Heath dismissed his valet and glanced about his dressing chamber, mentally rearranging items and furniture to accommodate the addition of a wife. His heart sang at the thought of her pert red curls brightening up his bachelor quarters.
With luck, soon there might be no room in the armoire for Heath’s shirts and waistcoats because it would be overflowing with pastel pink gowns instead.
His chest thumped.
He wasn’t just imagining her as his wife. He was realizing howhappyit would make him. The two of them, together. Not in secret. Not musicless dances and stolen kisses. A marriage full of passion and art and waltzes that led to… even more passion. Not in brief snatches, but for the rest of their lives.
Don’t bollocks it up, Maxwell Gideon had said. Wise words from a wise man. Heath would have to do this right.
In this, at least, there was a path one could follow. Miss Winfield was far from the expected sort of attachment, but that did not mean Heath could not proceed as he’d always imagined.
Before one spoke of one’s feelings to a lady one hoped to someday court, the first step was to secure permission to do so. Under normal circumstances, the girl’s father would be the one to address. In this case, Heath would be forced to ask permission from the closest thing Miss Winfield had in town to an official guardian.
Once permission to formally court her was secured, Heath would take her to meet his family. If his parents and siblings did not oppose the match, he would be free to express his feelings to Miss Winfield.
That permission would undoubtedly be the biggest hurdle.
He sent a carefully worded letter off to his sister with the instruction that his footman was to wait for an immediate reply.
Heath did not wish to tip his hand. Lady Roundtree liked him, but she was also unpredictable. And even if she granted his petition, he would still need to convince Miss Winfield to present herself at the Grenville home to be inspected and judged.
He did not wish to put her through anything distasteful. On the other hand, Miss Winfield felt the same passion for her family as Heath felt toward his. He had no doubt she would sacrifice anything if it would aid her grandparents. Just like he would have to do if his own family feared irreparable harm from such an unprecedented alliance. Miss Winfield would go away, and they would never again meet.
But Heath suspected the resulting hole in his heart would be with him the rest of his life.
As soon as his footman returned, Heath dashed out of his town house to his carriage and made haste to call upon Lady Roundtree.
When he was shown into the front parlor, the baroness was alone. He squared his shoulders. Unusual or not, this would have to work.
“Mr. Grenville!” Lady Roundtree flapped her hands at him in excitement. “What an unexpected delight! I’m afraid I just sent Miss Winfield to change from her morning gown to her afternoon gown, so she won’t be able available to join us for nigh half an hour. Have you come to discuss the case?”
Heath took the wingback chair closest to the baroness’s settee, and leaned forward. “I’ve come to discuss Miss Winfield.”
“I see.” Lady Roundtree’s blue eyes grew crafty. “I wondered how long it would take.”
Heath blinked. “Pardon?”
She waved a hand. “Go on, go on. What have I to do with the matter?”
Heath cleared his throat. “I should properly be directing this inquiry to Miss Winfield’s grandfather.”
“And I hope you make the trek.” Lady Roundtree lifted a cup of tea. “They don’t get many visitors.”
“Better than that: I intend to bring them here.” Heath had already thought it over. “Any family of Miss Winfield’s must also be family of mine. They will want for nothing.”
Lady Roundtree glanced up from her tea. “How fortuitous. I could use a new bonnet.”
“Pardon?” Heath said, then forged ahead when the baroness motioned for him to keep talking. “I am formally requesting permission to court Miss Winfield.”
“You are asking me to be a paid employee’s guardianandduenna?” Lady Roundtree glared down her nose at him.
He stared back. “I…”
“I accept.” She refilled her cup. “But since I am chair-bound, we will have to divide the duties. I will be Winfield’s guardian and Captain Pugboat can be her companion.”
Heath wondered if the baroness had been drinking whiskey with her tea. “That is to say, you give your formal permission? At least until I can speak with her grandfather?”
“Congratulations,” Lady Roundtree spooned sugar into her cup. “You have both made an excellent match.”
