“He said it himself in the carriage. He is here to propose.”
“He is?”
“He is dutiful like that, Alice. He is the most dutiful man I have ever met. He kissed you in front of half of London, and now, he is in your father’s study, and there is only one possible outcome.”
Alice stared at her. “Oh no.”
“Alice.”
“No. No, no, no.”
“Alice.”
“We must stop him.”
CHAPTER 6
Lord Westbury’s study smelled of pipe smoke.
Cassian had been there for perhaps four minutes, and Lord Westbury had not yet spoken, so he had taken the time to look around.
Heavy oak furniture. Hunting prints. A decanter of Madeira on the sideboard, three-quarters full. A clock on the mantel that ticked too loudly. A Turkish carpet going slightly bare where Lord Westbury’s right foot would land when he rose from the desk in irritation which he evidently did often.
Lord Westbury rose now. He gestured to one of the leather chairs in front of the fire, made his way to the sideboard, picked up the decanter, and poured two small glasses of Madeira without asking whether Cassian wanted one.
“Your Grace.” He handed Cassian the glass. “Please, take a seat.”
“Thank you, My Lord.”
“I should very much like an explanation.”
Cassian sat and folded his hands in his lap. He looked at Lord Westbury, who had returned to his side of the desk and was leaning one hip against the corner, and he understood that the man was setting the room.
He could let him think he had the upper hand. He had kissed the man’s daughter, after all. He would not be so ungenerous as to remind his future father-in-law that he outranked him in his own study.
“There is very little to explain, My Lord,” he said. “I kissed your daughter. I am here to ask for her hand in marriage.”
Lord Westbury blinked. “That is the explanation?”
“That is the explanation.”
“Your Grace, I had thought?—”
“You had thought a great deal more would be forthcoming. I am sorry to disappoint you. Lady Alice was, by my fault, placed in an extraordinarily compromising position last night. She has done nothing to deserve the consequence, and I will not let her bear it. I shall bear it instead by the most direct means available to me which is to make her my Duchess. The license can be procured within the week. The banns can be read within themonth. I shall, of course, defer to your preferences regarding the wedding, but I should very much like to have the matter formally settled this morning.”
He picked up his drink and took a sip.
Lord Westbury watched him for a long moment. Cassian had been on the receiving end of such moments many times since he had inherited his title, and he had learned to wait them out. He looked with mild interest at the painting above the mantel which was a hunting scene of indifferent quality.
“Your Grace,” Lord Westbury said at last.
“My Lord,” Cassian returned. “As I said, I would like to ask for your daughter’s hand in marriage.”
“I imagine you would, Your Grace. Especially after last night.”
“Plainly.”
“Plainly, Your Grace. I am a plain man.”
