Page 26 of The Vagabond Viscount
The Duke of Mowbray was going to have a lot to say to anything that Flynn had in mind, especially when it came to the lack of funds. It was going to take more than some vague words of promise before Clifford Kembal agreed to let his daughter marry a near penniless noble.
Flynn nodded. “I will. Could you and I arrange to meet tomorrow afternoon at Hyde Park? We can talk more fully then.”
Their serendipitous meetings in the park had been going on for some time. Augusta and Victoria had taken to regularly strolling in Hyde Park in the late afternoon, just before the usual crowd of evening patrons descended. Viscount Cadnam had a fortunate habit of also walking in the park at that same time.
“Alright, let us talk tomorrow. But I want you to know that this is your last chance. I can’t… I mean, I won’t… live like this any longer.” Augusta took hold of Flynn’s sleeve. He was offering her his assurances of a future together, but it wasn’t the first time he had done that, and then backed away from his promises.
This time she was determined that it was going to be different. If his promises came to naught, like they had so many other times, she was going to give Flynn his marching orders. Either tomorrow they would be committed to one another and ready to speak to her father, or they would be finished for good.
“I don’t intend for us to have to endure this pain for one more day if I can help it. Augusta, my love, I just need you to believe in me.”
Augusta softly sighed. “I do believe in you, Flynn. It’s the machinations of others that I fear.”
He bent and kissed her. “The earl won’t win.”
ChapterTwelve
Flynn’s morning had been a particularly good one. To his delighted surprise there was more than one person who was keen to secure his services. People who genuinely wanted to see the Vagabond Viscount living a life truer to his noble origins. To actually be happy. When the time came that he did become Earl Bramshaw, Flynn would remember those friends and their valuable support.
He was in a joyful mood as he stuffed his gloved hands into his coat pockets and marched in through the front gates of Hyde Park. Being January, it was cold enough in the late afternoon for there to still be a thin layer of predawn ice lying about the ground under the trees. It might have been chilly, but at least the lack of crowd made it easy to spot Augusta and her sister Victoria walking arm in arm through the park.
There were times when he could have sworn the two Kembal women were joined at the hip. Flynn’s gaze drifted to the Mowbray House footman in full livery, who trailed behind at a respectable distance.
While Victoria gave him a cheery wave, Augusta seemed less sure of her greeting. His grand declaration of the previous evening hadn’t quite been the success he had hoped it would be, and there was a decided air of uncertainly about the smile that Augusta finally offered him. Her kisses had been sure, but her words less so.
Of course, she is unsure of things. You have kept her waiting for long enough, and last night you only made more vague promises to her.
But she was here, and that was what really mattered. It was better than the precarious position he had been in with Augusta only a matter of days ago. Hope had returned, and with it, the prospect of them finally being able to reveal their love to the world.
If his change of luck held, Lady Victoria would do her usual trick and wander away to find something of interest while he spoke to her sister. A cluster of trees or a statue of some historic figure would suffice.
“Lady Augusta, Lady Victoria, what a pleasant surprise,” he said, dipping into a low bow.
“Lord Cadnam, fancy meeting you here,” replied Augusta.
His gaze went to Victoria, who slowly shook her head. He was still on shaky ground with Augusta’s loyal sibling, but at least she had a smile on her face.
Victoria cleared her throat. “I might just go and have a look at that water thing,” she said, waving her hand vaguely in the direction of the Serpentine. She moved away toward the lake, beckoning the footman to follow.
It left Flynn and Augusta alone. This was the moment he had been hoping for, when he could finally tell her of his plans and for them to agree on the way forward. Together.
* * *
Augusta had been in two minds all day as to whether to meet with Flynn. She had spent a good hour in her room quizzing Victoria over the possible reason for his sudden change of heart. One minute he was all very mysterious and telling her his life was complicated; the next, he was asking to speak to her father.
He had said everything she wanted to hear, but her mother’s words of caution still sat front and center in her mind.
I am going to get to the bottom of things before he speaks to Papa.
She wanted to be certain of the decisions that loomed large in her future. No matter if her delaying matters caused Flynn a certain degree of frustration, she had to be doubly sure that she was making the right decision. Once they were married, there would be no going back. Besides, he’d made her wait long enough. Now it was his turn to cool his heels.
They wandered along the main path through the park, Victoria and the footman lagging well behind. Augusta glanced back over her shoulder, snorting when she caught sight of her sister giving the Mowbray House servant what appeared to be a lecture on how you should prepare roast vegetables. The footman had the good sense to at least appear somewhat interested.
As she turned away, Augusta caught Flynn’s eye. He grinned at her. “Your sister is very passionate about her food. I wonder what sort of gentleman will be able to keep up with that when it comes time for her to look for a husband.”
Augusta frowned. She hadn’t truly given the subject much thought. Victoria herself had never made mention of being interested in anyone. Nor had she ever raised the subject of marriage.
“He had better like a variety of dishes is all I can say. I can’t see Victoria being happy with someone who only likes plain English food,” replied Augusta.
