Ava’s gaze swept the street in front of her. She caught sight of Brad’s carriage. She stiffened. It was time. She was going to have to face him, and the sooner she did it, the better.
She hurried over to the settee and sat down. She waited in dread for him to enter the townhouse. When she heard the footman open the front door, she began to lose her nerve. Maybe she should reconsider. Maybe she should give him a chance to calm down before she saw him.
No. It was best to get this over with. She took a deep breath and clasped her hands in her lap.
She heard Brad talking in low tones to the footman. She strained to hear what he was saying but couldn’t make any of it out. It didn’t matter. She’d be dealing with Brad soon enough.
The footsteps got louder, and before she knew it, Brad was in the doorway. He entered the room and shut the doors behind him.
She wiggled on the settee. It took all of her willpower to stay seated. The fact that he didn’t want the servants to overhear what he was going to tell her didn’t bode well. He approached her, and, unable to meet his gaze, she looked away from him.
“Ava,” he began as he sat beside her, “I heard what happened at Hyde Park, and I want you to know that I’m proud of you.”
She blinked in surprise. He was proud of her?
“No one has ever had the nerve to stand up to her before,” he continued. “It’s about time someone did it. I can’t properly express how proud I am of you.”
She must be dreaming. Perhaps in her upset state she had fallen asleep. Such a thing wouldn’t be uncommon for her. When things overwhelmed her, she often took a nap. She found that things were better after she slept. So maybe this was really all a dream. To make sure, she pinched herself. And it hurt, just as she would expect it to if she was awake.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
“Trying to make sure I’m not imagining this. Lady Eloise was extremely angry with me, and she let it be known that your reputation was going to suffer because of me. My aunt had warned me about her, but I didn’t heed her advice. I went to Lady Eloise’s social gathering anyway. I only did it because I thought it would please you.”
His eyebrows furrowed. “Why would it please me?”
“Because her father is influential. He is wealthy and has prominent connections. I thought it might be good if you could start a friendship with him, and the only way I could think of to do that was by joining Ladies of Grace.”
His expression softening, he slipped his arm around her shoulders and brought her closer to him. “Ava, that is one of the nicest things anyone’s ever done for me. But I assure you, my happiness doesn’t depend on which influential member of the Ton is my friend. There are some things a person should be willing to stand for. Lady Eloise enjoys intimidating people, and I’m disgusted by it. No one else had the courage to stand up to her, except for you.” He squeezed her shoulders and kissed her. “I love you, Ava. I am blessed to have you as my wife.”
Everything he was saying was just too good to be true. She pinched herself again.
He laughed. “You still think you’re dreaming?”
“Well, this all seems too good to be true. I fell in love with you the moment I met you. Even though I hoped you might love me back, I never imagined it would be this soon.”
He kissed her again. “Believe it. Because after today, I would be a fool not to be hopelessly and forever in love with you.” Then, he brought his lips back to hers then proceeded to show her just how much he loved her.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Ava was in heaven. She never dreamed that things would end up the way they had. After Brad made love to her in the drawing room, he took her out for a stroll, showing that he was happy with the way she’d handled things with Lady Eloise.
When they returned to the townhouse, they had a wonderful dinner then retired to her bedchamber. The next morning, they each took turns bathing each other. At least this time when he was in the tub, she didn’t have to be embarrassed about seeing him naked. In fact, Brad even joked about it, and the two shared a good laugh.
It wasn’t until after she was getting dressed for the morning that she remembered Stephen. She hadn’t seen him all day yesterday. She knew Brad had gone out to find him, but she didn’t know if he did. She assumed Stephen was all right since Brad didn’t say otherwise. Perhaps he had come home some time during the night.
But when she didn’t see him in the drawing room as she waited for breakfast, she knew something was wrong. Even if Brad hadn’t always been here in the morning, Stephen had.
Brad came into the drawing room. “Why didn’t you wait in your bedchamber? I was going to escort you down here.”
