Austin's simmering annoyance was tempered considerably by the comically dumbfounded look on Robert's face. "Your command of the language and powers of deduction have always been a great source of pride to the entire family, Robert."
Without a word Robert crossed the carpet and dropped to one knee in front of Elizabeth. Clasping both hands over his heart, he said "My dear lady. It is indeed an honor to meet you. And you shall forever have my undying gratitude for removing my brother from the marriage market. Now perhaps some other poor, unfortunate, untitled bloke, namely myself, will stand a chance to capture a beautiful woman's eye. I don't suppose there's another like you at home? A sister perhaps? Aunt? Cousin? Grandmama?"
With hellfires scorching her cheeks, Elizabeth looked down at the young man kneeling before her. Teasing dark blue eyes gazed back up at her from a face that bore a marked resemblance to Austin's. But where Austin's countenance was firm, guarded and serious, his younger brother's was softer, open, and smiling. In spite of her stinging embarrassment, she couldn't help but return his infectious grin.
"A pleasure to meet you, Lord Robert," she said performing an awkward curtsy made all the more difficult by Austin's unmoving arm wrapped around her waist.
He rose to his feet and made her a bow. "You must call me Robert. And the pleasure is all mine." Turning to Austin, he extended his hand. "Congratulations, Brother. I wish you much happiness."
Austin's grip around her waist relaxed. He shook Robert's hand. "Thank you, Robert. And as long as you are here, so unexpectedly, I'll take this opportunity to ask you to serve as my best man."
"Delighted to do so." Robert sent her a twinkling smile. "I've always known I was the best man. It's just gratifying to hear Austin finally admit it. Did you say you had a sister?"
Amused, she said "I'm afraid I don't."
"Just my luck." Shaking his head in a woebegone fashion, he crossed the room and poured a brandy. "When is the wedding?"
Elizabeth was about to reply that she didn't know when Austin spoke.
"The day after tomorrow."
Her jaw dropped open and she forcibly snapped it shut. "The day after tomorrow? "
Robert sent Austin an arch look. "Your bride-to-be seems a bit, er, surprised by the news. I don't know much about these things, but I believe it is customary to let the lady know when the nuptials will take place."
"I was about to discuss it with her when you barged in."
Mischief sparkled in Robert's eyes. "Really? Is that what you were about to do? It looked more like-"
"Robert." There was no mistaking the ice in that single word.
Robert set down his brandy snifter, then held up his hands. "Say no more. As much as I know you're perishing for me to stay and regale you with tales of my adventures abroad I really must be off. I've barely spoken to Mother since I arrived an hour ago and I promised to meet her in the drawing room before dinner."
"I haven't announced the engagement yet, Robert."
"My lips are sealed." Crossing the room, he took Elizabeth's hand and pressed a kiss to her fingers. An image flashed through her mind and for an instant it was as if she'd looked into his soul. "I look forward to seeing you at dinner," he said his eyes filled with friendly warmth.
"Thank you."
He walked to the door with an easy, unhurried grace, much in contrast to Austin's purposeful strides. Before closing the door behind him, he sent her a broad wink that warmed her cheeks.
She waited for Austin to speak, but he simply stared at the closed door with enough heat to burn a hole through the wood. Finally she said "Your brother is very entertaining."
"He's a cursed pest."
"He loves you."
"He-" Austin turned and stared at her. "I beg your pardon?"
"He loves you. He's all but bursting with curiosity and concern about your decision to marry me."
"Concern? What makes you say that?"
He touched me. I felt it. "In spite of his teasing, it is obvious he's concerned that you're making the right decision. It was quite illuminating to watch the two of you together. I wonder if you realize how much you're alike."
Her words clearly surprised him. "Alike? Robert and I are nothing alike."
Oh, but you are. Inside. In your souls. Where it counts. Instead of arguing, she inclined her head. "Perhaps you're correct. After all, you are a serious man, and Robert is quite buoyant."
"I'm not certain buoyant is the word I'd use to describe him at the moment, but no matter. We've other things to discuss."
