Andrew sighed in relief. “My Lord, My Lady,” he greeted her parents. Then turning to Marjorie, he replied, “My mother is fine, thank you.”
“How are you, Andrew, or should I say, Your Grace; it has been a long time since I saw you.”
“I am doing all right, My Lord. Marjorie informed me that you were on a trip to France?”
“I am afraid the trip was cut short because we had to come to see what was going on. How is your mother? We heard that she is frail of health.”
“She is doing much better and should soon retire to the countryside to get some more rest.”
Lord Conolly nodded. “There is nothing I like more than the peace and quiet in the countryside.”
“One of these days, you will have to tell the House of Lords that you are too old to be going on these trips, so we can finally retire together,” Lady Conolly said to her husband sweetly.
“Never! What else can an old man do? Sit around and attend balls?”
As if remembering that Andrew must have come for a reason, the Conollys made their excuses. “We will be in my study, Marjorie. Your Grace,” Lord Conolly said.
Andrew thanked them and then turned to Marjorie, hugging her. “My Love. You have been crying.”
“It is not easy leaving the only home you have ever known behind,” Marjorie said, wiping her eyes.
“You do not have to leave, Marjorie. Do you remember when we were little kids growing up and because your father traveled a lot for the House of Lords, you grew up with a governess, and you would invite Ellen and me to a tea party? You would make sure that the tea was as presentable as the ones your mother would give to entertain Society, and you always knew I could not take orange because I was allergic to it. You made sure that there was no pudding even though it was one of your favorite meals because I was allergic.”
Marjorie started to laugh. “It used to infuriate me how you were often allergic to everything I liked and wanted at an event.”
Andrew nodded, chuckling. “Exactly, but you would go past your own needs to make sure that I was comfortable. You have always been selfless, putting people before yourself. Even though you punished me for it with your awful pranks, I always knew that you had my best interest at heart. I do not know how I would live if you left, Marjorie,” Andrew paused. “I want you to stay; stay here with me.”
Marjorie made a sound that was both a laugh and a sob. “You know that is impossible. I will never be good enough for your mother, never be the Duchess of Grant she dreamed of.”
Andrew laughed. “I hope not! What a boring existence that would be! I want you to be you.”
“Oh, Andrew! I wish I could say yes, but I know how much heartache this must cost you and your family.”
“Ellen loves you, and my mother does not have to be there. I am tired of doing what everyone wants. It is with you, I feel most alive; it is with you I can be my truest, most free self. There is no lady in the whole of London who can light a fire next to you. “
“Andrew, be serious!” Marjorie said, but she was giggling.
“I am. I have always been. I want your heart, Marjorie. I want to have this child with you and raise him or her together. I want to watch you go to your book club meetings, even though they infuriate me to no end. Perhaps we will start hosting them in Grant Manor. Discreetly, of course,” Andrew wrinkled his nose. “I want to learn how to please you.”
When Marjorie did not answer, Andrew felt his heart constrict painfully, but he pressed on. “I understand if you need some more time, but I implore you, please, do not go to the countryside. Stay here in London with me. Plan a wedding with me.”
Marjorie gasped as Andrew got on one knee. “Marry me, Lady Marjorie Conolly, and make me the happiest man in all of London.”
Marjorie needed no further invitation. She nodded her head vigorously. “Yes, Andrew. You positively infuriate me, and I think that there is still a lot of work to be done with us, but I will marry you.”
Andrew got up and swung her around gently to sounds of laughter emerging from her lips.
“Shall we do our wedding after Gerard and Ellen’s, or shall we simply have the entire thing together at the same time?” Marjorie asked.
“I do not care. As long as I am with you, that is all that matters to me,” Andrew replied, and they kissed hard and passionately. Marjorie took Andrew’s hand, and they headed to her father’s study to find her parents waiting for them.
“Father, Mother,” Marjorie began. “We have got a wedding to plan.”
Lady Conolly looked delighted. “Well, it was about time!”
* * *
Marjorie sighed contentedly. She was seated with Andrew in his carriage on her way to see the Dowager. Even though Andrew had assured her that whatever Lady Grant had to say did not matter to him, she could not help but hope that they got a positive response from her this time — at least for Andrew’s sake. She knew how much his mother’s approval meant to him.
