“Well,” Louisa said. “It does put us in quite a predicament, doesn’t it?”
“It does,” Myles answered “But I came here because I wanted to help you. So how can I do that?”
Louisa breathed a sigh of relief.
“Well,” she said. “You sound as if you do not want the title or the land.”
“I could do without either of those things, yes,” Myles replied. “And I also don’t need all the inheritance. It takes less money in America, I think.”
“So…” she said, and he met her eyes.
“Perhaps we could come to an agreement?” he asked. “That is, if you are able to inherit the title?”
“Oh,” she said. “I would only be able to inherit if there was no male heir…”
“What if the male heir didn’t want it?” he asked her and she paused.
“Yes,” she said. “That is something that would be possible. But you would have to sign documentation saying that is exactly what you want, and that you would never come back and lay claim to any of these things.”
“I could do that,” he said. “Because I am quite certain that will be the case.”
“Right,” she said. “And then how much...money...would you want?”
“About half?” he asked. “Would that leave enough for you to live comfortably?”
“Oh yes,” she replied. “Yes, that would certainly leave enough, especially with the title and land. In fact, I feel like I am robbing you.”
“You most certainly are not,” he said. “Staying here would be robbing the community of the things I promised them when I left. At least, I think I promised them things. But my mind is still fuzzy on certain aspects.”
“What about the girl though?” she asked.
“Lady Emily?” he replied. “I don’t know what I’ll do about her. Without a title, it may be impossible.”
“Is that Lady Emily Hambleton?” she asked him, and Myles nodded. “My goodness.”
“You know her?” he asked.
“I know of her,” Louisa replied. “She has quite the reputation. Not a bad reputation, mind you. She is strong, as you would have to be to go through what she went through. I wouldn’t worry too much though. Lady Emily is one to go after what she wants. She will figure out a way to make things right, if that is what she desires.”
“I hope so,” Myles said and stood up. “So...we are in agreement?”
“We are indeed,” Louisa said and stood up as well. “I will discuss all this with my solicitor and get the paperwork drawn up.”
“Wonderful,” Myles said. “Thank you. I will see you again, cousin.”
“Thank you for coming by,” she said to him, and they shook hands on the deal.
Myles felt hopeful as he left Louisa's house. He knew that he should be able to figure out a way to make everything work, and he should be able to live happily ever after, as the fairytales said.
However, he knew there was still a giant obstacle in his way, and that was Lady Emily’s acceptance of the matter. That and Catherine, of course. He hadn’t realized until Lady Emily mentioned it, but now he knew he had been accidentally courting Catherine during his time in London. He hadn’t officially asked anything, but they had been acting as if they had been courting, and he had to remedy that.
Of course, if Lady Emily turned him down, he could consider the possibility of actually courting Catherine.
Myles had left Louisa's thinking life was going to get easier, but now it seemed more complicated than before.
The only way he could think of remedying things was a dinner party, in which he could talk to both ladies at once. He certainly couldn’t throw a party at his scant lodgings, but he could do it at the baroness’s, he thought, if he asked politely. He could throw a dinner party for all of them, make the announcement, and see what happened.
He knew it was pretty dramatic, to do it that way, but it seemed the best way to get things out as quickly as possible. And if Louisa got the papers from her solicitor as quickly as she seemed to think she could, then he would be able to go back to America very soon.
“Of course we can have a dinner party,” the baroness said, when Myles arrived at her house. “It has been a few days since we have all seen each other and I am sure that the ladies are considering returning to Cornwall soon.”
“They are?” Myles asked and the baroness raised an eyebrow at him.
“Is there some reason they should stay?” she asked.
“Uh…” he shook his head. “So, Thursday night?”
“Yes, Thursday night is fine,” she replied. “I will take care of everything.”
“Thank you,” he said. “Please don’t tell anyone but...I have a big announcement to make.”
“An announcement?” she asked, and her eyes lit up. “What is it?”
“I can’t tell you yet,” he said. “Because if I did, that would ruin the surprise”
“Does it have to do with Catherine?” the baroness asked and Myles wasn’t sure how to answer that.
“Maybe,” he replied. “Anyway, do you think you could...keep everything a secret in that respect? I don’t want anyone to spend the next few days guessing.”