"Yes, we do. Austin, what on earth did you mean when you said the wedding would take place the day after tomorrow?"
"Just that. I spent most of the day contacting my solicitors and procuring a special license, which I shall have tomorrow afternoon. I suppose we could schedule the ceremony for tomorrow evening, but I thought you might want the extra day to make the necessary arrangements."
"But surely that's not enough time to plan a wedding!"
"My mother could arrange a coronation in half that time. Throw your aunt and Caroline into the mix, and we could be married before breakfast." Cupping her face between his hands, he regarded her with a frown. "I trust you're not changing your mind?"
A lump lodged in her throat. Changing her mind? Not bloody likely, as the Brits would say. "Of course not." His frown eased and she smiled at him. "But in deference to your mother's and Aunt Joanna's hearts, I agree we'd best plan on the day after tomorrow." She placed her hands on his forearms and felt the tension beneath her fingertips. "May I ask why you want the ceremony to take place so quickly?"
If she'd hoped romantic notions were behind his decision, his words dashed her. "A simple matter of logistics. I need to be in London by July first, and I plan to remain there for an undetermined period. By having the wedding take place before I leave, you can simply accompany me to London and I'll be saved from a journey back here or to Lady Penbroke's estate to fetch you."
She tried to hide her disappointment behind a smile. "Fetch me? You make me sound like a pair of slippers."
"Hardly slippers." His gaze settled on her mouth and her heart skipped a beat, hoping he was going to kiss her. Again she was disappointed for he stepped away from her and crossed to the brandy decanters. "I have several matters to take care of before we make our announcement."
Realizing he was dismissing her, Elizabeth nodded. "Of course. If you'll excuse me, I must ready myself for dinner." She walked to the door. Before closing it behind her, she looked back. Austin was regarding her with an intense, enigmatic expression that somehow chilled and heated her at the same time.
Chapter 10
Elizabeth had just finished dressing for dinner when a knock sounded on her bedchamber door. "Come in."
Aunt Joanna entered amidst a flurry of bobbing feathers and rustling purple silk. "My dear child," she said, her plump face wreathed in smiles. She enveloped Elizabeth in a plume-filled hug. "Did I not tell you?"
"Tell me what?"
Her aunt stepped back and regarded her with wide eyes. "Why, that it was only a matter of time until some nice young man took notice of you." She snapped open her fan and waved it vigorously, setting her feathers in motion. "I knew that we would find you a husband, but even I could not have predicted that we would land a duke! La, when Bradford told me that he wished to marry you, I nearly swooned. Not that he shouldn't want to marry you, of course. Any man would be blessed to have a lovely girl like you. But a duke! And such a young, handsome duke." She leaned forward and confided "Most of them are quite old and decrepit, you know."
Before Elizabeth could reply, her aunt plunged on, "Your parents would be so proud of you, as I am, my dear. So proud and happy for you." A dreamy expression entered her eyes and she heaved a rapturous sigh. "Why, I believe this is even more romantic than when your mother eloped with your father. They were so much in love…" She looked at Elizabeth, then frowned. "Whatever is wrong, child? You look quite stricken."
Elizabeth blinked bac
k the tears suddenly stinging her eyes. "I was just thinking about Papa and Mother… how much they loved each other. How much they wanted me to have a happy marriage like theirs."
"And you will! Look who you are marrying! Can you doubt for a moment that you will be deliriously happy?" Her aunt studied her for several heartbeats. Elizabeth tried her best to look deliriously happy, but clearly she failed because her aunt said "Yes, I can see that you do doubt it." Snapping her fan closed she led Elizabeth to the brocade settee near the fire. After they were seated Aunt Joanna said "Tell me what is troubling you, Elizabeth."
Elizabeth looked into her aunt's concerned blue eyes, eyes that reminded her so much of her beloved mother's. She had no wish to dampen Aunt Joanna's enthusiasm, but she could not pretend that her upcoming marriage was a love match. "Surely you realize, Aunt Joanna, that the only reason the duke is marrying me is because he believes he has to."
Aunt Joanna harrumphed loudly. "And surely you realize that no one could force Bradford to do anything he didn't wish to do."
