Page 43 of The Uncouth Duke of Longford
“But you will take great care around Lord Chiddick, will you not?” Miss Grifford’s eyes were still concerned, holding onto his. “You must be all the more cautious. I am a little concerned that he might now suspect that I have discovered the truth.”
Andrew considered this and then nodded. “You fear that he might not believe the excuses Miss Renfrew and you made? To my ears they did sound believable.”
Miss Grifford paused and then shrugged her shoulders. “It may be that there is nothing to fear but all the same, I find myself concerned,” she said, honestly. “He might have seen Miss Renfrew in the apothecary. He might have recognised her and then for us to both burst into your drawing room could make him suspicious.”
Understanding her meaning, Andrew nodded again. “Then I shall be all the more cautious,” he promised, as she finally released his hand. “All will be well this evening, though mayhap Lord Wrexham and yourself might come to speak with me? I can trust him and it would be helpful to get his opinion on whatever it is I plan to do next.”
“But of course.” She smiled and made to take her leave, only for Andrew to reach out and catch her hand again. Desire flooded him and he lifted her hand to his lips, pressing a kiss to it so that he might show just a little of his care, consideration and affection for the lady – even though, in his heart and mind, he was still doing all he could to understand all that he felt. “Thank you, Rachel,” he said softly, lifting his head just a little to look into her eyes. “Thank you for everything you have done, for your boldness, your courage and your consideration. I value it all. I valueyoumore than I can say and I look forward to soon being in your company again.”
Just as he finished speaking, a face suddenly appeared at the carriage door. Andrew released Miss Grifford’s hand and turned his head, about to speak sharply to whichever footman had decided to interrupt them, only to come face to face with Lord Carmichael. The man’s eyes rounded, taking in the scene and suddenly, Andrew found himself a little tongue tied.
“Father.” Miss Grifford’s voice sounded a little hoarse. “The Duke was bringing me home after an errand took a little longer than – ”
“Your Grace?” Lord Carmichael looked at Andrew with a lifted eyebrow, his expression inscrutable. Andrew knew exactly what the gentleman meant for here he was, sitting with Miss Grifford in a carriage and with her hand at his lips. His heart slammed into his chest, his stomach twisting this way and that as he looked back at Miss Grifford, aware of what was required. Either he would make a profuse apology and promise that such a thing would never happen again or he would do what Lord Carmichael clearly expected, in order to maintain property.
Do not!his heart screamed as he cleared his throat, his mind whirring between one decision and the next.You always said you would not, that you did not want to marry. Can you really be considering doing that now?
“Yes, Lord Carmichael,” he found himself saying, his lips feeling a little thick. “Forgive me, you have come upon me at just the wrong moment.” With a forced smile, he looked back to Miss Grifford, seeing the way her eyes had rounded, two spots of color in either cheek. “Miss Grifford, what I was going to say was this: I think you the most remarkable creature and I have thought that all the more so with every day we have spent time together. Therefore, Miss Grifford, I wonder if you might considering accepting my hand in marriage.”
Chapter Nineteen
Rachel was so shocked, she could not move. She stared back at the Duke of Longford, hearing nothing but a loud buzzing in her ears and aware of how fast her heart was pounding.
“Did you hear the Duke, Rachel?”
Her father’s voice sounded like it was coming from very far away but even still, Rachel could not look at him. Instead, she saw only the Duke of Longford, taking in his expression, seeing the slight lift to his eyebrow and the swirl in his eyes. Was he being entirely serious? Or was this something that he now felt obliged to say given that they had been found in such a position in the carriage?
The Duke squeezed her hand and then looked to Lord Carmichael again. “I must apologise for not going about this the right way,” he said, giving Rachel a few more moments to catch her breath, to come back to the present and think through what she was to answer. “I should have spoken with you first, Lord Carmichael. I should have come to request your permission and in truth, I was not entirely certain that I was to do such a thing today. But now that I am in company with your daughter, now that I am speaking with her and once more enjoying her company, I find myself overwhelmed with emotion. I pray for your forgiveness in that regard, Lord Carmichael.”
“You have it!”
Rachel’s eyes went to her father, seeing his broad smile and the light in his eyes. Clearly he was more than delighted with this present situation, thrilled with the way that the Duke had singled her out and was now hopeful of a match between them – but she did not feel the same way. Her heart was uncertain, aware of all that she felt for the Duke of Longford and howfearful she was of falling quite in love with him without such feelings being returned.
But what could she do? Could she really refuse him? Could she sit here, look back into his face and, in front of her father, chose to reject him? That would not be wise for then all of thetonwould hear what she had said, would wonder at it and, no doubt, she would never be made such an offer again. To reject the Duke of Longford was surely to be made a spinster for who from thetonwould attempt to seek her out thereafter? If she was not willing to accept a Duke, then thetonwould think her unwilling to accept any gentleman, including those with a lesser title and she could not permit that to happen.
There is only one choice,she told herself firmly, her heart still racing with both fear and anticipation.I must say yes.
“Rachel?” Her father lifted an eyebrow gently, that smile hovering around his lips. “Have you an answer for the Duke?”
It was clear by the gentle yet happy tone of his voice that he was expecting her to agree, to accept and, with a nod, Rachel looked back to the Duke of Longford, painfully aware that this was the moment that everything was about to change for her.
“Yes, Your Grace,” she said, only just then realizing how badly her voice was shaking. “Yes, I shall accept the offer of your hand in marriage.”
The Duke smiled though there was no exuberance there. Instead, he simply lifted her hand to his lips and pressed another kiss to the back of it, leaving her breathless. “How wonderful,” he murmured, as her father clapped his hands together, a broad grin settling on his face. “I am utterly delighted.”
Rachel swallowed and tried to speak but her father interjected before she had a chance.
“We shall have to throw an engagement ball to celebrate!” he exclaimed, as the Duke nodded, smiled and then released Rachel’s hand. “What say you, Your Grace?”
“I would be more than willing for that to take place,” the Duke replied, as Rachel finally made her way from the carriage, her heart pulled between delight and uncertainty. “Though let us keep this engagement to ourselves for the moment, if we might, Lord Carmichael? I should not like to announce it at another gentleman’s ball for that would be most improper and I fear that I should make a bit of an upset in that regard.”
Lord Carmichael nodded as Rachel caught the Duke’s eye, seeing him smile gently and realizing that he had said such a thing in order to give her opportunity to come to an understanding about all of this. She smiled back at him, one hand pressing lightly to her stomach so as to relieve the tension crawling through it.
“I quite understand. But do let us know when you intend to make the announcement,” Lord Carmichael said, stepping back and putting one hand out to take Rachel’s before setting it on his arm. “We shall keep it to the family only for the moment.”
“I thank you.”
Without another word – though he did give her a nod – the Duke took his leave and Rachel watched the carriage roll away.