“Yes,” she said. “Yes, of course”
“Wonderful,” Myles said. “I shall see you on Thursday.”
Thursday would be perfect. It would give him time to think, or at least he thought it would. But as Thursday neared, he found himself wishing he had made it sooner. His heart was pounding in his mouth as he entered the baroness’s London home.
Lady Emily was already there, sitting on the sofa with Catherine. When he walked in the door, both women looked up at him with shining eyes.
“Myles,” Lady Emily said, as they rose. He kissed her hand and then Catherine’s out of politeness “How lovely to see you again.”
“How lovely to see you, Lady Emily, and Miss Catherine,” he said. “Thank you for attending tonight.”
“Of course,” Catherine said. “Any plans that we had in the city have been trumped by your invitation.”
“The baroness said that you have a big announcement to make?” Lady Emily said and Myles sighed. He should have known that the baroness couldn’t keep a secret.
“Indeed,” he said. “I was thinking I’d wait until the dining table.”
“Oh, but we are on the edge of our seats with curiosity,” Catherine said, and Myles chuckled.
“Well, you know what they said about curiosity,” he replied. “You shouldn’t have to wait too much longer.”
He laid eyes on Lady Emily as he spoke his next sentence.
“I suspect you will be quite surprised,” he said. Lady Emily did not react much beyond a flash of her eyes, but he could tell she was squirming with curiosity as well.
Myles was afraid of how she would react. He was worried that she would just roll her eyes and decide that he wasn’t worth it. He didn’t think Lady Emily was that type of woman, but he had frequently been surprised in England, so he was prepared for the fact that she would lose interest in him quickly. If anything, he thought it was Catherine who would stay once he told his new circle of friends the truth
But he didn’t want Catherine, and he knew that. Looking at her now, beside his beloved Lady Emily, he knew there was only one woman in the world for him. Lady Emily was his soulmate, and if she ended up not wanting him, he would be alone for the rest of his life.
When dinner was served, Myles knew that he couldn’t delay any longer. Everyone was giving him looks and asking leading questions. He would have to speak up now, or no one would enjoy their meal.
Lord, give me courage, he though, as he stood up. He took his spoon and tapped on his glass. It appeared that everyone had been waiting for him to do so, and they stopped talking right away.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” he said. “Thank you so much for coming tonight. I just wanted to tell you...well, the conclusion of my story. I know that you have been waiting to hear what I was going to do about my inheritance. Recentl
y, I was contacted by a relative of mine, Louisa Had she been born a male, she would inherit everything. As such, she was not, and because of the way my uncle wrote the will...she was left with nothing, unintentionally. She wrote to me, asking me to reconsider, and I went to go meet with her. As soon as I met her, I was swept away by how I felt I knew her, and how she knew about the family I had...missed out on, and the life I never knew here. She and I talked for quite a while, and we came to a conclusion that makes us both happy. She will inherit the title and the land, as well as half the money. She needs it much more than I do. I will inherit the other half and return to America.”
There was silence around the table. No one seemed to know what to say, and Myles swallowed hard.
“So...that’s that,” he replied.
“You are giving up your title?” Catherine asked, in shock. “And your land?”
“Well...yes,” he said.
“But why?” she asked. “That is your ticket to a new life.”
He blinked at her.
“Catherine, I don’t want a new life,” he said. “I am happy with my old life. And yes, the new money helps...but I don’t think I could ever live in proper high society. You have all been very kind, of course...but life is much different in America, and I want to continue building my career.”
“I cannot believe this,” she said and turned to Lady Emily. “Can you believe this?”
Lady Emily met his eyes, and Myles felt his heart thud in his chest. Catherine had made her opinion clear, but what about Lady Emily? What would she say? What would she want?
Lady Emily seemed to be taking quite a while to think, which made Myles nervous. What was she going to say? Was she going to run, like Catherine? Or was she going to smile?
It felt like an eternity went by. His knees were getting weak and he didn’t think he could take the tension anymore. Just as he was about to speak up and beg her for her answer, she spoke.
“Well,” she said. “That sounds like quite an adventure”
“A good adventure?” he asked her, nervously.