"He is honorable and wishes to save my reputation-"
"Pish posh. If he were truly opposed to marrying you, he would simply refuse to do so, and because of who he is, he could get away with it. Clearly you do not understand his exalted position in Society… a position that you will share as his wife." She squeezed Elizabeth's hand. "Be happy, my dear. You will never want for anything."
Sadness tugged at Elizabeth's heart. "Except perhaps my husband's love."
Aunt Joanna wagged a gloved ringer. "Darling, don't doubt for an instant that Bradford is well and truly besotted. If he weren't, wild horses could not have dragged a proposal from him. And once a man is besotted he is nothing more than a fish on a hook."
"I beg your pardon?"
"You've hooked the largest fish in England rny dear. He's already infatuated with you. Now all you need to do is pull your line into shore."
Elizabeth suppressed a giggle at the impossible comparison of Austin to a fish. "And how do I do that?"
"By being your wonderfully unique self. And by engaging his interest you-know-where." Her aunt's eyebrows bobbed up and down several times.
Good heavens, surely Aunt Joanna wasn't going to embark on a discussion of Austin's anatomy. "Um, I afraid I don't know exactly where you-know-where is."
Aunt Joanna leaned forward, forcing Elizabeth to dodge a peacock feather. "The bedchamber," she intoned in a low voice, and Elizabeth sagged with relief. "If you keep your husband happy in the bedchamber, his infatuation will grow into love. It worked for me with my darling Penbroke. Your uncle was faithful to me until the day he died. A husband who has a warm marriage bed will not seek out a mistress."
Fire burned in Elizabeth's cheeks, but her aunt went on, "As your mother is not here, God rest her soul, I shall instruct you as I believe she would want. Now, tell me, dear, do you know where babies come from?"
Elizabeth fought a sudden urge to laugh. Her aunt looked so earnest and fiercely determined to do her duty. "Aunt Joanna, I am a physician's daughter and was raised around animals. I am well acquainted with the workings of the body."
"Excellent. Then you know everything you need to know."
"I do?"
"Yes." Reaching out, she patted Elizabeth's cheek. "Just remember everything I've just told you and you'll do splendidly."
Elizabeth stared trying to recall anything her aunt had just told her.
"And if you have any other questions," Aunt Joanna said "don't hesitate to ask. I'm delighted to help." With that, she rose and tossed her boa over her shoulder. "Come, dear. It's time to go downstairs. I want to make sure I have a clear view of Lady Digby and her horse-faced brood when Bradford announces your betrothal. Small and petty of me, I know, but it isn't every day that one's niece captures 'England's Most Eligible Bachelor.'"
Elizabeth decided that the betrothal announcement in the drawing room before dinner produced the greatest range of facial expressions she'd ever seen. Caroline and Aunt Joanna beamed. Austin's mother smiled regally while Robert simultaneously grinned and winked. Most of the other guests looked anywhere from surprised to stunned while Lady Digby looked as if she'd swallowed an insect. The Digby daughters looked as if they'd all bitten into the same sour lemon. After the initial surprise, however, the guests gathered around her and Austin, offering their congratulations.
Dinner was a gala affair, with everyone raising their glasses to toast the future bride and groom. Several guests who had planned to depart first thing in the morning hastily changed their itineraries to remain at Bradford Hall for the whirlwind wedding ceremony.
Elizabeth noticed that the Digby daughters were already turning their attention toward the other available gentlemen guests. She smothered a grin when she saw Robert seated between two Digby girls, both of them vying for his attention with cold-eyed determination. Robert caught her looking at him from across the table and rolled his eyes toward the ceiling. She had to cough into her hand to cover her laughter.
Her merriment faded however, as the meal progressed. She realized with growing discomfort that everyone at the food-laden mahogany table was looking at her. Some of the guests were not as obvious as others, but she felt the weight of two dozen stares flicking over her. Assessing her.
