The Earl kissed the top of her head.
“Very well,” he said. “I shall leave you to rest. I will send Greta to check on you shortly.”
Cecily nodded,
“I love you, Papa,” she said.
“And I love you, Daughter,” he said.
When she heard the door close behind him, she covered her face with her hands. What would have been wonderful news for any other woman in thetonwas driving her mad. A marriage with a duke? She has never even imagined it. What would she do?
Chapter Eleven
Instead of going directly home, Val decided to call in on Henry. He needed to talk to someone about his crazy plan, but he was not yet ready to reveal it to his mother. He had no idea how she would take the news, and he needed to prepare himself before he found out.
Henry answered right away, ushering him inside. He took one look at Val’s face and led him straight to the parlor. He poured them each a drink before either of them said a word. Then, he took a seat across from Val and looked at him with concern.
“You look like someone who has gone to war with Napoleon,” he said.
Val sighed.
“I feel as though I have been through something surreal,” he said. “I called in on the Earl of Dervinshire just before I came here.”
Henry looked perplexed as he sipped his drink.
“Oh?” he asked. “For what?”
Val chewed his lip, still struggling to come to terms with what he had done.
“I asked for his eldest daughter’s hand in marriage. I asked his lordship to give me his blessing for a marriage in convenience with her,” he said.
Henry’s chin stretched toward his chest and stared at Val with bewilderment. He shook his head, his mouth still hanging open as he fumbled for a surface on which to place his drink.
“You… what?” he asked at last.
Val nodded.
“I have heard that Lady Cecily is blind,” he said. “And as you are surely aware, I will never find a lady who would look at me without judgment in her eyes.Unless, that is, her eyes are unable to see.”
Henry nodded, seemingly unaware that his lips were still parted. Val raised an eyebrow until his friend finally closed his mouth.
“All right,” he said, clearly wanting to understand his friend’s motives. “But what does she have to offer you, apart from a lack of judgment?”
Val cracked a soft smile for the first time since arriving at the Earl’s home.
“She is beautiful,” he said. “The most beautiful woman I have ever seen. And she was very charming at dinner last night, no matter how little she spoke.”
Henry nodded slowly.
“I remember you told me that your mother was hosting that dinner,” he said. “So, you have met her, at least. For a moment, I thought you had gone completely mad.”
Val laughed.
“Perhaps, I have,” he said. “But I believe this plan is just crazy enough to work.”
Henry shrugged.
“And what can you offer her?” he asked.