“It’s already nine. I thought you were going to be down here. If I remember right, Stephen said you liked to be here by then because you want to eat at exactly 9:10.” She glanced at the clock above the fireplace and noted that it was 9:05.
Chuckling, Brad brought her into his arms and kissed her. “You must think I’m silly for my peculiarities.”
She smiled and returned his kiss. “I don’t mind if you like things done at a certain time or only like even numbers. It doesn’t prevent you from doing the things you want to do. Timothy didn’t tell you about the story where a gentleman was so obsessed with the weather that he refused to go out if it wasn’t sunny.”
“What happened to him?”
“It had a sad ending. It rained for weeks, and he had nothing to eat. He ended up starving to death because he refused to leave the house to get food.”
He grimaced. “I’m sorry I asked.”
“It was just a story, but it had a good moral. You can’t let fear prevent you from doing something. After all, what was the worst that would have happened to that gentleman? He would have gotten wet. That was it. Sometimes the things we fear the most aren’t as bad as we think they are.”
“When you put it like that, then I suppose the story isn’t so awful. At least there’s a lesson to be gleaned from it. And really, it’s a good one.” He pulled her closer to him. “I was foolish like that poor character in the story. I was interested in getting to know you better while we shared that dance at my ball, but like a fool, I let fear get in my way. When we tripped, I was afraid that I was going to end up falling in front of people whenever we were out together. It was stupid, and I’m sorry for it. Even if you were clumsy all the time, I should have still been willing to be your suitor.”
“I accept your apology,” she replied, and to let him know she held no ill will against him, she kissed him.
She was thrilled to know he really had been interested in her after all. She had thought there was a special connection between them, and it was wonderful to know that he had felt it, too. Maybe fate had intervened on her behalf. In this case, fate had taken the form of Stephen. Speaking of whom, where was he?
“I notice that your brother isn’t here this morning,” she said. “Did you ever find him?”
“Oh, I found him. Lord Manning is keeping him at his townhouse until he marries Lady Eloise.”
Her eyes widened in surprise. “Until he does what?”
“He’s going to stay at Lord Manning’s until Lady Eloise’s father gets him for the wedding ceremony. I wasn’t originally going to marry him off to someone because I couldn’t think of a lady who deserved him for a husband, but I think he and Lady Eloise are an excellent match. I spoke with her father yesterday, and he agrees with me. It turns out that the Duke of Silverton is a reasonable gentleman. I can’t understand why so many people are afraid of him.”
She didn’t know what to say. In one respect, it was a relief that the Duke of Silverton got along with Brad. That should help protect Brad from any of the horrible things Lady Eloise tried to do to harm his reputation. However, Lady Eloise was such an awful person that she didn’t think anyone should be married to her, even someone like Stephen. Granted, Stephen wasn’t the best gentleman she’d ever met, but underneath it all, she detected some goodnes
s in him. Lady Eloise, on the other hand, had none.
But what could she do about the upcoming marriage? Stephen was Brad’s brother. Brad was responsible for him. It was ultimately up to him to decide what to do with him. And the marriage had already been arranged.
Brad caressed her cheek. “You are so lovely, Ava. I couldn’t have asked for a better wife.”
“Lord Youngtown,” the butler said as he stepped into the drawing room.
Brad released Ava and turned to him. “Yes?”
“There are two things I have to tell you,” the butler began. “One, your sister is here. And two, the morning meal is ready.”
“Bring my sister in,” Brad replied. With a glance at Ava, he added, “She wouldn’t come this early unless it was important.”
Before he was finished with his sentence, Loretta ran into the room, a copy of a very familiar paper in her arms.
Ava frowned. Was that the Tittletattle?
“Is it true?” Loretta asked, coming straight over to Ava. “Did you tell Lady Eloise that her group wasn’t important?”
Brad put his arm around Ava’s shoulders and nodded. “I couldn’t be happier with Ava for doing it. I wish you’d done it when you had the chance.”
