Page 17 of An Arranged Betrothal with an Icy Duke
“Then you have not explained to her what took place beforehand?”
“No.” Henry shook his head and then turned his attention back to his friend. “I do not feel any need to do so.”
Rather than argue, Lord Eaveswood simply nodded and relief flooded through Henry. He had endured too many arguments with his mother of late to want to engage in any more.
“I have not told society as yet,” Henry finished, speaking a little more quietly. “Nor has Lord Tidemore which I am surprised about. He stated that he would keep it discreet and I privately thought that he would soon be shouting aloud of this engagement, but he has proven his words correct.”
“Which does bode well for Miss Tidemore’s character also, does it not?” Lord Eaveswood suggested. “I am acquainted with Lord and Lady Tidemore and their daughters, though not particularly well. From what I know, they are quite a proper family with a good reputation.”
“Yes, I believe that is so.”
“Then do you want to tell of your news this evening?” Lord Eaveswood asked, quietly. “If you wish for thetonto know of it, then is not this evening a good place to begin?”
Henry sighed. “I suppose so.”
“You do not want to?”
“I do not want the attention,” Henry admitted, finding himself falling into the old familiarity which had been between them both before. “I do not want society to congregate around me, to whisper about me and the like. Though, I am about to go back to my estate so that I might prepare for the house gathering so I suppose such a thing will not be too onerous.”
Lord Eaveswood chuckled. “It will have to happen at some point, will it not?”
Henry heaved another sigh and then gestured to Miss Tidemore. “Let me go to inform the lady and then, yes, I shall make an announcement. Thank you, my friend.”
Lord Eaveswood only smiled and then turned to speak with another guest, leaving Henry to make his way across the room directly towards Miss Tidemore. Much to his surprise, his stomach lurched, nervousness beginning to flood him as she turned her head to look at him. Licking his lips, he kept his chin lifted as he drew near, seeing her turn to face him.
“I am going to make an announcement, Miss Tidemore,” he informed her, choosing not to greet her formally or make any sort of mild conversation before he did so. “I thought it best to inform you.”
Her eyes grew a little wider as she gazed back at him, saying not a single word.
“Thetonwill have to know of our engagement and I can see no reason to delay. It does mean that there will be some scrutiny and much conversation and whispers and the like but these things must be endured.” He looked away and sniffed. “We will be making our way to the estate very soon regardless and such things will be kept from our ears in that regard, I suppose.”
“You are taking my daughter to your estate?” Lord Tidemore stepped closer, his eyes wide but a broad smile on his face. “Goodness, how exceedingly generous of you – and how kind! It is an excellent notion, of course, for it means that you will be able to converse with one another on the drive there and that will be all the more pleasant for both of you.”
Henry drew his brows low, turning to look at Lord Tidemore. “Good evening, Lord Tidmore. I am afraid that – ”
“I shall go to inform Lady Tidemore at once,” Lord Tidemore interrupted, evidently not hearing Henry’s last sentence. “How very generous, Your Grace. I will make certain that she is quite prepared to take her leave so that there will be no delay. I presume that you will be making the arrangements as regards the overnight stop?” The gentleman laughed rather ruefully and waved a hand. “Of course you will be. That was a foolish thing to say. Do excuse me!”
A scowl pulled at Henry’s features as he folded his arms across his chest, his eyes following after Lord Tidemore. That had not been at all what he had been intending to say and yet there seemed to be no way to escape from it now. When he madehis way to the estate, he would be bringing Miss Tidemore in the carriage with him.
“The announcement, Your Grace? When will it be?” Miss Tidemore caught his attention and he nodded, his brows still furrowed.
“Yes, yes, Miss Tidemore, do not rush me into such a thing.”
“I – I did not rush you.”
It was the first time she had ever spoken to him in such a way, the first time she had ever said more than a few words to him and shock ripped up through Henry’s chest, making his eyes flare as he looked sharply at her.
“You are the one who stated that you wished to make the announcement, Your Grace. I was only asking you when this evening it would be.”
Henry kept his gaze fixed to hers, hoping that she would quail under his sharp eyes but instead, she simply just kept looking back at him without any sort of fear or concern in her eyes. She had given a clear statement and now was clearly waiting for him to respond, though Henry did not like what she had said in the least.
“You are quite right, you did not rush him.” A lady with dark curls came to stand by Miss Tidemore’s side, her lips curved into a light smile as she looked up at him. “Forgive me for interjecting but I could not help but overhear the conversation. Lady Eaveswood, Your Grace. We are already acquainted, though that was before I was married.”
Henry forced himself to drop into a bow. “Yes, of course.”
“I heard Lord Tidemore’s effusive exclamations and came to speak with you, Miss Tidemore, to congratulate you on your engagement,” the lady continued, turning to smile at Miss Tidemore. “I presume that this is the announcement that is to be made?”
“It was, yes, though it seems now that Lord Tidemore has already begun to speak of it before I have had opportunity.” Henry threw a glance over his shoulder in search of the gentleman, only for Lady Eaveswood to laugh.
