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Seth reached over and patted her on the arm, pronouncing, “You are a right ‘un for all your frills and quiet, a right ‘un, and if Fenmore doesn’t propose to you, I think I will!”
She blushed and slapped at the young duke, “You will not, you horrid tease … now stop it.” She turned toward Taffy, who moved on the sofa and found it brought her some discomfort and winced again.
“Oh Taff, what you need is a hot bath. Come along, let me take you upstairs, and we’ll have hot water brought up.”
Taffy sighed. “Yes, I think if I am to feel better by tonight, I must do something.”
Nigel and Seth were silent before they regarded one another under Taffy’s watchful gaze. “We need to find out a bit more…” Nigel said.
“How?” answered Seth.
“Tarrant,” they both answered at once and then grinned to see Taffy shake her head.
~*~
The music was low and sweet. The night air was cool and inviting. Lady White’s soiree buzzed with the inevitable squeeze, and Taffeta wore Tarrant’s posy with delicious pride.
He had remembered, even though he had implied he had serious matters that needed attention, to send round a posy for her with a note that said simply, “I am yours … Thurston.”
She felt as though she could walk on air, and then she was dancing on his arm. A cotillion, and then a waltz, and he seemed determined not to leave her side. She saw astonished dowagers looking their way and hiding behind their fans as they gossiped. She giggled to herself and then out loud. To Tarrant she said, “Well, you certainly are causing quite a bit of commotion.”
“Am I? Well, as to that, there will be even more of one when they read the paper in a few days and see the banns have been posted.”
“Banns?” Taffy looked straight up into his eyes.
“I have already received permission from your aunt and brother. It leaves only you to seal my fate,” he answered quietly.
“Thurston Tarrant … are you picking up the cap I said I wouldn’t throw your way?” She scarcely got the words out.
“I am.” He took her gloved fingers and held fast. “Shall I take you outdoors and get on one knee, sunbeam?”
“No … ask me here, ask me now!” she demanded, joy taking over her senses.
“Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife and making me delirious all the rest of my days?”
“Oh, I can do that…” she said and gave him a long, exquisite, and low bow.
He roared, “Of all the ways I imagined you might accept my proposal, sweet life, I did not expect a bow!” He pulled her up and hugged her fiercely to the shocked glances of many.
Then grabbing her hand, he led her to the musicians, whispered in the lead musician’s ear, and slipped him a few coins.
A moment later, the man announced, “A waltz to celebrate the engagement of Lord Thurston Tarrant to the Lady Taffeta of Grantham.”
A gasp, and then a round of applause and as friends and acquaintances alike began to surround them. The music began, and Tarrant led his future bride onto the floor.
~*~
Bruton’s jaw dropped as he listened to the engagement announcement. He couldn’t believe his ears. He knew Tarrant was interested in Lady Taffeta, but it had never occurred to him his rival would propose to her.
Damn the man’s soul! Did he think he would get away with this? Well, he wouldn’t. He would still snatch the prize out from under him. He frowned over his new problem. Why had Tarrant done this? Tarrant didn’t need her money—he had a fortune of his own.
Bloody Hell! Damn the little vixen for her betrayal. No doubt she had used him to get the Hotspur jealous and bring him to this point. Well, he would teach her a lesson. No one would use him and get away with it.
There was only one way to handle the situation to make it right for himself. There would be scandal, but what did he care for scandal, and it was no more than what she deserved for her perfidy. If Tarrant thought he could steal his gilded calf, the only way out of his debts, well, he was wrong.
One way or another, he would have Lady Taffeta for his wife and her money to stave off debtor’s prison.
He knew he was down to his last sou. He was a desperate man, and he knew it, knew what he had to do, and he had no intention of hesitating. What he had in his favor was no one knew just how very desperate he was.
