Page 37 of His Darling Duchess
“I will demand to know everything anyway, so you might as well permit me to sit in on the meeting,” Aurelia said pertly, and he found himself chuckling.
“Very well. We will be there directly, Ross.” He cut his eyes meaningfully at Aurelia’s slippers, abandoned beneath the chaise, and she blushed a little and padded over to retrieve them once Ross had bowed and discreetly departed.
Aurelia could scarcely believe what she had almost done; she had almost kissed her husband! And the look he gave her as she leaned in to press her lips to his had assured her he was very far from objecting. Why, oh why did Ross have to interrupt at that precise moment? Just a few more seconds!
Stowe waited while she put her slippers back on, before opening the door and gesturing for her to precede him. As she walked past him, however, she felt the lightest brush against herhand, and when she looked down, his fingers curled gently about hers.
He is holding my hand.
It wasn’t a kiss, but Aurelia couldn’t wipe the foolish smile from her lips as they walked together to the study.
The man who awaited them was tall and lean, with hollow cheeks and dark, hooded eyes. He gave her a deep, respectful bow as she entered on Stowe’s arm.
“Your Grace.”
“Please don’t stand on ceremony, Mr Lansdown. I appreciate you’ve been out in this dreadful weather because of me, and I thank you for it.”
“It’s Lord Lansdown,” Stowe murmured, startling her. “Viscount, actually.”
She gave him a wondering look as he led her to the desk, inviting her to sit in his own chair while he perched a hip on the edge of the desk.
“We served together in the army,” Lansdown said. “I owe your husband my life several times over; when he asked me to assist him by finding Grantleigh, I was only too happy to help.”
“You found him, then?” Stowe asked, and Lansdown nodded.
“We did. Jeremy Hale and I went to his estate and found him there, bold as brass, not trying to hide his presence at all. Everyone in the local village knew he was down from London; he’d even been to church on Sunday morning.”
“Foolish,” Stowe murmured.
“Arrogant,” Aurelia disagreed, and both men looked at her. “He wanted to be found,” she pointed out, “but he expected it would be my father who came looking for him, to beg him to marry me and save my ruined reputation.”
Lansdown’s dark eyes hooded further, his lips pursing as though he had tasted something bitter. Stowe’s jaw clenched.
Aurelia was quite certain that had she not been present, both men would have cursed enough to turn their air blue. Their rage was almost tangible.
“Did you speak to him?” Stowe gritted out finally.
“No. Hale said that he would do so, and planned to stay and keep an eye on him until you arrived, whether Grantleigh did the courteous thing and invited him to stay or whether Hale had to take a room in the village and recruit some local lads to help keep watch and make sure Grantleigh didn’t make a run for it. He’s plenty of coin on him, if he needs it. I’m the faster rider, though, so I volunteered to come and get you.”
Stowe nodded, but he seemed hesitant. Almost reluctant.
“What is it?” Lansdown asked bluntly.
“We are only a few days short of Christmas. If I leave today, with you, I doubt I would get back in time for Christmas Day, and I am reluctant to abandon my new bride at Christmas,” Stowe admitted.
Aurelia almost melted. Reaching for his hand, she squeezed his fingers tenderly. “I do not mind. Indeed, you are doing this for my benefit, as has been almost your every action since the day we met! We can celebrate Christmas when you return… and I hope you will bring Lord Lansdown with you, to celebrate the season with us. Unless you have your own family to return to?”
Lansdown gave her a peculiar look, before shaking his head. “No, your grace, my father is my only living family and we are… estranged. Your invitation is most gracious, and I will gladly accept, once Grantleigh is dealt with.”
“Are you sure?” Stowe said quietly. “It can wait. Grantleigh can wait upon my pleasure.”
“And your friend Mr Hale has to put up with him in the meantime, ruining his Christmas?” Aurelia shook her head at him. “No, you must go.”
“The morning will be soon enough,” Lansdown said. “It’s a cold night, bitter and frosty; no good taking horses out in this.”
“And you’ve been out in it already.” Aurelia took a good look at him. His clothes looked damp and worn; he hadn’t even taken the time to dry off and change before coming to report to Stowe. “I shall have a hot bath and a meal prepared for you immediately, Lord Lansdown, so that you may have a good night’s rest before you set off again.”
Rhys watched his wife leave the room, as always unable to take his eyes off her. He had a foolish smile on his lips, he knew, and wasn’t in the least inclined to try to remove it, even though Lansdown was watching him.