“A good adventure,” she confirmed, and he breathed a sigh of relief.
“Well then,” he said and turned to a shocked Sir Preston. “Perhaps...sir, knowing my situation...and knowing how much your daughter and I enjoy each other...you would be willing to allow me to ask her to marry me?”
Sir Preston leaned forward and looked Myles in the eye.
“My boy, this is a very unusual circumstance,” he said. “I can’t answer for her. What I can do, though, is give you permission to ask.”
Myles had once felt like the hardest part would be asking the girl’s father. But now, he knew the hardest part was still in front of him.
“Lady Emily,” he turned to her. “I know that you have already had your heart broken once. And I know you are afraid of doing so again. I also know that you are headstrong, and you want adventure...I know that our marriage will be full of ups and downs, and we may not agree on everything...in fact, I think we may not agree on most things...but I was wondering, knowing all of this...whether you would do me the honour of being my wife?”
Another silence filled the table. Myles had hoped that she would answer right away, but Lady Emily seemed to be seriously considering the proposal. He was glad that she didn’t just throw food there and then or storm out of the room.
“I think so,” Lady Emily said, catching him off guard.
“Really?” Myles asked. Lady Emily’s face broke into a wild smile.
“Yes,” she said. “Really. I want to be with you, Myles Whitehall, and I want to be your wife, even if it means going to America. I want to have every adventure in the world with you.”
“Oh my…” Myles said, and rushed around the table. “You really are saying yes?”
“I really am,” she said, with a grin.
“Then you have made me the happiest man in the world,” he said, and leaned in to kiss her. He knew it was improper. He knew he shouldn’t be doing that at a dinner party, or in front of her father, but he couldn’t help it.
Lady Emily responded to his kiss and he gazed into her eyes.
“Thank you,” he said. “Thank you for taking a chance on me.”
“Thank you,” she said. “For taking a chance with me. It can’t be easy to take an English wife and come to a strange land.”
“It can’t be easy, to take an American husband and cross the ocean,” he said. “Do you think it’s worth it?”
“Oh yes,” she replied, with a smile. “I think it is very much worth it, to be with you.”
“I love you,” he said, as he gazed into her eyes. He had never said that to anyone before, and he wasn’t sure he ever would. At least, he wasn’t sure he ever would until he woke up in Cornwall and looked into her eyes. At that moment, he knew he would love her and only her.
“I love you too,” she whispered in his ear. “And I cannot wait to walk down the aisle to you and be your wife. I cannot wait for all the adventures we will have.”
“I don’t mind what adventures we have,” he replied. “As long as we have them together.”
Chapter 15
“Well,” Lord Reginald stood up. “It appears I am no longer needed here.”
Lady Emily broke away from staring into Myles’s eyes.
“Lord Reginald,” she said. “We both know that it never would have worked between us.”
“Perhaps we both knew that,” Lord Reginald replied. “But we still could have tried.”
Lady Emily smirked at that.
“But why?” she asked. “We would have made each other miserable.”
Lord Reginald considered that.
“Well, yes,” he said. “But...I am sorry to disappoint you, Sir Preston.”
“I believe that there would be more disappointment had I forced a marriage between the two of you,” Sir Preston said. “Don’t you agree?”
“Perhaps,” Lord Reginald said. “But regardless...I do wish you the best, Lady Emily.”
“Why, thank you,” she said, and then he turned to Myles. “And I wish you the best as well.”
“Thank you,” Myles said and then turned to Sir Preston. “So, we have your approval, sir?”
“Well,” Sir Preston said. “There is one matter that I am undecided on, if my approval is necessary”
Lord Reginald left the room, and Myles noticed that no one looked after him. He felt sad for the man in a way, but he was delighted that he had won the battle.
“What?” Lady Emily asked. “You told him to ask me, and he asked and I said yes.”
“I did,” Sir Preston replied. “But there is the matter of a title.”
“Oh, Father,” Lady Emily answered. “Titles don’t matter.”
Sir Preston chuckled.
“Well, titles actually do matter,” he said. “But regardless, what I was going to say, is that you can’t give the title to Louisa”
“Yes, I can,” Myles said. “She said I could.”
A Lady's Taste For Temptation (Historical Regency Romance) Page 27
