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“May I offer you this bouquet as a token of my esteem?” He held out the winter flowers.
She came forward and took the proffered bunch, studying the makeup of the floristry.
“How very appropriate; my family and friends know me as Holly, since my birthday is in December and it is my second given name. This is…thoughtful of you. Thank you, my lord.”
“I hope you will dispense with ‘my lording’ me all the time and begin to call me Gregory. Might I have the privilege of addressing you as Annabelle?”
“Perhaps, once we are formally betrothed, and I prefer Holly, my second name. It is as I explained the name my family and friends use.”
Irritation pricked him at her doggedness. Might as well get the business of asking her over and done with. His manhood subsided to a comfortable size.
“Lady Annabelle, I should very much like to take you as my wife. Do you accept?” he asked formally.
She made a moue of her lips and cocked her head.
“Well, that was far from romantic. Would you like to try again, perhaps if you knelt?”
Seething at her tone, he’d half a mind to toss the minx across his knee and discover for himself whether her derriere was as round and peachy as her cheeks. His cock seemed to like that idea because he was once again disconcertingly hard.
Plunging a hand into his coat pocket, Gregory removed his paternal grandmother’s engagement ring, a cushion sapphire surrounded by diamonds. This was not the same ring he had bestowed upon Bunty at the time he’d proposed to her. No, he had given his first wife his maternal grandmother’s ring, a single large ruby which she had worn into her grave, much to his mother’s chagrin. He had felt unable to remove it from his dead wife’s finger. Bunty had loved that ring, and as far as he was concerned, it was a part of her.
Deftly he reached between them and took Holly’s left hand in his. Flipping the button of her glove open, he felt her pulse beat rapidly under the soft skin of her inner wrist. With bent head, he pressed his lips against her palm, then tugged each finger of her glove until, with a final pull, he removed it entirely. Satisfied by her small gasp.
Gregory slid the ring onto her finger; it was a perfect fit. Her father had lent him a ring of hers in order for Gregory to have his grandmother’s precious ring resized. Leaning in he kissed her cheek.
“Shall we send word to your parents?” he asked.
She seemed to have lost the power of speech and simply nodded. Moving swiftly to the bell cord, he tugged it firmly. Within moments, the lord and lady of the house arrived. They’d obviously been waiting for the signal to join them. Holly duly held out her hand so her parents could inspect the ring. After exclamations and congratulations, they seated themselves about the refreshment table, and tea was served up with a selection of dainty pastries and sweetmeats.
Oscar Lushington rose and suggested both gentlemen retire to his study to discuss the matrimonial contract. Gregory knew that now the engagement was finalised, he needed to drop a proverbial stone in the pond.
He waited until Oscar Lushington had poured them both a brandy and then made a request. Lushington paused in the act of lifting his brandy goblet to his lips.
“You want to marry this week? What about the banns?”
“I have a special licence; we can be wed tomorrow if we wish.”
Oscar took a large gulp of his drink.
“My wife won’t like this one bit, nor, I suspect, will Holly.”
“Surely they will do as you command,” Gregory stated, taking a sip from his own glass.
Lushington snorted.
“It never seems to work that way in this household,” he informed his guest with a despairing shake of the head.
Without waiting for Gregory to comment, he continued.
“My daughter is a good girl, but Holly is used to getting her own way. I have never had any reason to deny her. My wife has trained her well in the management of a large household. I am certain you will find no fault with her chatelaine skills. I wish to be assured that you will indulge her as her husband ought, and continue to cherish her as we have done?”
Gregory buried his nose in his goblet, wondering how to phrase his reply.
“Mounthurst?” his host prompted.
“I shall endeavour to do so, yes. However, I am not an overly indulgent man. I do not tolerate disobedience, but you need not fear, for I am not a violent man. Your daughter shall have every inconsequential object she desires and as many gowns as she cares for.”
Oscar Lushington frowned. “You do not harbour atendrefor her?
