Page 50 of Nothing Compares to the Duke
“And she usually won,” Rhys admitted without looking at her.
“Because I was usually right.”
“Either that or I let you win.”
Yardley nodded approvingly. “That is a good precedent, Claremont. Don’t forget that principle.” He grinned at his wife, who’d been uncharacteristically quiet.
“You’ll make each other happy?” Lady Yardley asked the question as if there could be an easy answer.
Rhys was suddenly glad the engagement wasn’t real. He couldn’t make Bella happy. He wasn’t sure he couldmake any lady happy, at least not for longer than a few evenings of pleasure.
“He could make me very happy,” he heard Bella say, and couldn’t quite believe his ears.
When he looked her way, she shot him a conspiratorial nod. Of course, this was all part of the ruse. Whatever her parents asked, they would reassure them.
“I will make it my mission to make Bella happy.”
Her brows arched at that and he wondered if he’d laid the assurances on too thickly. But when her mother clasped her hands together and smiled, he and Bella both let out a breath of relief.
“Then we should begin planning a wedding.” Lady Yardley stood and rang a little bell on a table next to her chair. “I think refreshments are in order. There is much to discuss.”
“Mama—”
He’d worried about this. Her parents had been waiting so long for this news. It was no surprise that her mother would want to begin planning their nuptials immediately. The very same hour.
“Let me just get some paper and a pen so we may make some notes.”
“I can speak to Vicar Eames. Securing the church before Christmas, especially for a Claremont, will be easy enough.” Yardley turned to Rhys. “Unless you wish to marry in London. That might be a bit more of a challenge to schedule on short notice.”
“There needn’t be short notice,” Bella said in a loud, clear voice. “Rhys and I wish to wait to marry.”
“Wait?” Lady Yardley nearly tripped on the rug on her way back to her chair. “Whatever for?”
Bella swallowed hard and took a long breath. They’d discussed this and knew it would be the crux of her plan. Whether her parents would accept this farce or not relied on this single moment.
“Rhys hopes to put the estate in order and Lady Margaret must have her coming-out this year. There is a great deal to plan without adding a duke’s nuptials to the list.”
“This is most irregular, Bella.”
They’d anticipated how much of a sticking point this would be for Lady Yardley. Rhys scooted forward in his chair, laced his fingers between his knees and summoned the kind of charm he’d employed to get him through most of the tight spots he’d encountered in life.
“Your enthusiasm is heartening, Lady Yardley,” he told her as he stood and took a seat on the settee next to Bella. “The sooner we can be wed the better.” He cast Bella a grin and for a moment she stared at him uncertainly, then her mouth curved too. “This delay is entirely my fault. I want to do right by my sister and give her the attention she needs.”
“A duke’s wedding will garner a great deal of notice,” Bella added, seeming to understand his intent. “The last thing we wish is for Lady Margaret to feel her first Season has been overshadowed.”
“That I can sympathize with,” Lady Yardley said, and then let out a disappointed sigh. She approachedher husband’s chair and fussed with the doily atop the back. “A year isn’t so long to wait.”
“It will allow you and Papa to get settled in Greece before the wedding.”
“Oh, but we must wait.” The viscountess looked from her daughter to her husband and back again. “How will we help you plan from so far away?”
“Letters, Mama. You were planning to come home for a visit at some point, were you not? We’ll simply marry during one of your visits.”
“But—”
“My dear, they have agreed to marry. It is all we asked of Bella. A betrothal.”
For the first time, Rhys wondered if Lord Yardley suspected the truth. The viscount was clearly determined to accept his post in Greece, but he seemed as determined to convince his wife to depart as they were.
