Octavia grinned, revealing a crooked smile. “It’s a wonderful day. Your mama would be overjoyed that you finally found a handsome gentleman of your own.”
Gwen thought about what her mama would say if she were here. She would have been impressed with Lord Abbott’s knowledge of Manilius and Shakespeare, but she would have had questions about his presence at the Smythe ball.
Questions that Gwen should ask, but of whom?
Would Lord Abbott tell her the truth about his presence, and his appearance at her side under the pale light of the celestial bodies above, if she were to pose them to him?
She might be betrothed, but she knew not her distinguished groom.
It seemed unbearably rude to question him about his attendance at the ball after the monumental steps he was taking to protect her reputation in polite society.
What was she to do—blatantly accuse him of illicitly entering their home as if he were unwelcome? He wascertainly higher in stature than the Smythes, so it seemed wrong to inadvertently imply some sort of wrongdoing.
Gwen wished there was a way to get to the bottom of it. To understand why he had been at the ball, and what had made him say those romantic things in the study when he had persuaded her to proceed with the nuptials.
Octavia chose that moment to interrupt her musings with a blissful sigh. “Just think, I’m to attend a future viscountess!”
Gwen huffed in laughter, her friend’s naked ambition pushing all concerns from her mind as she buried her head into Octavia’s bony shoulder and thought about what it would be like to have access to the huge libraries of the Moreland estates. Lord Abbott had even promised a trip to Italy if she desired.
“What have you done?”
His mother’s wail was earsplitting. To be fair, Lady Moreland had been asked once again to contend with a family scandal. Just the month before, Lily had been compromised by providing an alibi to his brother-in-law; now Aidan had compromised a young lady in his bid to protect Lily. It was a bad time for Christiana Abbott.
Hugh Abbott quickly rose to sit by his wife, placing a comforting arm about her. “Calm yourself, Christiana. It will all work out.”
“What has happened to our children? Did I fail to raise them correctly? Two scandals in a month!” His mother dropped her face into her hands and openly wept.
Aidan winced. Perhaps he should have spoken to his father first, instead of surprising both of them simultaneously.
“I apologize, Mother. I have taken steps to make the matter right.”
His mother raised her head, her chocolate brown eyes wet with tears, to howl in response. “How?”
Aidan stared back at her, speechless and unwilling to upset her further.
His father glanced over at him and sighed, evidently guessing what the rest of Aidan’s news was to be. “Aidan has done the right thing. The honorable thing.”
Lady Moreland swung her head to peer at her husband in confusion, who narrowed his eyes in thought before elucidating what Aidan was about to inform them of. “If all goes well, Aidan will provide another heir to the Moreland title in the near future.”
Aidan blinked. Had his father just swung the prior night’s events into good news?
His mother’s face gradually cleared up as she contemplated her husband’s words. “Aidan is to wed?”
Lord Moreland nodded, reaching up with his handkerchief to gently dab his wife’s eyes dry, wiping away the salty evidence of her distress. “And then he will have babes. Sons and daughters. Our grandchildren.”
Thoughts flitted across Lady Moreland’s face as she digested this notion. “I should have the servants visit the attics to bring me Aidan’s and Lily’s baby things.”
Lord Moreland nodded. “An inventory should be taken immediately.”
She rose with an expression of interest. “I shall see to it right away.”
Lord Moreland and Aidan watched her sweep out of the room in a swirl of skirts before turning to stare at each other. “Your mother has suffered great anguish. First Lily was compromised, then some of our acquaintances snubbed yourmother and canceled invitations. Then Lily was almost …” Lord Moreland waved his hands in the air.
“I am so sorry for what has happened. I should have spoken to you alone before involving Mother.”
Lord Moreland sighed, leaning back to stretch his long legs out and gaze at Aidan. “And what exactly has happened? What were you doing at the Smythe ball? I was not aware you wished to find a bride.”
Aidan broke eye contact. “I was … searching …” he mumbled.