Loretta rolled her eyes. “Yes, Brad, I’m well aware of what you think of Lady Eloise and her group. You’ve never made it any secret. I just wanted to know if Ava really told Lady Eloise that her group wasn’t important.” Her gaze went back to Ava. “So, did you actually say that?”
“I don’t recall my exact words,” Ava slowly replied, “but I did tell her that family was more important than her group.”
Loretta let out an excited squeal and pulled Ava away from Brad so that she could hug her. “I wish I’d seen the look on Lady Eloise’s face when you said that.”
“She wasn’t pleased,” Ava said.
“Which is why I wish I’d been there.” Loretta pulled away from her and opened the Tittletattle. “It didn’t make the first page, but it made the second.”
Even though Ava wasn’t all that excited to read about yesterday’s debacle, she took the paper. She expected the article to criticize her, but as soon as she saw the headline Lady Eloise Finally Gets Her Comeuppance, she realized it wasn’t attacking her at all. It was being critical of Lady Eloise.
In fact, the article supported what Ava had done, reinforcing that family was more important than a walk in Hyde Park with Lady Eloise’s group. Then, to Ava’s shock, it concluded with, Lady Eloise is under the delusion that she is highly respected in the Ton. She can strive for social prominence all she wants, but she’ll never match the same stature as Lady Cadwalader.
“I don’t understand,” Ava told Loretta. “What does Lady Cadwalader have to do with this? She wasn’t even there at Hyde Park when the incident happened.”
“It has everything to do with Lady Cadwalader,” Loretta replied, barely holding in her laughter. “Lady Eloise is jealous of Lady Cadwalader. That part of the article will have her fuming for weeks, if not months.”
“There’s something highly suspicious about the mention of Lady Cadwalader,” Brad said. “Does she have something to do with the Tittletattle?”
Loretta shrugged. “I don’t know, and I don’t care. I’m just glad this is in the scandal sheets. It’s about time someone let Lady Eloise know she’s not as important as she thinks she is.” She took the paper back. “I’m going to save this for the rest of my life. It’s the best thing that’s happened to me since I married Tad and had Rosamond.”
“The best thing is that it supports Ava,” Brad said. “I don’t like the idea of anyone talking badly about her.”
“Oh, I agree.” Loretta nodded as she carefully folded the paper. “That is wonderful. I’m glad your reputation hasn’t suffered for what you did,” she told Ava. She slipped the paper under her arm. “I didn’t know you were looking to join a social group. My friend, Celia, and I lead one that’s called Enduring Friendships. So far, we have four members. There’s Lady Worsley, Lady Steinbeck, Lady Edon, and Lady Richfield. We believe, as you do, that Lady Aston was right to stay with her sick child for as long as she did.”
Ava was surprised by Loretta’s kind gesture. It was nice for Loretta to think of bringing her into the group, but Ava had no desire to belong to any group. The only reason she had considered it at all was because of Brad, and now that she knew he loved her whether she was in a group or not, she didn’t feel compelled to be in one. She much preferred to spend time with her family and close friends.
“Would you be upset if I declined your gracious offer?” Ava asked.
Loretta shook her head. “Of course not. I know that being in a social group isn’t for everyone. I am enjoying it immensely, but I get bored easily. I like to do something every day.”
“Ever since Loretta was a child,” Brad began, “she had trouble sitting still in one place for any length of time. If she’s not out doing something, she feels like her day has been wasted. Even being in the country would bore her.”
“Oh, I loved being in the country while growing up. There is always something to do. I just used my imagination, and anything I wanted was possible,” Ava said.
Loretta chuckled. “I don’t think my imagination is strong enough for that kind of life. Brad isn’t exaggerating when he says I would get bored in the country. I stay in London all year long. Brad actually looks forward to spending time in the country when it’s winter.”
Ava’s eyes lit up in excitement. “I haven’t been out to the country since my parents died. I would love to go back out there. Few things are as wonderful as going outside and seeing nothing but land all around me.”
