“Yours is a difficult choice, and, although I know what I would choose, I am making the effort not to speak for you. Despite such, you must understand, you cannot warn Caroline Moreau of our plans nor can you provide her your protection when the time arrives for the English government to move against her and Moreau.”
“Are you confidentyou wish to do this, boy?” Duncan asked when they stepped down before the Lyon’s Den on Sunday evening. Alexander had spent the day watching Amgen House, and now he was doing what was necessary to set his life on the road he had always envisioned for himself, as well as taking another step in securing both Annalise’s and Theodora’s futures. Surprisingly, it had not taken much persuasion to convince Duncan to join him in this endeavor. “Mrs. Dove-Lyon prefers her own terms in these agreements. The lady will ask something embarrassing, at a minimum, or it could even be dangerous. There are those who have been asked to swallow poisonous liquids and eat their own waste or something even more bizarre. I would not have you place your life in danger, and neither would Theodora. Assuredly, my daughter will accept you without your responding to Mrs. Dove-Lyon. I will pay Theodora’s fees, and we will return home so you might do the deed properly.”
“But Theodora will think I have proposed simply because I am worried for her,” Alexander argued.
“You are not, are you?” Duncan asked in sudden concern.
“I am not. I truly hold Dora in affection. Will I choose to wait to marry until I bring Annalise under my protection? I will, and I hope you will consider my doing so to be a necessity. I do not believe any of this will be easy, but I see no other means.”
Duncan clapped his shoulder. “Then let us be about it.”
“Good evening, my lords,” Titan said as they approached the gentlemen’s entrance.
“Good evening, Titan,” Duncan responded. “I hope it is possible to speak to Mrs. Dove-Lyon this evening. We have updates to share regarding the matter we discussed previously, and Lord Marksman, here, wishes to speak to your mistress on a personal matter.”
“The mistress is quite busy this evening, but I will ask her for an available meeting time,” Titan responded dutifully.
“We will be in the gentlemen’s smoking lounge,” Duncan said with gratitude.
When they entered, Mr. Jeudy asked with concern, “You are here for the young woman?” Mr. Arthur Jeudy was the second son of Lord Jeudy, a baron from Hampshire.
“No,” Alexander answered, but his curiosity had him asking, “Which young woman?”
“It does not matter,” Mr. Jeudy responded. “Just wondering if I must face you.”
“Gentlemen, if you are here at Mrs. Dove-Lyon’s invitation, join me for a look at the lady,” those in the smoking room were instructed by Titan.
Mr. Jeudy joined two other young lords, and a stream of gentlemen who followed the trio to the men’s gaming room. The other two men vying for the young woman, who Duncan did not recognize, along with Mr. Jeudy, were instructed to look up to the bay of windows that overlooked the room. There stood Mrs. Dove-Lyon with a dark-haired young woman, who stared down upon the three men hoping to claim her hand.
“She is frightened to the tips of her toes,” Duncan whispered.
Alexander and Duncan did not watch the rest of the spectacle. Rather, they returned to the smoking room to await Mrs. Dove-Lyon’s response, but they both swallowed their thoughts while the three men vying for the woman, includingMr. Jeudy, followed Titan to where some sort of contest was to occur. The winner evidently would have the right to claim the young woman’s hand.
Duncan continued to speak under his breath. “There is no means I could name that would permit Theodora’s nature to tolerate such theatrics. The circus nature of it would haunt my daughter forever.”
“I will not permit it to occur,” Alexander declared.
“Offer Mrs. Dove-Lyon whatever she asks,” Duncan whispered. “I will cover the fee,” he uttered in broken tones. “I should never have permitted Theodora to sink so low as to seek out this type of spectacle. My Elsbeth must be turning over in her grave with remorse.”
Before Alexander could respond, Titan bent to say, “It will likely be another hour before the mistress might speak to you. Might you care for a small meal? This room will become quite rowdy as the wager progresses.”
“Thank you, I appreciate your forethought,” Duncan said as he rose stiffly.
Alexander thought to reach for Duncan for his lordship appeared to have had someone remove the winds from his sails, but he knew Duncan would know great umbrage if he were portrayed as weak before all the men in the room. He caught up both drinks and followed his “father” from the room. It was in that most insignificant moment that Alexander knew exactly what he desired most in life. Family. He meant to have a father—a wife—a sister—and the hope of children.
The dining area was quieter than the last time they had eaten within, but they managed to avoid the conversation regarding Theodora throughout most of the meal. Afterwards, Alexander spoke of his recent conversations with Annalise and how he and his sister would pass information to each other. “We might be required to communicate through Beaufort and Lionel,” hecautioned. “I shan’t be able to speak to her while Honfleur brings everything together.”
Before Duncan could respond, Titan was again at their table. “Pardon, my lords. Mrs. Dove-Lyon is able to speak to you now. If you are finished with the meal, I will be honored to escort you.”
Duncan stood immediately, while Alexander signed for the meal. He caught up with Duncan just as the man and Titan reached the second flight of stairs. “I am glad to view your step is sturdier, sir,” Alexander said as he placed a hand on the small of Duncan’s back.
“No longer so out of breath,” Duncan said, “though my knees complain steadily.”
“After a certain age, do not all God’s children have weak knees?” Alexander teased.
“One’s age does not indicate sore knees,” Duncan argued. “I have witnessed you and all your brothers hobbling about, at one time or another. These knees are still strong enough to bounce my grandchildren upon and are able to bend easily when I am in prayer.”
“You have seen each of your sons through multiple injuries, and I pray someday to present you a grandchild or two or three to bounce at your leisure.” They stopped before Mrs. Dove-Lyon’s office, and that feeling of completeness—of no longer questioning his every move—arrived once more.
