Page 92 of Nothing But a Rakehell
“You cannot stop me.” She reached up and pulled him down so that she could place a hand on that magnificent jaw line. “I’ve seen how your father’s manipulations have convinced you that you do not deserve love or caring, or that, once given, it will be snatched away.” She blinked back tears. “I’m telling you, Keswick, thatit is not so. I admire you, so greatly. I love you, so dearly. I will never abandon you. I will always be your friend, or your lover, or whatever it is that you need and choose. I will be proud to be your betrothed for a time. For a short time, if that is all you wish.” She gave a shrug. “We will ensure your freedom today, and then, in a few weeks, I can cry off. We can decide that we do not suit. I am sure I will be considered eccentric amongst theton, so this will only add to my reputation. As long as we part amicably, no one need be destroyed.”
She looked at Tensford. “Do it.”
He looked at Hope, who was still fighting tears. Her sister took her hand and nodded.
Tensford let out a long sigh. He glanced back to the dance floor where the set was ending. He strode out in the middle and called for attention.
Glory let go of her sister and held both of Keswick’s hands tightly. His brow was furrowed as if he was weighing steps and consequences. He still had not responded to her declaration.
It took a moment for everyone to quiet down, but Tensford beckoned a footman to bring him a flute of champagne and stood with his glass raised. “I know many of you are expecting to hear me expound upon the very great discovery made here at Greystone days ago. The specimen found near our cliffs is indeed a fascinating object. But I have only just made an even more wonderful discovery—”
There was a murmur and a growing wave of consternation by the door. A lady shrieked. The crowd parted and Mr. Sterne stumbled into the open space around Tensford, supported by Miss Munroe.
Glory gasped. Blood ran down Sterne’s face and he held his sleeve pressed to his temple. “It’s gone,” he said, clearly distraught. “The fossil is gone.”
Chapter 20
Chaos erupted in the ballroom. Hope rushed to Sterne and began to give quiet, effective orders, calling for water and bandages and footmen to help him to a chair. Tensford checked to be sure Sterne was in no immediate danger, exchanged a few words with him, then rushed out.
Nearly half of the guests followed on his heels, eager to witness more of the spectacle. The other half scurried about the ballroom, fussing over Sterne, questioning Miss Munroe, gossiping, or just generally contributing to the pandemonium.
It all seemed utterly appropriate to Keswick. It all mirrored the turmoil in his heart so very well.
Glory. She clutched his hands, still, and he gazed down at her in wonder and consternation. Another gift. She’d given him her heart in a way that no one had ever done for him.
He rather felt as if the giving of her heart had set his own free.
They moved Sterne off to a more comfortable location and Keswick turned to find his father behind him, staring with narrowed eyes. “I know what you are trying to do,” he spat. “It will not work. You will marry—”
People were starting to look.
“Lord Braunton.” Glory let go of him and rose from the chair. She stepped up to his father. The old man glared down at her. Keswick moved beside her while she smiled sweetly up at him. “It was such a lucky chance that led you north, so that you could be here for the announcement of our engagement.” She transferred her smile to the guests around them. “Don’t you all agree?”
“You . . . you . . .”
“Indeed.” Lady Tresham was in the group. She eyed the earl closely and moved in. “Is that the announcement Tensford was trying to make before he was so unfortunately interrupted? Betrothed! Let me be the very first to congratulate you, then!” She transferred her gaze to his father. “And you, my lord. I congratulate you on your good fortune. You are welcoming a special young lady into your family.” She gave Glory a laughing nod. “In fact, I think you’ll find you have more in common than you might expect.”
His father turned a mottled red.
Keswick tightened his arm around Glory.
His father nearly spit anger when he spoke. “It won’t—”
“I know, Father. It won’t be the same.” Keswick cast a wry look at the crowd beginning to form around them. “Certainly, I will never be the same. I suspect I will be happy—in a way that I never thought to achieve.”
His father glared daggers at him, then turned to stalk away.
Keswick turned to face her. His instinct was to whisk her away to tell her all that was in his heart, but they needed this to be seen and heard—and she deserved a public declaration. “Honestly, I never thought my heart would open this way. I’ve been a fool for so long, I almost missed what was right before me. I liked Lady Glory. I laughed at her quick wit and enjoyed her sprightly conversation. I admired her beauty—and her seat on a horse.”
Someone laughed and he raised a brow. “In all seriousness—have you everseenher ride?” Now everyone laughed, even Glory.
“The bit that scares me most is that I almost didn’t recognize what a treasure she is. Fortunately, my addled brain cleared enough, and my skeptical heart grew brave enough to realize that in her care is the only place for me. I humbly ask her to take my hand, even though she never meant to marry and I am nothing but a rakehell—and sure to be a bother.”
“It must be you,” he said directly to her. “And it must be forever. You are the only one I could ever trust to see inside of me—and still want to stay.”
Now there were tears in her eyes. “It must be you,” she whispered. “Because you are the only one who looks at me and sees more, instead of less.”
Someone applauded. Lady Tresham loudly called for a toast to the happy couple. People surrounded them to shake hands and offer hugs and kisses and slaps on the back. Miss Myland herded in a pair of footmen with trays of champagne and Hope and Tensford arrived back just in time to take up a glass.