Whereas before she'd been the object of sneers, now she observed speculation. Curiosity. And while she clearly felt skepticism veiled behind many of the smiles, as Austin had predicted no one uttered an unkind word to her. Indeed the gentleman seated next to her, instead of talking around her, hung on her every word as if gems of brilliance dripped from her lips. Penelope and Prudence, neither of whom had deigned to exchange more than a dozen words with her before, now made it a point to engage her in a conversation regarding fashion. Luckily they did most of the talking.
While the gentleman next to her droned on about a recent fox hunt, she glanced toward the head of the table at Austin. He was about to drink from his wineglass when their eyes met. And held.
Elizabeth gazed at him, his hand arrested halfway to his lips, his eyes intent on hers. Heat rushed through her and she fought a sudden urge to fan herself with her linen napkin. The way he looked at her, with that dark intensity that seemed to see inside her, unnerved her. And excited her in a way she could not put a name to.
With great difficulty, she returned her attention to her dinner companions, but her skin continued to tingle from the heat of Austin's gaze.
When the meal ended the ladies retired to the drawing room for coffee. Elizabeth immediately found herself surrounded by half a dozen chattering women.
"Of course you must call upon us at your earliest convenience, my dear," Lady Dibgy said elbowing her way to Elizabeth's side.
Before Elizabeth could open her mouth to reply, Lady Digby went on, "In fact, I should like to host a dinner party in your honor." She turned to her daughters. "Wouldn't that be lovely, girls?"
"Lovely, Mother," the Digby daughters chorused.
With a determined and proprietary air, Lady Digby linked her arm through Elizabeth's elbow. "Come, my dear. Let us sit down and discuss the plans."
A deep, masculine voice halted Lady Digby. "If you don't mind Lady Digby," Austin said smoothly, "I need to have a word with my fiancée."
Lady Digby relinquished her hold on Elizabeth with obvious reluctance. "We were just about to discuss my plans for hosting a party in her honor."
"Indeed? Perhaps you should discuss the arrangements with my mother and Lady Penbroke. They will be helping Elizabeth organize her social engagements for the next several months, until she is settled with her new duties."
"Of course. Come along, girls." Lady Digby strode across the room like a ship under full sail, her fleet of offspring bobbing along in her wake.
Austin smiled at her. "You looked like you needed rescuing."
"I believe I did, although I'm not sure your mother or my aunt will thank you for it."
He waved his hand in a dismissive fashion. "Mother is very a
dept at these matters. She'll maneuver Lady Digby with an ease that I'd find downright frightening if I didn't admire it so much." His gaze roamed her face. "You look disturbed. Has anyone said something to upset you?"
"No. But I'm afraid that I feel somewhat… overwhelmed."
He extended his elbow. "Then come with me."
She didn't even consider refusing. Trying not to appear overeager, she took his arm and he led her from the room. "Where are we going?"
He cocked a brow at her. "Does it matter?"
"Not at all," she answered without hesitation. "I'm happy to escape all those people staring at me."
Austin felt the shudder that passed through her. He'd observed her all through dinner, saw how well she'd handled herself in the face of her newfound popularity. She'd been unfailingly polite to people who had once snickered at her, charming to those who had previously dismissed her, and smiled at everyone who had hurt her.
Bloody hell, he was proud of her.
When they reached his private study, he opened the door. A fire crackled in the grate, casting a soft glow over the room. Closing the door behind him, he leaned against it and watched her. She stood in the middle of the room, her hands clasped in front of her, looking more lovely than anyone he'd ever seen. Tenderness flooded him along with an overwhelming urge-no, a need-to kiss her. Before he could act on his impulse, however, she spoke.
"May I ask you something?"
"Of course."
A frown knitted her brow. "What happened to me at dinner… did that same thing happen to you?"
"I beg your pardon?"
"When you inherited your title and became the duke, did people change toward you? I'm the same person I was last week, last month, but everyone is treating me differently."
"Not unkindly, I trust."
"On the contrary, everyone seems quite determined to be my friend. Did that happen to you?"
"Yes, although before I was a duke, I was a marquess, so I was quite used to it already."
She studied him for a long moment, then shook her head sadly. "I'm so sorry. It must be very difficult for you, not knowing if someone likes you or your title."
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