Chapter Five
Graham
Graham stared atthe gossip column that his new secretary, Wilms, had left for him on his desk that morning. It wasn’t hard to surmise that the post about “a certain new earl” and “a particular lady of impeccable breeding” discovered in “circumstances most compromising” at the Fletcher ball was about him and Diana.
He tossed the paper aside as just another reminder of how he’d failed them both. He had been weak. But the memory of Diana’s rain-dampened dress clinging to her curves, the way her breath had hitched when he’d leaned closer, sent heat flooding right back through him as if it were occurring all over again.
He hadn’t fully accepted it yet and probably wouldn’t until he stood at the altar in a week’s time and spoke his vows. If he could manage to keep his new brother-in-law from killing him before then. The meeting with Diana’s brother just an hour ago had been a special kind of torture.
But he had allocated that Diana’s entire dowry would be in her control. Thirty thousand pounds would certainly go a long way to help him out of his situation with Rothwell, but he wouldn’t take from her to do it.
Even still, Elias was still hostile, to put it mildly. He wouldn’t even allow Graham to see his betrothed until tomorrow.
If her brother was this incensed, he could only imagine how herfather was going to react when he arrived in town.
He should feel terrible, and he did. But when he allowed himself a brief moment to think about what it would be like to be married to Diana, it made his pulse quicken in ways that had nothing to do with nerves. What would she look like on their wedding night, with her golden hair loose around her shoulders and her body bare before him?
If that is what she wished. If she had no interest in intimacy in their marriage. That would be torturous, but he’d honor her wishes. Besides he was being nothing more than a cad for thinking about such things when there were far more pressing matters.
His correspondence, for starters. He had to write to his mother and to John about this turn of events and he wasn’t certain how to explain it without sounding like a complete fool. He’d just sent letters not a week ago informing them of the inheritance after he’d been hauled to London. And his mother might suffer apoplexy when she found out about his upcoming wedding. If he had the time to go speak with her directly, he would.
But he already had more on his plate than he knew how to manage, even with the secretary and valet that he employed with funds that needed to be saved to pay Rothwell. But a man could only handle so much on his own, and he needed to keep up appearances.
Graham moved to the writing desk in what had been his cousin’s study, still unable to think of any of this as truly his. He pulled out a sheet of crisp parchment, letting his pen hover over the page for a long moment before he began.
Mother,
Please take a deep breath as you read this. I must share news that will come as quite the surprise, though I pray you will find it welcome. I am to be married within the week to Lady Diana Armstrong, eldest daughter of the Earl of Snowdon.
I know this is sudden, and I regret that circumstances prevent me from explaining the situation in person. The attachment formed quiteunexpectedly, but I expect you will be quite fond of my betrothed.
I understand your reluctance to travel to London, but I do hope you might reconsider attending the wedding.
Your devoted son,
Graham
He sealed the letter with more force than necessary, splattering the wax. The truth was far more complicated than he could commit to paper. How could he explain that he’d lost himself in a passionate kiss with a woman he’d just met, been caught in a compromising position, and was now bound to marry her? His mother would think he’d taken after his father.
Though perhaps he had. Because now that he’d kissed her once, he knew it would never be enough, and the desire he had for her was only growing. The taste of Diana’s lips was all he could think about when he’d laid down to sleep last night.
Then there was the way she’d looked at him, as if she truly saw him rather than the title that never should have been his. The way her mind worked, quick and sharp. He found himself wondering what she thought about everything, what made her laugh, what books she preferred.
And then an idea came to him. Something that he knew would hold meaning to her. Something that he could do that might begin to make up for the situation he put them in.
He picked up his pen again and began his second letter.
John,
Hopefully you have the chance to read this before my mother, or I have little doubt she has already given you an earful on the matter.
I’m to be married to Lady Diana Armstrong within the week. I know this comes as a surprise, so please do your best to calm my mother.
This also means our arrangement regarding the horses mustcontinue exactly as we discussed. I’ll be establishing my household here in London for the immediate future while I sort through the demands of the title and a new bride.
I have one urgent request of you. Please send Luna to London immediately after you receive this. Have her brought by our most trusted groom, as she’ll be a gift for my bride.
You will do well to continue on with the business.
