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“Of course,” she replied and smiled stiffly.
"Oh, what a wonderful pair you lovebirds make!" The matron who had criticized Edwina earlier made an about face.
The crowd continued to murmur; some appeared pleased and some displeased. The only reason they were behaving themselves was because of his social rank. A man of a lesser standing would have received criticism even though he had just told them he was engaged to Edwina. Thetonwas often unkind in such matters.
The exchange of rueful glances between Edwina and the lady she had called Kitty did not escape his notice and he wondered if there was something happening that he did not know about. Still, he took her hand in his and faced her.
"What in the world is going on here?" A very young and lanky dandy pushed his way to the fore of the small crowd.
"Your sister was found in a man's arms,” Roxanne announced, her voice hard.His sister?Albert looked down at Edwina. Good heavens! If her brother looked barely out of Eton, then how old was she? Sixteen? She could not be older than him. She did not look it.
Lord help me!
"You!" The young man turned puce as his anger-filled eyes took in his sister's disheveled appearance. "You never miss a chance to soil the family name, do you, Edwina?"
Albert’s eyes narrowed. He did not like the way he was speaking to Edwina. She might be his sister but she deserved to be respected. He began to step forward but she put a hand on his arm, staying him. Her eyes pleaded with him to remain where he was. She was right. They were in the middle of a scandal and complicating matters would not help them.
"You are coming with me." Her brother tried to take hold of her wrist but Albert stepped between them.
“I proposed to Lady Edwina this evening and she accepted.”
“Oh.” He looked from Albert to Edwina and back. “You are not ruined then.”
“Of course, she is not. We will marry at the earliest opportunity.”
Her brother turned to the crowd. “There is nothing to see here. My sister is engaged.” The crowd did not move. He turned to Albert. “Allow me to take her to Mercer House. We shall discuss this matter tomorrow.”
Albert said to Edwina in a very low voice, “I shall see you tomorrow.”
She nodded and allowed her brother to take her hand. She looked like she needed to be anywhere but under the scrutiny of the gathered crowd. When she glanced back at him, there was something akin to regret in her eyes and all the fire from earlier had been extinguished.
* * *
Edwina had never felt worse in her entire life. She ought to be happy with the outcome of the evening. After all, it had been a success, but the way the Duke had been quick to announce them engaged to protect her reputation made her feel like such an imposter. And the news of him being a Duke only made her feel worse. She did not even know which Duke he was or his last name.
Why did he not just remain Albert?And why a Duke?She had been happy when she thought him a Lord. She was not ready to become a Duchess. In fact, she lacked the education and accomplishments to become a Duchess. Prudence had insured that Edwina’s education was sufficiently neglected.
Tommen and the gathered crowd had not given her the chance to talk to Albert alone. She had no complaints about their hasty departure but she had wanted to speak to him. She freed her wrist once they were in the front hall. “Where is Mother?”
“She left an hour ago due to a headache,” he said, glaring at her. “How did you get here?”
“I came with Kitty.” He ignored her to order for their carriage to be brought to the door and she was happy with that. He still did not speak until they were within the confines of the carriage.
"I have grown weary of your behavior, Edwina. How dare you leave Mercer House after I asked you to remain?"
“I am not answerable to you, Tommen.” She folded her arms across her chest and turned to look out the window at the lit streets of London.
"You had to employ treachery just to secure a match, further disgracing the Mercer title."
Tommen may be right about her deceit tonight, but she would not sit here and have him condemn her for it. "Oh, stop it, Tommen! I will not allow you to speak to me like that. Is this not what you wanted? I am going to be off your hands soon.”
"Not soon enough," he murmured. "I am not sure I believe the engagement is real.”
“He announced it to the room! It is a gentleman’s honor to go through with it.”
Tommen snorted. “Most gentlemen have no honor, Dear Sister. He—”
“You, for instance,” she interrupted him and he flashed her an angry look. “Am I wrong? You would not disrespect me as you do if you had any honor, Tommen.”
