parcels tied with ribbon.
Gentlemen on horseback passed at intervals, and fashionable carriages rattled toward Hyde Park beneath a sky washed pale blue after yesterday's rain.
Anthony paid very little attention to any of it.
Instead, he found himself reviewing the conversation he intended to have.
It was a straightforward matter and he saw little room for potential problems. Yet as Blackwood House's carriage turned into a quiet Mayfair street lined with elegant townhouses, he felt something distinctly unfamiliar settle in his chest: apprehension.
Moments later, his driver brought the carriage to a stop.
Anthony waited for the door to be opened before he climbed down from the carriage and handed his gloves to the footman.
He looked up at the Everly house. It was smaller than many neighbouring homes, though well cared for. Black iron railings framed the front steps, and flower boxes beneath the windows held early summer blooms just beginning to open.
He bent his head and set off towards the front door.
Within minutes he had surrendered hat and cane to a servant and was shown toward the drawing room.
The butler opened the door. "His Grace, the Duke of Blackwood."
Anthony entered.
Everyone had clearly been waiting. Lady Margaret sat upon a pale settee near the windows, elegant despite visible tension in her posture. Today she wore soft green silk, modest but carefully arranged, and she rose immediately at his entrance.
Evangeline sat beside her, and Anthony's attention moved toward her before he could stop it.
She wore pale yellow this morning. The colour caught warm gold in her hair where sunlight touched it, and though her expression remained calm, he noticed immediately that her hands were folded tightly in her lap.
Across from them sat Evangeline's sisters. Lady Rosalind sat upright and very clearly regarded him as one might regard an approaching storm cloud. Distrust radiated from her expression with admirable honesty.
Beside her sat the youngest one. Unlike her sister, she stared at him with unconcealed curiosity.
Lady Margaret smiled politely. "Your Grace."
Anthony bowed. "Lady Margaret."
Introductions followed and everyone resumed their seats.
"I appreciate your receiving me."
Lady Margaret inclined her head. "Of course."
Daphne looked at him thoughtfully. "You wear an extraordinary amount of black."
Rosalind looked horrified. "Daphne!"
"What?" she whispered.
Anthony looked down briefly at his coat and then back at her. "I own several alarming alternatives."
Daphne blinked.
"There is a dark grey coat I reserve for particularly cheerful occasions."
For a moment nobody spoke, and then Daphne laughed.
Rosalind stared as though witnessing a supernatural event, and even Evangeline looked startled before laughter escaped her too.
Lady Margaret smiled despite herself.
The room relaxed.
Daphne looked entirely delighted now. "I had been expecting you to speak exclusively in grim pronouncements."
Anthony raised an eyebrow. "I reserve those for afternoons."
Daphne laughed again, and Rosalind looked deeply betrayed.
Evangeline lowered her gaze, though Anthony noticed the smile still lingering near her mouth.
Anthony turned toward Lady Margaret, and his expression grew serious once more.
"I understand my purpose here requires directness."
Lady Margaret's smile faded. Anthony met her gaze steadily.
"I have come to ask permission to marry your daughter."
Though everyone had known why he had come, hearing the words aloud altered something in the room.
Lady Margaret looked toward Evangeline briefly before returning her attention to Anthony. "You move quickly, Your Grace."
"Yes."
"And your intentions toward my daughter?"
"My intention is to marry her," he replied. "I can provide Lady Evangeline with security, comfort, and every advantage appropriate to her position."
His gaze moved briefly toward Rosalind and Daphne. "I intend generous settlements for your family and dowries for your daughters."
Lady Margaret studied him carefully.
"And Evangeline herself?"
Anthony looked toward Evangeline then, and her eyes met his, before he looked back at Lady Margaret.
"She will be treated with consideration and respect."
Lady Margaret remained silent for several moments.
"Forgive me, Your Grace, but I must ask plainly." Anthony waited. "Can you make her happy?"
The question caught him unexpectedly. Anthony looked toward Evangeline again. For one brief moment uncertainty stirred, and then he answered with as much honesty as he could.
"I do not know," he said. "But I can promise that I will never intentionally cause her unhappiness."
Lady Margaret stared at him for a moment.
"Mother." Everyone looked toward Evangeline. "I accept his proposal willingly."
Lady Margaret looked at her daughter for a long moment, then finally back at Anthony. Slowly, she nodded. "Then you have my consent."
Daphne smiled immediately. "Oh, this is going to be interesting."
Rosalind stared. "Daphne."
"What?" she asked innocently.