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“Are you sure you wish to have this conversation amid our guests, Rebecca?” he said.
“Yes. I chose this moment deliberately. I hope that my sincerity will not be doubted if I make my apology publicly.”
Edward nodded approvingly. “That is very brave. And very noble. Apology accepted. I assume you have changed your mind?”
Harriet found herself hoping that Rebecca had not, though she knew the girl would not be humbling herself if that were the case.
“I have. I realize now how foolish and childish it was to resist. Philip Grantley is a noble man and will make an excellent husband. He has all the right qualities. I wanted to tell you that I give my consent to the marriage. Let me meet with Philip and let us make the arrangements.”
Edward smiled, taking Rebecca’s hand. He indicated a vacant seat by his right side.
“Sit. We will discuss arrangements later. I’m so happy that you’re finally seeing sense, Rebecca.”
Harriet watched the young girl as she took her seat. She looked pale and composed, in full control of herself. But she never lifted her eyes from the table and Harriet thought she detected a slight tremor in her hand as she lifted her teacup. When she looked at Edward, she found his fathomless dark eyes were fixed on her. For a moment, their gazes remained locked. Then Edward looked away, the facade of the jovial host being put firmly back into place.
CHAPTER 24
Edward rose before dawn. Sleep had to be sacrificed to the demands of the day. Three months had passed since the morning after the ball, when Rebecca had miraculously come to her senses. Three months in which she had met with Philip Grantley, was accompanied by him to several society balls in London, and another grand gathering in Wrexham. That had been a month ago and had been the scene of the announcement of Rebecca and Philip’s engagement.
Swinging his legs out of bed and casting aside the blanket, Edward called on his valet to ensure his clothes for the day were prepared. A simple suit of navy blue for the beginning of the day followed by a change for the ceremony, which was scheduled to take place in the small, medieval church around which the town of Southame was built. It would be an occasion of celebration for the local people, to see a Bolton daughter married and into such an illustrious family.
The union would also bring about an alliance of the Bolton and Grantley families to the honor of both.
Thank the Lord that Rebecca gave up that upstart, Worthingham. The union she enters into brings glory to our family. I am so proud of her.
He was also proud of himself. For the first time in a long time, perhaps the first time ever, he could look at his father’s portrait and feel that he had finally measured up to the man.
He would be proud today. Puffed up with the status it brings to us.
Striding through to his dressing room, Edward dressed swiftly with the aid of his valet, inspecting himself in the full-length dress mirror. The windows of the dressing room were tall and overlooked the arboretum. As Edward turned from the mirror, he found his thoughts returning to the encounter he’d had with Harriet in the library.
With Rebecca’s impending nuptials, I haven’t had time to consider anything else but she’s rarely been out of my thoughts for three months. What is it about that woman that has so entranced me? How can I even begin to think about marriage myself with that hook still tugging at my lip?
There came a knock at the door and Edward dismissed the valet, expecting tea and the morning papers to be delivered. Instead, Olivia came into the room.
“Are you decent, Edward? Oh, I see you are. Very nice. That color does suit you.”
“Aunt Olivia. Good morning. Have you overtaken my tea and toast by any chance?” Edward said blithely, walking back into his bedroom.
She followed him.
“I did, but I told the maid to take it back to the kitchen until I have had a chance to ascertain your mood.”
“My mood? Aunt Olivia, I am in an extremely good mood. The weather is glorious and the day has finally arrived. Rebecca will be married and this evening the Duke of Stamford and I will toast each other as new-found brothers by marriage. What could be better? My father would be proud.”
“Ah, then you have been so busy that you did not complete your correspondence last night?” Olivia asked.
Something in her voice made Edward turn to face her. He looked at her quizzically.
“Aunt Olivia. Do not be cryptic. You know I do not like it. If you have something to say…”
“It would be easy if you checked your correspondence. I believe it is piled atop the bureau in your study. The Duke’s Study, I believe.”
The Duke’s Study was the private room, adjoining his bedroom, to which only Edward and Samson were permitted to enter. Samson brought personal correspondence there once a day but otherwise, the room remained locked. That meant that dust was allowed to gather and even a few cobwebs. Edward did not care, and neither had his father or grandfather before him. The Duke’s Study was an oasis of privacy and solitude from servants, family, wives, or children. Its presence had become something of a family tradition, which Edward had been happy to continue.
“I haven’t been in there for a week,” Edward said, marching for the door concealed behind a hanging tapestry in the corner of his bedroom. He heard Olivia follow as he swept the ancient hanging aside and fished the small key from his waistcoat pocket, where it hung from a silver chain.
“I had not thought you would be so occupied,” Olivia muttered.
