Page 44 of In Compromise with the Earl
Tugging her under his arm, Oswald said, “There is nothing sly about this. Now, if you would excuse us, Aphrodite needs to dress, and I need to arrange for the special license.”
“I’ll take care of that,” Lady Pandora overruled him. Her assessing gaze ran over them over again, her keen look as sharp as a fillet knife cutting under his skin. “Well, I suppose my felicitations are in order.”
Aphrodite nodded. “Thank you. I must go and get dressed.”
“Good,” Lady Pandora said. “Lord Tennesley and I must have a word.”
As curious as she was to stay and listen, Aphrodite slipped out of the chamber and mercifully made her way to her chamber, uninterrupted. She entered to find Lydia there, her maid pale faced and trembling where she sat.
“My Lady, is it true?” Lydia asked. “Did Lord Tennesley compromise you?”
Her brows darted up, “Where did you hear that? Heavens no. Oswald and I are engaged. There was no compromising and no ruination.”
“Oh,” Lydia blinked. “His Grace was ranting and raving about you and Lord Tennesley being alone in his chamber, looking ravished.”
Snorting, Aphrodite moved to remove her robe. “Nothing like that has happened. I went to his chamber to speak with him about our lives and the dastardly duke nearly broke through his door. I agree, I should not have gone alone, but I wanted privacy. Please, arrange for a bath for me.”
“Yes, My Lady,” Lydia nodded and hurried out the door.
With her maid gone, Aphrodite took a moment to internalize that last half hour. She had not expected these sudden turns, but, in her heart of hearts, she was not sorry for any of it. Last night, she had learned that Oswald was a skilled lover and craved to feel that spell-binding pleasure again.
Moreover, if what he had said about more bliss coming from coupling, she wanted to feel that too. What she had not expected was Oswald going further than agreeing to a fake courtship, but to marry her. She fingered the soft cotton of the dark-blue gown and smiled. Maybe this arrangement would be something good. It would shock London and be in the scandal pages for weeks, but could they get past a few other issues, her father, his mother and Oswald’s soul, still raw from his late wife’s betrayal?
Lydia came back with the other maids bearing buckets of water and soon the tub was filled. As they left, she did away with her robe and slid into the rose-scented water. A soothing bath did much to relax her and when she got out, Lydia assisted her in dressing and styled her hair before the dressing table. With each curl and twist, Aphrodite stared at herself, wondering who the young lady with wide, excited eyes was that stared back at her.
Rarely had she felt this type of excitement, and to know it came from a man who she found utterly enthralling. Similarly, dread began to thread through her chest at knowing that the moment she stepped out those doors, consternation would be coming at her from all sides.
Did it matter? All that does matter is that Oswald is with me.It might not work if their differences came between them, or it could be the best thing for them both. She did not know yet and knew that only time would tell.
When she left the chamber in time for breakfast, Lady Pandora sent a maid for her, asking—or ordering really—her to join her and Oswald in Lady Pandora’s private drawing room.
She entered to see Oswald there, nursing a cup of coffee while her friend sat primly. Dismissing the breakfast spread on the table, she sat near Oswald. “You need me, Lady Pandora?”
“Yes,” she said, “Would you like to have some tea?”
“In a moment,” Aphrodite replied. “What is it?”
“Now that you two are engaged,” Lady Pandora said, her tone still holding a note of disbelief. “There are a few important things to sort out. You must notify your father and you, My Lord, your family as well and to keep it concise, you must state it as if this was the plan all along, not only to keep shame from your families, but mine as well.”
“Why would disrepute come to you?” Oswald asked. “After all, is this not your business? Why wouldn’t a match come from it?”
Lady Pandora gave him a withering look. “Because you two were supposed to have been kept from each other, not matched. My Lord, you walk through life with little need for attachments while Aphrodite is even worse. She flies alone and you walk alone.”
“Forgive me if I am wrong, but eagles and wolves’ mate for life, don’t they?” Aphrodite asked. “Then what is the problem there?”
“But you two are made to lead,” Lady Pandora said. “Who will follow in this union? A marriage depends on one leader and one supporter, not two who will surge ahead and may take different paths when you want to get to the same goal, and so destroy your very aim.”
Aphrodite shared a look with Oswald and then faced Lady Pandora. “I see. You want me to be self-sacrificing and subservient.”
“Can you?” Lady Pandora asked.
At the pointed silence, Lady Pandora moved on. “My Lord, you must have a marriage contract in place, with all the particulars, dowry, separation, pin money, all of it. And since no banns will be called, you must have it done soon.”
“As for your familial relations, I hope your kin will be somewhat acceptable of this union as I know, Aphrodite, your father wanted you with Duke Strathmore, and you, My Lord, your mother wanted you with a docile lady.”
Twisting to him, Aphrodite’s brows were lifted. “Is that so?”
“Sadly, yes,” Oswald said, giving her a contrite look. “It was to safeguard me from women like my late wife. And your father?”
