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He would be damned before he left Edwina with William Strutfield. The man would not make a good husband for her. It was why he had postponed his trip and accompanied them to the village on hearing that Steven would not be there. The reason why he had kept her at his side throughout.
He trailed behind them as they entered the Mansion, Edwina playing with her puppy. A small smile touched his lips when he saw the affection between them. A part of him wished he could receive such affection. While the ladies went up to put their new things away and the gentlemen went to seek some form of occupation, Albert ventured into his study to attend to some correspondence.
Several hours later, he was still sitting in his study but instead of attending to his work, he was staring blindly at the ledgers before him, mulling over his unfinished conversation with Edwina the night before. The morning had not permitted them the privacy to talk.
And as she had been in a good mood around him for the first time in days, he decided not to ruin the trip for them both by broaching their unresolved issues. He had missed the sprightly Edwina and enjoyed catching a glimpse of her that morning.
In the past week, he had spent considerable time recalling the conversation he had overheard. He had resolved to find out what Miss Matthews had meant by the trap had not been intendedspecificallyfor him. Anger and hurt had blinded him but now that they were at an ebb, he could see clearly. Perhaps if he had allowed Edwina to explain things to him the other day, he would not be thinking about this right now instead of working.
There were many things he wanted to talk to her about: the trap, her knowledge of his past with Roxanne, her familiarity with Nora… that had especially unsettled him, causing him to take the wrong approach with everything again.
The two women represented different parts of his life that he would rather keep as far away from each other as possible. There was no longer an affair between him and Nora. He intended to keep it that way.
He was also at a point where he was about to make an important decision regarding his future and Edwina’s. There was no more denying that he was jealous, that he did not want her to be completely his. He was beyond all of that now and he knew what he must do.
Punching his chair back, he rose and approached the study door. At that same moment, a knock came. He stopped, then called for the person to enter, wishing it would be Edwina. Tommen walked in, ornate cane in hand, trying his damndest to look every bit the grown man he thought he was. His engagement to Roxanne did not bother him. That surprised him somewhat.
She was his past and he wished to bury her and move forward with his future. “Good day, Your Grace,” he greeted.
Albert inclined his head in response. “Is there something you want?” he asked without preamble.
“I wish to obtain your permission to marry in your Chapel.”
That did not please him. “You do not require my permission to marry there, Mercer.”
“Ah, yes.” He seemed a bit nervous as he asked the next question. “There is the issue of the special license. I was hoping you could employ your influence to quicken the process.”
His former fiancée marrying his current fiancée’s brother on his property with a license he obtained for them seemed like a cruel joke to him. "Since a large portion of thetonis already gathered here, I see no use in moving the ceremony elsewhere. After all, we are practically family to you now," Tommen added, shifting his weight from foot to foot.
"Family—" Albert mused. "Tell me, Mercer, when have you and your mother ever treated Edwina like family?" The boy sputtered.
"I shall consider your request," Albert said curtly. "Now, if you will excuse me, I have somewhere else to be." He walked past the speechless man and out of the room.
The possibility that Roxanne had suggested they married on his property occurred to him. It appeared she was the one holding the reins of their relationship when it ought to be a partnership. He was not surprised, of course, considering the man she had chosen for a spouse. Albert would have felt sorry for her because he was certain she was unaware of the debt on Tommen’s head. And she would never marry a man in debt.
In the foyer, he spied something grayish-yellow and bushy disappearing into one of the hallways, he immediately knew what it was. Curious, he followed it to the conservatory where it hopped onto its mistress’ lap.
"There you are, my little angel!" Edwina cooed, unaware of his presence. He leaned on the door frame, watching her interact fondly with the dog.
"I still do not have a name for you, Dear," she said. "But I do have a present for you." She produced a small deep-blue bow that looked a lot like the ribbon he had chosen for her earlier. The puppy barked excitedly, wagging its tail.
"You like it? I think it will look lovelier on you than on me. Where would you like to wear it?" She tried it right in the middle of its head between his ears before settling on tying it around its neck like a little collar.
"Perfect!" She giggled as it hopped into her lap, licking her cheek. Her giggles and the puppy’s happy barks echoed in the conservatory and Albert could not help but smile.
"How come he gets all the kisses?" He finally made his presence known, stepping into the room to stand where she was perched on a stone bench by the fountain.
"Who would not want to kiss this adorable little fellow?" She looked up with the smile still on her pretty features.
"I certainly would not," he said and the puppy looked up at him, growling.
"I think the sentiment is mutual," she laughed.
"Quit snarling at me. You are wearing my ribbon, you know," he said to the dog.
"Your Grace!" Edwina admonished. "It is my ribbon. I decide who wears it.” He missed how she called his name. He still wanted her to call him Albert, but he would accept Rowan at this point. Any one of his names was better thanYour Grace.
"I chose it, though. I say it should be grateful."
