Page 45 of A Wicked Business

“It’s my fault,” she said, rushing to her charge’s defence. “I beg your pardon, my lord. I’m so—”

Ashburton held up a hand to silence her. “Do not disturb yourself. We both know much of her worst behaviour is because of my spoiling her. You do an admirable job. Come, sit down and take a moment to celebrate with us.”

“Oh, no, my lord. That is quite inappropriate and—”

“And I will decide what is appropriate in my own home, I thank you,” he told her firmly, getting a glare of exasperation in return. “Do not fret. I will take full responsibility if Tilly burns the house down in your absence.”

Mrs Harris gave a reluctant laugh and gave in, and Ashburton smiled in response, wondering why he had invited her to join them, for his friend’s engagement was certainly not her affair. Noticing his regard, she stiffened, her spine becoming ramrod straight, her expression settling into one of polite indifference. Ah, a return to form, he thought ruefully, wondering if she would ever thaw towards him, and more importantly, why it mattered.

5th August 1850, Montagu House, St James’s, London.

Belinda stared at Felix, suddenly feeling rather daunted. She had exactly what she’d wanted, but that hardly solved all their problems.

“What now?” she asked.

Felix snorted. “Damned if I know. You’ve been running the show so far. What did you have in mind?”

Belinda hesitated. “Eloping to Gretna Green,” she said apologetically.

“No.” His voice was firm. “Absolutely not. There must be a better way.”

“My lady is of age,” Doris said, apparently having no notion they were engaged in a private conversation. “With a common licence you can marry in seven days. You need only make sure the vicar doesn’t go to your pa and let the cat out of the bag.”

“Seven days?” Felix looked a little pale at the notion his bachelor days would be over so suddenly.

Belinda wondered if he really wanted to marry her, or it was more that he was a dog with a bone and only wanted no one else to have her. She prayed that was not it, but they needed time, time enough to discover if these maddening feelings which had erupted between them were really the basis of something true and lasting.

Doris shrugged. “Well, the licence lasts three months, but you’d have to wait a minimum of seven days.”

“Yes, but Papa has some scheme and intends to announce my betrothal on the twelfth,” Belinda reminded them. Not that it was likely Felix had forgotten what was driving this headlong dash into a relationship which was going to cause the most appalling ructions. “He’s obviously got someone in mind to replace Ashburton, no matter what I might think of them.”

“I believe I may be able to help.”

Everyone turned to look at Ashburton, who smiled. “Well, I feel so invested in the outcome now, having played my small part to perfection,” he said, lips quirking.

“I do beg your pardon, my lord,” Belinda said, belatedly realising she owed the poor man an apology. “You have been shockingly ill-used.”

Ashburton waved this away. Mercifully, he looked amused rather than annoyed by the outcome of his first engagement. “I will go to your father as arranged and tell him of our engagement,” he began.

“The devil you will!” Felix said, surging to his feet.

Ashburton sighed and shook his head. “Felix do listen to the rest before you make plans to call me out. We will allow Lady Belinda’s father to believe we are engaged, though one of my caveats will be that he not announce our betrothal until we feel ready. In the meantime, the two of you may take the time you obviously need to make certain you are not making a horrible mistake. If you’re not, you’ll marry when you are ready—within the three-month window. If, however, you change your minds, Lady Belinda and I will proceed to the altar as planned.”

“Oh, that’s a marvellous idea,” Belinda said, gazing at Ashburton with admiration. “Well done, my lord.”

She glanced at Felix to discover he looked less pleased with the arrangement and smiled. “I won’t change my mind,” she whispered. “It only gives you the chance to cry off.”

Felix snorted. “We’ll see,” he said with a laugh that held a touch of uncertainty.

That laugh made her wonder if he was quite as arrogantly confident as the world seemed to believe. With hindsight, she realised that being Gabriel Knights only son must be quite a burden. He obviously admired his father and wished to emulate him, and she wondered how much the weight of that responsibility drove him.

“You can meet here, if you wish,” Ashburton offered, apparently warming to the idea. “If you’ll forgive me for saying so, Lady Belinda, I’ve never liked your father, and I should be pleased to help you thwart the plans he has for your future.”

Belinda stared at him in wonder. He was really not quite so cold and unfeeling as she had always thought. “I don’t know how to thank you,” she said, and then glanced at the governess, who was doing her utmost to appear unobtrusive. She looked from the woman to Ashburton, who smiled.

“You may put your confidence in Mrs Harris. She is the soul of discretion and may be trusted absolutely.”

Mrs Harris gave her employer a slightly startled look, as if surprised by such praise, but Belinda nodded, reassured. She turned back to Felix.