CHAPTER SEVEN #3
Thankfully, Mrs. Dove-Lyon entered the room at that exact moment because he was suddenly at a loss for words after using the word love.
When he uttered “A bit of love,” Miss Windham’s eyes widened.
Feeling very vulnerable himself, Oliver didn’t know what to think, except that he believed he was already half in love with her.
Since he had seen her at Greenwich House, he hadn’t been able to get her lovely face out of his mind.
The memory made his heart speed up. What would happen when he got to know her even better?
It was something he was most anxiously awaiting.
“If you two have concluded your conversation, Puck will see you home now, Miss Windham. His Grace will speak with your uncle tomorrow, and you should be prepared for his visit during afternoon calling hours.”
She stood up from the settee. Oliver also rose. Before she could leave, he reached for her hand, raised it up, and gently pressed his lips to her fingers. His heart accelerated even faster. He let go of her hand and bowed. “Until tomorrow, Miss Windham. I will dream of you tonight.”
Miss Windham blushed a charming shade of pink. She curtsied and whispered, “Good night, Your Grace.”
After she left the room and the door closed again for privacy, Mrs. Dove-Lyon said, “Well, what do you think?”
When he had first stepped into the room and saw the beautiful young lady turn and look at him, his heart stopped.
Recognition was instant. How could he forget the auburn hair, curious green eyes, and lovely features that made up the most gorgeous and memorable face he’d ever encountered?
He’d pictured her face for the past fortnight.
It was also a face he thought he’d never see again.
No lady he’d ever met, though to be honest, they hadn’t actually met, had ever had such an impact on him.
It was as though they were destined to meet.
Learning that she was Greenwich’s niece had startled and pleased him.
And their treatment of her would not go unpunished.
Someday, when Greenwich needed something from him, and Oliver would make sure he did, he would refuse.
Nobody treated his future duchess like that, even if they didn’t know at the time that she was.
The way they’d kept their niece a prisoner in their home spoke volumes about their true selves.
Once they wed, and he was certain they would, he would protect her from them.
She would never have to see them again if she didn’t want to.
As to Mrs. Dove-Lyon’s question, he replied, “You have done well. I would wed her tomorrow if she agreed. However, I understand that she needs time. When I visited Greenwich House for tea, hoping to court the eldest daughter, Lady Emma, there was no mention of a niece living with them. That makes me believe they never planned to do right by her. Their own flesh and blood. I will never understand the inner workings of some people’s minds. ”
“I agree with you on that. As for the eldest daughter, Lady Emma, she brought Miss Windham to me. The two of them snuck out at night, hired a hack, and came to see me. That took bravery to another level. Lady Emma is a kind and loyal lady. I hope she makes a good match soon. She was willing to risk her reputation to help her cousin, and I admire her for it. She clearly doesn’t take after her parents. ”
Oliver snorted, “No. She doesn’t. She was most apologetic for her mother’s behavior at tea. Her younger sisters have their mother’s personality. Good luck to the gentlemen who marry them.”
“I must say I witnessed an instant connection and an attraction between you two. I have high hopes you will make a wonderful couple.” She looked at him, or at least he believed she did, and said, “Don’t disappoint me.”
“I will do everything I can to get Miss Windham to marry me.”
“See that you do. Which reminds me, if my clients do not marry at once, I require both of them to keep me posted on the progress of the courtship. For Miss Windham, a note every few days will suffice. For you, I expect you here in two nights with news.”
He stood and bowed, hoping she didn’t expect to hear any intimate details. “Thank you. I will be here.”
He didn’t stay to gamble. It was never his vice.
Before he left, though, he entered the main gambling hall and glanced around at all the players.
His eyes met Lord Greenwich’s, and the hairs on the back of his neck rose.
Greenwich nodded and went back to his cards.
How strange to think he was at the Lyon’s Den while they were discussing him, his wife, and his niece.
Having seen enough, he left, mumbled, “To White’s,” to his driver, and climbed into the carriage, waving off any help from his footman.
When he arrived at White’s, he ignored all the gentlemen inside the establishment and went to his favorite table and chair and ordered a brandy.
He had hoped Hudson would be there. He wanted to discuss Miss Windham and the dinner he hoped to convince him to hold.
After waiting a very long half hour with no sighting of Hudson, he left feeling the weight of a horse on his chest. He couldn’t explain why.
Tonight was a huge success. And now that he had met Miss Windham properly, he couldn’t imagine marrying anyone else.
Mrs. Dove-Lyon deserved a bonus. Still, something nagged at his mind.
The ride home in his carriage couldn’t end quickly enough.
And when it did, he practically threw his gloves and hat at his butler and ran up the stairs to his chambers, where he promptly prepared for bed with his valet’s help and then lay in his large bed with visions of Miss Phoebe Windham in his head.
Phoebe. He loved her name and couldn’t wait to call her his.
***
After Weston and Miss Windham left, Bessie approached the observation window, opened the curtains and watched the goings-on.
Her hunch was correct that Lord Greenwich was in attendance.
He gambled here several nights a week. Sometimes he was up, then down, but lately he’d been losing.
If he didn’t allow this match, she would use that to her advantage.
After her spies had dug into Miss Windham and her family, she uncovered the truth about her father and his gambling addiction.
By her recollection, he’d never visited her establishment, which was a relief.
She’d hate to think she’d had a hand in Miss Windham’s bad fortune.
What she did find out, and didn’t condone, was that Lord Greenwich had stopped paying his brother’s yearly income many years earlier.
The greedy blackguard had kept the income left to his brother in their father’s will, and let his brother’s wife and daughter live in squalor.
Whether his brother would’ve gambled the money away didn’t matter; what mattered was that he had contributed to their lack of funds, proper housing, food, and clothing.
Bessie wondered whether Miss Windham was entitled to the money withheld from her father.
She would be sure to look into it with her lawyer.
Miss Windham could very well be a wealthy young lady.
She hated it when people were swindled out of what they were due.
There was something else that bothered Bessie.
Why had Miss Windham’s mother’s family, the Marquess and Marchioness of Burton, not helped their daughter and granddaughter?
A little digging into them was in order.
But all in all, Bessie was pleased with tonight’s outcome.
She was happily surprised to learn that the duke and Miss Windham hadn’t exactly met but had seen each other, which was a win for her in making the match.
Her observation of the two of them on the settee together was hopeful.
Several times, Miss Windham blushed, and Bessie found her looking at him when she thought he wasn’t looking.
One time, she swore Miss Windham was going to touch him in comfort.
As for the duke, he appeared amused when he first laid eyes on her.
Then protective when he found out she was being held hostage inside Greenwich House.
She inhaled and exhaled with a smile. It was too soon to celebrate her matchmaking skills once again, but she believed she could hear wedding bells ringing in the distance.