Page 77 of The Secret of the Dashing Detective
“Your Grace,” Matthew said, standing with a bow.
“It is true, then?” Juliana’s mother said from where she stood just inside the entrance, hands clenched together in front of her bosom. “You were not with Lady Maria but rather… this man?”
“This man, Mother, has a name,” Juliana said, setting her jaw, preparing for battle. “Matthew. And you best learn it well, for I intend to marry him.”
Her mother gasped at that, turning to look to her own mother for assistance, but Lady Winchester only tapped her cane on the floor and smiled at Juliana. “Good for you, girl.”
“Juliana, we must speak about this. There is so much more to consider than your simple infatuation. And you,” she pointed at Matthew, “I told you to leave her be.”
“I tried, Your Grace,” Matthew said contritely. “Truly, I did.”
“But wouldn’t you know it, Matthew finally realized that I have my own mind,” Juliana added.
“Giles, will you take care of this?” the dowager duchess said, turning to her son as her last resort, and Giles nodded, although his gaze was fixed on Matthew.
“Archibald, why do we not retreat to my study? It seems the two of us have a great deal to talk about.”
Matthew leaned in and kissed Juliana’s cheek, much to her surprise as well as everyone else’s in the room, before he followed Giles out, leaving Juliana alone in the room with her sister gaping at her, her mother near to fainting, and both Emma and Lady Winchester wearing matching smiles of approval.
“I suppose you would all like to know what has happened?” she asked, and Emma nodded eagerly while the women finally found seats around the room.
She told them of how she had started developing feelings for Matthew, of how he had tried to resist her, of how their time together only brought them closer, until Matthew pushed her away for what he thought was forever.
Then she told them of the scheme she had concocted for the evening.
“And?” Prudence said, leaning forward, obviously captivated by her sister’s story. “Did it work?”
“Yes,” Juliana said with a smug smile. “It worked perfectly.”
CHAPTER28
Matthew was prepared to have a great deal of explaining ahead of him when he entered the duke’s study. It had changed considerably since his first meeting here. Gone was the overbearing presence of the previous duke staring down at them from his portrait, the heavy navy curtains, the suffocating darkness of the room.
In its place was the brightness of what the duke’s family was becoming.
Giles wearily took a seat behind his desk.
“If you were any other man or if Juliana was any other woman, I would instantly be suspicious of your motives. But my best guess is that you were the one who tried to resist this match and she would not allow it.”
“That would be correct, Your Grace,” Matthew said with a wry grin. “In case you are worried, however, I must tell you that I love her with all my heart. For that very reason I did try to break off any of the affection she had for me, but I did not see how strong her feelings were – that they were much more than affection but a returned love, in fact.”
“Are you both aware of what she will be giving up by marrying you?”
“Yes, Your Grace,” Matthew said. “In fact, that was one of the main reasons I tried to push her away. I wasn’t sure that she was aware of what life awaited her if she were to marry me. But I was wrong. She knows her mind far better than I ever imagined. She was adamant that this is the life she chooses. She made quite a display of it, just in case I couldn’t get it through my thick head.”
He explained what Juliana had done that night, and Giles’ eyebrows rose near to his hairline.
“I cannot say that I am pleased she lied to us all about her whereabouts, but… I am rather impressed.”
Matthew nodded before continuing. “I would like to ask you for her hand. I know that I am far from what you would have expected or preferred for your sister, but I promise you that I will spend my life looking after her and providing her the best life I possibly can.”
Giles eyed him for a moment before standing and rounding his desk, leaning back against it.
“I have a few questions.”
“Of course.”
“What if I do not provide you with her dowry?”
