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“Would he even remember if he had seen a particular letter from me? I’ve written several letters to my sister since being here.”
“I’m sure you are right,” he sighed. “I think it may be beneficial for me to speak to him about the terms of the marriage agreement. A preliminary discussion if you will. I can make excuses about the solicitor.”
“Do you enjoy chess, as you mentioned?” she asked. “Or merely using that as a tactic to garner his favor?”
He grinned mischievously. “I may be a rake, but I can manage finding my way around a chessboard with any of my peers in the gentlemen’s clubs in London. Even with a few drinks in me.”
“Do not gloat,” she warned, though she laughed at the same time. “I would like to see how he would measure up. He does come across as a bit of a bookish snob, doesn’t he?”
“Quite,” Michael said with a wry smile.
They turned back towards the lake.
“Let me call the footman to bring the chessboard out, I’ll meet you back over there.”
Michael broke away from her arm, returning to the house. Lydia turned, heading back to where her uncle was sitting.
“Nice walk?” he asked, looking up briefly from his book.
“Very nice,” she said, sitting down on the bench next to him. “His Grace has gone to get the chessboard for a game.”
“Oh, that will be diverting,” he said, turning back to his book.
She sat quietly beside him, feeling uncomfortable not speaking with him. He thoroughly ignored her, as though she was still a child. She kept glancing back to the house, watching for Michael to return, and felt relief wash through her once he came back out, two footmen in tow with a table.
The footmen set the table down on the grass, setting the marble chessboard on top. Francis and Michael sat opposite each other, settling in for the game. Lydia stayed where she sat, watching, and listening to them without interjecting too much.
“How is Rackliff these days?” Michael asked, allowing her uncle to make the opening move.
“The estate is small, we have had some setbacks with some tenancy and poor harvests,” Francis said. “I wish I had better news, but it will take some time to recover.”
“That is indeed unfortunate,” Michael said, thinking over his move. “Since we do need to discuss the marriage settlement, tell me, are the girls’ dowries all intact?”
Francis was silent for a long moment, which made Lydia question if he knew the answer, or if he was willing to admit the truth. When he finally picked up a piece to move, she wondered how much of his delay was merely thinking about the game.
“There is some concern what will be left of the estate if we do settle their allowances all in one Season,” he admitted. “I will not lie to you.”
“It seems to me that it would still be more incentive to have the ladies married,” Michael argued. “Though, arguably more difficult to make an advantageous match if the settlement is not handsome.”
“Does her allowance, or lack thereof, deter you at all, Your Grace?” Francis asked.
“Not at all,” Michael said. “I have the benefit of a profitable estate, which I manage well and hope to expand. Not that I should admit it, either, but the dowry is no matter to me. Else I would have married the Duchess of Beaufort years ago.”
Lydia wanted to laugh at his quip, but her uncle did not seem to find humor in his joke. She covered her mouth to hide her smile, but Michael glanced at her, eyes glinting.
“The advantage of a small dowry is that the girls will not be taken advantage of by wayward men,” Francis said, stroking his chin while staring at the chess board. “The disadvantage is that they may be desperate to accept any man that would have them or fall prey to a man that does not intend to marry them.”
“Are you suggesting something, sir?”
Francis looked up, surprised. “Despite your reputation, Your Grace, I would like to think that you have honest intentions with my niece.”
Michael sat back from the table. “I have very honest intentions.”
“It is obvious that the two of you are quite attracted to each other, and I understand that you have proposed to her. However, you have not approached me yet to ask for permission.”
Lydia saw the expression on Michael’s face grow blank, as though he was thinking of an explanation.
“To be honest, sir, I confess I completely forgot in how blind I became to the rest of the world when she accepted my proposal.”
Francis raised his eyebrow, waiting for Michael to continue. She could see a look of confusion crossing his face, then sudden realization. He swallowed hard.
“Then, I suppose I should ask. May I have your blessing to marry your niece?”
