CHAPTER 19
Philip hated that his manor was overrun with strangers and well-wishers.
Apparently, he was supposed to be glad of it, but all he could think about wasafterthe wedding, when his home and his bride’s attention would return to him, and no one would be around to interrupt.
Aside from their moment in the gallery this afternoon, he had barely seen Selina, her time monopolized by his sister and his grandmother and final arrangements for this hastily thrown-together ball. Still, at least it raised the anticipation for when they might steal a moment alone together again.
“An excellent occasion, Your Grace!” someone said as he weaved through the crowd of merrymakers.
He had been trying to make it to the refreshment room to fetch himself a glass of something strong for half an hour. Everystep forward he made resulted in some interruption or another, putting him behind again.
“Quite the tremendous ball,” someone else joined in. “You must be overjoyed.”
“We were surprised to hear that you were going to take a wife,” a white-haired woman interjected. “I had hoped that you might meet my daughter. She is a charming young lady, and?—”
“If you will excuse me,” Philip interrupted. “I see my grandmother waving for me.”
He had used the same excuse at least six times by now. Eventually, someone would realize that his grandmother was having a marvelous time with some acquaintances of hers at the far side of the ballroom.
Pressing on through the throng, he was somewhat gladdened to hear that everyone was in fine spirits, happy to celebrate the upcoming nuptials. Given how it had all begun, he had not been sure how the news would be received.
“Ah, there you are!” A hand clapped him on the back.
Philip’s eye twitched in annoyance. He twisted around to find John Sinclair, the Duke of Barlow, standing there with a broad grin on his face.
“Yes, here I am,” he replied dryly. “Was there a matter you wished to discuss?”
John beckoned for him to follow. “Just a moment of your time.”
“Very well,” Philip grumbled, and went after his future father-in-law.
They came to a low dais, just beside the orchestra. Selina’s brother was there already, a spare glass of champagne in his hand. He passed it to Philip, who had to hold himself back from downing the entire thing.
“What is the meaning of this?” Philip asked.
Rather than answer, John got up on the stage and signaled to the orchestra. Although they were in the middle of a cheerful tune, they stopped abruptly.
The crowd in the ballroom turned toward the strange, sudden absence of music. Seeing John standing there with his glass raised, relief and excitement washed over the guests, eager chatter replacing the lively tune.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” John began as Philip reluctantly got up on the stage beside him. “It is my honor to welcome you to Ashbrook Manor to celebrate this auspicious occasion. Indeed, I am grateful to the Duke of Ashbrook for ensuring that the union receives the festivity it deserves!”
A cheer went up from the crowd.
“I know it might come as a surprise to many of you that mydaughter is marrying the Duke of Ashbrook,” John continued with a wry smile, “but it should not be a surprise at all. What better way is there to end a feud than to join families? I, for one, welcome this new era of felicity and peace.”
Philip smiled tightly and raised his glass in agreement. After all, the feud had never been his. He did not even know what had caused it. Still, whatever it was, it seemed that John was well and truly over it.
“To my daughter and the Duke!” John said proudly.
“To your daughter and the Duke!” the crowd chorused back, sipping their drinks to end the toast.
Philip suspected that Selinaprobablyshould have been part of the speech, but she was nowhere to be found. He had looked. The only thing that assured him that she was not hiding in her rooms was the fact that Lizzy and Melody were also absent, as was her mother.
It takes a lady time to prepare for her engagement ball.
To him, she could have come down in her nightdress, and he would have been delighted. He might have preferred it. But thiswasher night; she could take as long to get ready as she liked.
As the applause and cheers faded back into conversation and the orchestra began playing again, Philip moved to the edge of the dais.
