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He was pale under the tan—from anger, she had thought, but perhaps worry for her—and some colour came back at her words. ‘Were you going to say yes?’ he asked. ‘Would you have agreed to marry me if they had not come upon us?’
‘Yes,’ she said, trying to be honest. ‘Seeing you fighting for me made me realise how much I...how much I admire you. And then when you kissed me, I was certain.’
‘Thank heavens for that, because I do not think we have any choice now, short of igniting a scandal.’
‘You sound relieved,’ Laurel said, warmed by the ring of sincerity in his voice. Why she should doubt him when it was he who had been pressing for this engagement all along, she did not know, but there was no mistaking the fact that he welcomed it.
* * *
‘I am relieved.’ Giles looked down, but was frustrated in his attempt to see Laurel’s expression by the brim of her bonnet. ‘That is the usual emotion of a man who has been pressing his suit when he is accepted, I imagine.’
As he said it he experienced a qualm. Possibly relieved, although accurate in his case, was not the most tactful choice of words. Delighted, happy, even ecstatic might be expected. His brain was still fogged with fighting fury and the effects of that kiss. Laurel was not the only one it had affected.
‘And delighted and happy,’ he added, smiling as he said it, despite the pain as the bruises made themselves felt. It was something he had learned early with the diplomatic corps—if he smiled it put warmth and sincerity into his voice.
But this was not a matter of deceiving a possible enemy for an hour or so, a day or two, or ingratiating himself with someone whose influence would be beneficial for Britain. This was Laurel, the woman with whom he would spend
the rest of his life.
She might have been hurt, even killed.
He thought of those knives again, of the rank smell of the gang, of the brute anger and greed in their eyes. And he thought of her courage, her unflinching reaction, and felt a thrill of pride in her.
‘I am relieved,’ she confessed. ‘Relieved that we got out of there without it becoming any worse than it was—both with those men and with Lady Druitt and her cronies. Thank you for the way you dealt with the ladies.’
‘For what? I should not have been kissing you like that somewhere we might have been interrupted at any moment. As we were.’
By that coven of old crows, he thought bitterly, mixing his metaphors with a certain relish. He knew why he had kissed her perfectly well: he had slain the dragons for her and that kiss had been a claiming on the field of battle.
‘For keeping your temper and for snubbing them in the politest manner. “My father the Marquess” was masterly.’
She sounded quite cheerful. ‘You are certain, aren’t you, Laurel?’ What had come over him? He should be running to get a special licence, not giving her every opportunity to turn him down.
‘Yes. Of course I am. What is the matter, Giles? Have you changed your mind?’
Chapter Twelve
‘Changed my mind? No, certainly not. But you have just had a shock and I do not want you to feel trapped by what has just happened.’
‘Of course not. Will you come in with me to tell Aunt Phoebe?’
‘I had better, before the news of the fight or the old crows squawking reaches her. Should I be approaching your stepmother for her blessing, do you think?’
‘Definitely not,’ Laurel said with a vigorous shake of her head. ‘I am of age—we do not need anyone’s permission, or blessing.’
‘Who are your trustees? Your cousin the Earl, I assume?’ He knew perfectly well it was and remembered in time to make it a question.
‘He is the only one, although Mr Truscott, Papa’s solicitor, would be involved if Cousin Anthony met with an accident or could not act for me.’ She stopped suddenly, halfway along Great Pulteney Street. ‘This does feel very strange. I never imagined that I would marry. Now I can hardly think of all the things I should be doing.’ Her hand on his arm was not quite steady. Shock was beginning to make itself felt, but he knew better than to fuss over her in the street.
‘We will tell Lady Cary first.’ Giles began walking again and she fell into step beside him. ‘Then I will go and tell my father, who will be delighted, but I think I had best break the good news by myself, in case he is feeling unwell.’
In case he leaps out of his chair with a whoop of joy and says something damning in front of you, more like.
‘You can write to your cousin to prepare him. I will write, too, we will need to meet together with our lawyers to sort out the settlements.’
What else? Ah, yes.
‘Where would you like to marry? Malden Court, Palgrave Castle, the Abbey here? I will need to know to sort out the licence.’
