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“No, thank you, My Lord.”
“May I ask what brings you here, My Lord?” Silas prompted. He planned on giving Lord Browning his permission with alacrity. The man merely had to ask.
Lord Browning cleared his throat.
“I admit that that one weekend back in July, I had planned on asking your father for permission to wed your sister. Now, with the mourning period, I was going to wait, as is right and proper. However, I cannot wait six months before asking. I—I love her, and I will not be able to stand aside and watch her to wed anyone else.”
Silas grinned at him. Lord Browning sounded very much like a gentleman who was deeply in love. “Are you asking for my permission?”
“Of course!”
“Then you have it, wholeheartedly. I cannot imagine another gentleman who could love and cherish my sister as she ought.”
Lord Browning exhaled, smiling from ear to ear. Silas held out his hand to him. They both shook hands.
“Come. Let’s go and find Dinah, for you must ask her permission,” Silas said. “Although to be honest, my dear fellow, I have no doubt that you shall have it.”
They both left the study and went directly to the parlour, where the other two Sweet siblings were sitting quietly. Dinah had been reading a book, but the moment that she looked up to see Lord Browning, she set it aside and stood up.
“Dinah, my dear,” Silas called out.
“Reginald,” she said, beaming at Lord Browning. “What brings you here?”
Lord Browning walked over to her, taking her hands in his. “Your brother has given me his permission,” he said. “I know we can’t announce anything for six months, at least, but I could not wait a moment longer. I love you, and I promise to cherish and care for you all the days of our lives.
“Will you do me the honour of becoming my wife?”
Dinah’s eyes were teary, though her smile was brilliant. “Yes! Yes, of course!”
Silas and Michael shared a grin from across the room. Silas could only feel sad that his father was not here to witness this moment—he would have been so pleased with how things had turned out. Which reminded Silas that there was one thing that must be done, or else his father would have been deeply disappointed in him.
“We must celebrate,” Silas announced, his gaze meeting Dinah’s. She was smiling brilliantly. “I’ll have Mr Morton bring us a bottle of champagne, and then you must stay to dinner, Lord Browning.”
“I would be happy to, My Lord. Thank you,” Lord Browning said, his eyes on Dinah. She was clasping his hand in hers.
Silas smiled and nodded. “I will go and arrange things immediately.”
As he went in search of the butler, Silas couldn’t help but think of Lucy and feel jealous of the happy couple.
He longed to see her.
Yet again, things prevented him from going immediately. It had been weeks since he’d seen her at the funeral. In another time, before he was viscount, he’d have just gone, all else be hanged. He was expected to be here, though. He had to be present, as much as he wanted to slip away.
