The Unmarriageable Collection (Books 1–3)
Page 65
“You might have to tell me again.”
“For the rest of my life,” he promised.
On their arrival at Steynings, they found another carriage waiting at the front door.
“He has another visitor,” Henrietta observed.
“Hmm.” Sydney alighted and handed her down the steps. As they walked the short distance to the front door, a lady emerged, presumably the previous caller.
Henrietta’s stomach tightened.
Lady Carew smiled at her, but reserved the most dazzling part for Sydney. “Miss Maybury, what a delightful surprise,” she drawled. “Do your charming parents know you are out?”
“Mrs. Cromarty,” Sydney corrected before Henrietta could reply. “And since her charming parents just gave her to me in marriage, their permission is no longer required. How are you, Susannah?”
She took the blow well, though the flash of her eyes acknowledged it. “Oh dull, my dear, dull. I’m on my way to visit Edward, who has suffered a relapse, but since I was passing, I couldn’t resist calling to see how Lord Silford did. I heard of his illness.”
“And how did you find him?” Sydney asked.
She smiled faintly. “I didn’t. He was not at home. To me. I expect he is waiting for you. Goodbye, Sydney.”
“Goodbye, Susannah.”
Lady Carew held out her hand to Henrietta. “Farewell, my dear. It was always your destiny to ruffle my feathers in return.”
Henrietta took her hand. “Such was never my motive.”
“No, but it makes the defeat easier.” And with that, she withdrew her hand and climbed into her carriage.
Sydney and Henrietta were admitted immediately and taken to Lord Silford in his library.
“Don’t get up, sir,” Henrietta said immediately, seeing him about to rise. She hurried over to his chair and knelt beside it.
He took her hand, and then reached out for Sydney’s. “And so, you have tied the knot, my children.”
“I know you approve,” Sydney said, “so don’t pretend to be grumpy about it.”
“I’m not yet so bored that I need to resort to that.” He squeezed Henrietta’s hand. “Thank you for bringing him to see me.”
“We brought each other.”
The earl transferred his gaze to Sydney, almost as if he was afraid what he would find. “And will you come back?”
Perhaps he thought that having got what he wanted—Henrietta—Sydney would turn his back on “respectability”.
“I will come back,” Sydney said, like a promise. Then he smiled. “In about four weeks, actually. It’s clearly time I licked your land into shape.”
The earl emitted a shout of laughter. “Damned insolent jackanapes! Just like your father! Walters, bring the brandy—the good stuff. It’s time I drank to the happiness of my heir and his lady!”