Page 28 of The Dandy Lyon

“Little Geoffrey?”

“The baby.” Joanna’s face lit up with a glow of pride. “He’s just the sweetest child, Marcus. He hardly ever fusses. Or at least not when I hold him.”

“He was born after you returned to Longford?” Marcus could scarcely believe her brother would have left his wife so close to her lying in.

“Oh, no. He came early in August. On the Glorious Twelfth to be exact.” She laughed and squeezed his hand. “That is why Geoffrey arrived at the lodge so quickly. He never received Thomas’s letter informing him you were there. Two days after the baby was born, he set out on his horse, which was faster than the carriage, to fetch me home.”

Marcus nodded, sobered. “I’d wondered how he arrived in Scotland so quickly. But I am happy the child is well. And an heir. Lord Longford must be well pleased.”

“I suppose so.” Joanna shrugged. “I wouldn’t know.”

“But if you haven’t spoken to your brother, how did you persuade him to allow you to come to London?”

A sly smile crossed her lips. “I persuaded Mama. I told her I was so angry with Geoffrey that I no longer wished to reside at Longford. Which was true enough. But I told her I wished to come to Town for the Little Season to find a husband who would take me away from Longford and Geoffrey.” She settled back in her chair, stroking the backs of his hands. “So I have come to Town to find a husband—you.” Her smile reached from ear to ear. “How soon can we be married?”

Mrs. Dove-Lyon’s words rang in his ears. He and Joanna could leave for Scotland this evening and be in Gretna Green in less than a week if the weather held and he could pay for fast horses on the way up. The journey back could be taken at a more leisurely pace. Joanna was more than willing, and if they could evade pursuit for the first night and day, they likely would have no trouble.

Except there would be hell to pay when they returned and confessed all to Lord Longford. If he’d even give them an audience. More likely, neither he nor Joanna would ever see him again. Did Joanna realize that was what marriage to him meant? That the sacrifice would be greater than she ever expected?

“My dear.” He captured her hands and held them still. “There is nothing on this earth I would rather do than marry you and be your husband for the rest of our lives. But I cannot, as an honorable man, agree to take you away from your family in order to do so.”

“But Marcus, I don’t care—”

“One day, I suspect you will care.” He rubbed her hands, searching for words to make her understand. “Care very much if you cannot comfort your mother in her last hours. Sincerely regret that little Marcus will never be allowed to play with little Geoffrey.” He swallowed hard. “And in the end you will resent me for taking you away from the family you love.”

“I would never resent you.” She gripped his hands back. “I love you.”

“If you do, then let us try once more to change your brother’s mind.” God knew that sounded like the words of a mad man. “I love you enough that I do not wish to do anything as dishonorable as steal you away from your family. Give me time to devise a plan that will persuade him to have a change of heart.”

“A man cannot have a change of heart if he has no heart to change.” Joanna stood abruptly and Marcus bounded to his feet, fearing she would reject him as well. “But I give you leave to try. We are in Town for the next few weeks,” she gave him a no-nonsense look that chilled him, “but I hope you can come up with a plan sooner rather than later. Until you do, I will have to go about to entertainments and pretend to be looking for a husband when I already have my prospect secured.” Her determination would have been charming had her tone not been so frightening. “Do not force me to take matters into my own hands, Marcus.”

“I would never do that, my love.” He kissed her lips, the merest touch, then stepped away before his body and soul persuaded him otherwise. “Did you come in a carriage?”

“Yes, my maid is sitting in it around the corner. I told my mother we were going for a ride in the park. It was the fashionable hour, so no one should be the wiser.” Her eyes twinkled.

“And your maid and the coachman will be discreet?” Some servants could be trusted—or bribed with sufficient funds—to keep one’s whereabout a secret.

“Coates has been with me for years. And I’ve promised Jeter a small fortune to swear we’ve been at Hyde Park this afternoon.” Joanna gripped her reticule, the coins jingling merrily inside. “Will you see me out?”

Marcus glanced at her, then shook his head. “One precaution, if you will indulge me.” He stepped to the door and called for Snipe. “Fetch me the gray cloak I use in wet weather.” Turning back to Joanna, he grinned at her. “I wouldn’t wish for your reputation to be called into question if anyone saw you leaving a gentlemen’s club. I’ll live in fear someone saw you come in.”

“I waited until the street was deserted,” Joanna assured him. “And your butler seemed to understand no one inside should see me either. He all but pushed me inside this room and slammed the door.” She chuckled. “I almost expected to hear him turn the key in the lock.”

“Snipe is the soul of discretion. Ah, here he is now.” The butler handed the cloak to Marcus and shut the door with a snap. “This will disguise you completely.” He draped the large garment over her, pulling it this way and that until it covered every inch of her. It dragged the ground, and the voluminous sides swallowed Joanna until she scarcely had a shape, but that was the point. He pulled the hood up over her bonnet until she was merely a gray-shaped figure, less recognizable than Mrs. Dove-Lyon in her black veil. “I will walk you to your carriage and you will go straight home, do you understand?”

“Yes, Marcus.” She answered meekly enough, but before he could open the door she pulled him to her and kissed him long and thoroughly. Then she stepped back, adjusted the hood over her head, and nodded.

Without another word, Marcus took her arm and led her out of The Dandy, praying anyone who might see her would assume her simply another light skirt he’d had in for a bit of sport. He opened the carriage door and assisted her inside, then closed it and stepped back as the coachman started the team.

Marcus stood watching until the carriage was swallowed up in the late afternoon traffic and he turned his feet back toward The Dandy. Plans for his newest gaming venture would have to wait. He had perhaps a week before Joanna grew tired of waiting for his next scheme to win over her stubborn brother. And if Lady Joanna Longford grew impatient, she would likely take matters into her own hands.

And then God help them all.

Chapter Thirteen

Staring out the window all the way back to Longford House, Joanna tried to keep her sighs quiet, although she supposed Coates suspected this had been some romantic tryst. Her maid had always been the soul of discretion, however she’d never had to trust her with this sort of secret. Joanna could only pray the lady’s maid was as loyal as she believed her to be.

Putting that worry aside, her thoughts returned to Marcus and the glorious half-hour they’d just spent together. The long weeks since she’d last seen him had melted away as soon as she threw herself into his arms. Had she been truly bold, she would simply have refused to leave his club. One night spent there with Marcus and Geoffrey would have likely forced them to marry to save what little reputation would have been left to her. She would have embraced such a plan wholeheartedly, but Marcus would not have it, of that she was certain. That he was more careful of her reputation than she spoke volumes of his regard for her. She did wish, however, that he were less adamant about her retaining ties with her family. Had he not been such a stickler for saving that connection, they might even now be on their way to Gretna Green. So she must be patient, no matter how ill that sat with her.