Page 63 of Married to the Rake

Mrs. Waverley turned to Brook. “Tell me now, as your mother, are you sincere in this? I love you dearly, you know I do, but I am not blind to your behavior. If you are—”

Brook lifted a hand. “I am sincere, Mother.” He sent a look Chloe’s way. “I love Miss Larkin very much.”

Chloe looked away as warmth spread up into her face. How wonderful and odd it felt to hear him declare it aloud.

“How did you two…? When did…?” Mrs. Waverley finally dropped into the chair next to Judith. “Never mind. I am not sure I wish to know.”

Chloe’s mother leaned over and patted the back of her hand. “I think your son and my daughter are very much in love.”

Mrs. Waverley glanced between the two of them. “So it seems.”

“Well, this is preposterous,” Judith spluttered. “How can you love someone like her? Everyone knows what you are like, Brook. Do you really think she shall make you happy?”

Quiet muffled the room for several moments. Chloe opened her mouth but Brook spoke first. “She will. She does,” he confirmed.

“But…but she’s a wallflower. She’s not even pretty.”

“Judith,” Mrs. Waverley snapped. “I expected better from you.”

“Well, she isn’t.” Judith folded her arms across her chest and sank further into her chair.

Chloe could not even blame Judith for her words. She was no society beauty and most certainly a wallflower but Brook made her feel beautiful every moment of every day and she did not doubt his feelings for her.

“Mrs. Waverley…” Chloe looked to her mother. “Mama, I know this is a shock and we did not intend to keep this a secret but with the disagreement between Papa and Mr. Waverley, we did not know how to tell you.”

Her mother gave a light laugh. “It will be even more interesting when we tell your fathers.”

Chloe made a face. “I am trying not to think of that.”

“I think perhaps Mrs. Larkin and I should handle this,” Mrs. Waverley suggested.

“Yes, a fine idea.”

“Why don’t you two go and take a little walk in the gardens? Mrs. Larkin and I can discuss how we should move forward.” Mrs. Waverley made a shooing motion.

“Oh, I should probably—” Judith went to stand.

“You can stay here and explain exactly what happened when you touched my soon-to-be- daughter,” Mrs. Waverley ordered.

Chloe managed to keep her smug smile to herself until they left the room and stepped out onto the veranda, blinking in the bright sunlight. The gardens stretched out in front of her, a long path cutting down the center of a carefully managed flower bed and stone plant pots. It was the first time she’d ever seen the garden at the Waverleys and it was beautiful. She released a long breath and shared a smile with Brook.

“That could have been worse,” he said.

“Yes, it really could have been.”

“With any luck, that shall be the last time Judith is seen here.” He took her hand. “I am still deeply sorry for what happened—that my past caught up with me.”

“I hope there are no other heartbroken lovers waiting to attack me.”

“Oh, only a handful,” he teased, leading her down the steps into the formal gardens. Flowers teased her ankles, a beautiful array of yellows and purples. The scent wrapped around her, reminding her of their time in her own gardens, when he had proposed and, well, done other things.

“You are blushing, Chlo.”

“I was just thinking of…well, it does not matter.”

Brook whirled her around so that she twirled into his arms. She sighed and sank into his embrace. She had not been sure she would feel this again—his strong arms, his firm torso—supporting her and making her feel loved in a way she never thought possible. She rested her head against his chest, closed her eyes and felt his solid heartbeat—steady and reassuring.

“Do you think our fathers will become friends?” she asked.

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