Page 71 of The Lady’s No Angel

The dowager duchess gave a little chuckle. “Yes, and show them how splendidly you’ve done for yourself, too. Oh, don’t look so appalled, it’s just what I should do. That settles it, then, and the earliest you can think of is June, you know. Any sooner before that and people will think you’re hiding, as no one will come until the season is over, or nearly at least. You don’t want it to look like some hole in the wall affair now, do you, Hartwell?”

“Well, n-no,” Hart began, remembering why he always found the Dowager Duchess of Hawkney rather exhausting company.

“June it is, then,” his grandmother agreed with a nod, as if it was all settled. “And in Little Valentine. It’s been an age since I was at Hatherley Hall. Might we stay with you for the happy event, Maria?”

“Of course, of course,” the dowager said, looking utterly delighted by the notion. “And you know, our quaint little town is all the crack these days. We might even find husbands for Hetty and Cilly if you stay for the summer.”

“Oh, now, Grandmama!” Hart protested, but his sisters had erupted with excitement at the idea, and everyone began talking at once.

He sighed, shaking his head. Foolish of him to think he might have any say in his wedding plans. At least he’d got to choose his bride, though. He didn’t much care about the rest.

Angel glanced at him and smiled. “I think we’ve been managed,” she said quietly.

Hart shrugged. “Think yourself lucky. Grandmama has another crony, you know. When the three of them are together, it’s quite terrifying. No man is safe, or woman.”

“I quite like the idea of a June wedding,” she said, her cheeks colouring a little as she spoke. “Though if you’d rather we marry somewhere else, or at some other time, I really don’t mind.”

Hart reached out and took her hand, twining their fingers together as the rest of the company were too busy chattering about their own plans. “It seems a blasted long way off to me,” he grumbled, but lifted her fingers to his lips, holding her gaze. “But then I don’t wish to wait five minutes, let alone months, and I’d marry you on the moon so long as the job got done.”

Her breath caught, her gaze falling to his mouth and Hart remembered the night in his room, when he had kissed her and undone her corsets, and—

“If you’ve quite finished making love to your betrothed, Hartwell,” his grandmama said, her voice clipped, though laughter shone in her eyes.

“I hadn’t, actually,” Hart replied tersely, which made the dowager give a cackle of laughter.

Grandmama tsked and gave him a stern glance that suggested he mind his manners. “Well, anyway. Tell us where you will live. Have you thought about it?”

The conversation drifted then, from suggestions of where they would live, to where they might honeymoon, and reminiscences from the old ladies about their own days as newlyweds. Since neither of them had especially fond memories, the stories were acerbic, witty, and dreadful, and painted their husbands as ignorant fools who had no idea of the kind of women they’d married.

The dowager was just beginning a story which Hart had heard before and knew was not suitable for his sisters’ ears, when he was saved from having to intervene by Norbury.

The butler, looking even more disgusted than usual, addressed his grandmother.

“Your grace, there are two… persons… here, requesting to see Miss Everdene.”

Angel gasped beside him, reaching out and clutching his hand. “Oh, Leo!”

Grandmama, realising at once that Angel was on tenterhooks to see who it was, turned to Norbury.

“Well, don’t just stand there, man. Bring them directly to us.”

Norbury goggled at the very idea. “B-But, your grace. They look to be little more than beggars, dirty and—”

“At once, Norbury,” she said crossly. “Pray do not make me repeat myself, it is very tiresome.”

Norbury blanched and gave a taut nod. “Madam.”

Hurrying out, he closed the door behind him.

“He is the most tedious fellow,” she complained to Hart, shaking her head.

Hart turned back to Angel, who was sitting on the very edge of her seat, as though she might fly away at any moment. It was several minutes before the door opened again, and Norbury appeared, looking as though he might give notice. Hart could only hope.

But then two terrified, wide-eyed and bedraggled creatures ventured into the room, glancing about them in awe and clutching something remarkably heavy wrapped in a cloth sack.

“Milly!” Angel cried and leapt to her feet as Milly gave a choked sob.

“Oh, m-miss!”