“Lord Manderbey,” Lady Winsome called out the window. “Our housekeeper is seeing about your clothes. They should be back with you shortly.”
Leland opened the sash to his own window and found Lady Winsome staring back at him. He pulled the sheet a little higher, lest shehave the same reaction to the sight as her sister.
“Lady Winsome,” he said. “I hope I did not disturb last night.”
“I did not find it disturbing, exactly,” she said, leaning on the window frame. “More interesting than anything else.”
It was clear enough that she heard at least some of what had transpired. “As to that, I seem to remember that I may have addressed your father in an inappropriate manner.”
To his surprise, Lady Winsome laughed. “Roland.”
“Yes, just so.”
“And then Rolly.”
“I do not know what came over me.”
“Laudanum came over you.”
He nodded, a bit distracted by how pretty Lady Winsome looked in the sunshine. The copper strands in her hair sparkled and then there were those freckles dusting her nose. She was dressed in a simple white muslin and looked springtime personified.
“I hope there was nothing else I said that might cause offense.”
“Well, let’s see,” Lady Winsome said, tapping her chin. “Oh, there was mention of brooking no complaints.”
Leland did remember that. He said he would wed Lady Winsome and would brook no complaints about it. She did not look offended, which must be a very good sign.
“Ah yes, I did say that. Perhaps when I retrieve my clothes, we might speak in the drawing room so I might say my piece on that subject. In private,” he added to make clear his meaning.
Lady Winsome gave him one of her pretty smiles. “This is private.”
It was true, it was private, the two rooms looking out the back of the house. Leland had not imagined proposing out of a window while he stood with only a sheet wrapped round him, but why not? There was nothing typical or usual about the duke’s household. There was nothing typical or usual about Lady Winsome.
He cleared his throat. “Lady Winsome Nicolet, would you do me the honor of marrying me despite all the problems that have been caused you by my relations? I cannot promise they will not cause trouble in future, but I can promise to hold you above all others, as I am rather stupidly in love with you and expect to remain so for the rest of my life.”
She leaned further out the window and smiled. “Yes, I say yes, and I care not for any trouble coming our way.”
She had accepted him. It would be the moment to reach for her and kiss her but she was too far away. They stretched out their hands but only managed to brush fingertips.
There was a knock on Leland’s door and a footman came in carrying his clothes. “My lord?” he said, clearly surprised to see him hanging out a window and talking to Lady Winsome.
He said, “I’m getting dressed.”
Lady Winsome said, “Hurry and I’ll meet you in the corridor.”
He ducked back in and grabbed his clothes. He did not suppose another sentence had ever exceeded that one—Hurry and I’ll meet you in the corridor.
*
It was done,he had said it. Winsome listened to the bangs and shufflings and Manderbey giving Thomas directions.
“My shirt!”
“Yes, my lord.”
“Where is my neckcloth?”
“Just here, my lord.”