“She’s perfect for you, Brad,” Loretta said, a pleased smile on her face. “I know you didn’t like the way Stephen placed you in a scandal, but in all fairness, he did you a favor when he picked Ava to catch you bathing.”
Despite the fact he was blushing, Brad said, “Yes, I suppose he did, but that doesn’t mean he’s not going to be held accountable for the stunt he pulled two nights ago.”
“What stunt was that?” Loretta asked, interest piqued.
“Do you mean to tell me that what he did isn’t in the Tittletattle?” He gestured to the paper tucked under her arm.
Loretta shook her head. “There’s nothing in here about Stephen.”
“Well, you don’t need to know the details. You are a lady, and though a married one, I’d prefer to keep you protected from the more unsavory aspects of our brother’s life.”
Though Loretta seemed disappointed, she conceded, “All right. I’ll abide by your decision. Besides, it’s probably nothing as sordid as some of the stories Tad has told me.”
Brad opened his mouth as if he was ready to ask her for examples of the kinds of stories Tad had told her, but then he closed it, an indication that he honestly did not want to know.
Ava thought Brad was incredibly sweet. He was every bit a gentleman. And she liked that most about him. He wasn’t going to be one of those husbands who ran off to his mistress. He was going to be devoted exclusively to her. There was nothing more a wife could ask for than that.
“I’m sorry I came by so early,” Loretta began. “It’s just that Celia came over with this paper, and I was so excited that I couldn’t sit still and wait until after you two finished your morning meal to come by. Do you forgive me, Brad? I know you hate it when things aren’t exactly on time.”
Brad gave his sister a hug. “I suppose there are some times when a delay isn’t the end of the world. You brought us good news, and I thank you for that.”
Loretta’s gaze went to Ava. “If you ever decide that you would like to be in Enduring Friendships, you are always welcome to join. You’ve done what no other person in London has been able to do to Lady Eloise. Believe me, a lot of people are impressed.”
After Loretta left, Brad turned to her and said, “I don’t think I told you this before, but my sister loves gossip.”
“I do
n’t mind,” Ava assured him. “I’d rather she ask me what happened than make assumptions about it.”
He gave her a lingering kiss and then wrapped her arm around his. “I don’t know about you, but I’m famished. It would be my pleasure to escort you to breakfast.”
“You, my lord, may escort me anywhere you wish.”
Returning her smile, he led her out of the room.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Brad waited until the next day to finally talk to Stephen. After explaining the upcoming marriage he had arranged between Stephen and Lady Eloise, Lord Manning agreed to let him go up to the guest bedchamber.
“Knock on the door when you’re ready to leave,” Lord Manning told Brad as he unlocked the door. “I’ll be out here waiting.” He opened the door, and at once, Stephen ran over to Brad. “It took you long enough to come here.”
“You’re not in the position to be rude.” Brad closed the door behind him so they could have their privacy. Even though Lord Manning knew what he was going to tell Stephen, Brad still wanted to talk to his brother alone.
“Rude?” Stephen asked as if he’d just been insulted. “I’ve been here for two whole days. You want to talk about rude? Your leaving me to rot here is rude.”
“Actually, I was here the same day Lord Manning brought you to this place. I just didn’t want to speak to you until now.” Brad went over to a chair, turned it so that it was facing his brother, and sat down. He crossed his arms and his legs. “Lord Manning wants ten shillings for your release. I suppose you could offer to work as his servant and earn your release.”
Stephen blanched. “That’s absurd. I’m not going to take the position of a servant.”
“I figured you wouldn’t want to do that. Don’t worry. You won’t have to. I’ve already taken care of everything.” He noted the relief on his brother’s face and waited for a long moment before he added, “Unfortunately, I’m not going to be the one to pay Lord Manning the ten shillings in order to get you out of here. The Duke of Silverton will be doing that.”
Married In Haste Page 18
