“Everyone who has come near me wants me to remain in bed and not exert myself,” His Grace said gruffly. “It is not going to happen. I intend to live at least another nine months from lastnight, and I am not going to do it from my bed. Sit down, Lucas. You arelooming.Her Grace and I wanted this private time with the two of you this morning. Though you might have felt that we—thatI—harassed and bullied you into marrying our grandson, Philippa, we did it in the conviction that you belong together. Just as our son belonged to our daughter-in-law. Both their lives ended early and tragically, along with that of our grandson in our daughter-in-law’s case. But while they lived, Luc’s parents, they were devoted to each other and happy. Just as Her Grace and I have been for almost sixty years, though I still sometimes find it hard to forgive her for being half a head taller than I am.”
“A full head, Percy,” the duchess murmured.
“I daresay your parents were just as devoted to each other and just as happy, Philippa,” the duke said. “May remembers that your mama was a lovely and charming young wife. I remember your papa as a handsome, vigorous, good-humored young man, whom everyone liked. They raised children any parents would be proud of. It is our dearest wish that you and Luc will be just another such couple. Our happy families have been united in the two of you, and we are contented.”
Philippa sat very still on her chair. Lucas stood very still in the middle of the room.
“We—” he began. But another tap on the door interrupted him and preceded the arrival of a trolley laden with breakfast foods.
Philippa realized with some surprise that she was ravenously hungry.
—
Two of his wife’s brothers were in London for just a few more days, Lucas had remembered while he was riding in the park. One of the two would very soon be rejoining his regiment andfacing the grand battle that was almost certainly going to be fought within the next month or so, possibly sooner. Her whole family must be painfully aware that the farewells they were about to say might very possibly be goodbyes. Another brother—Ben—would probably be returning to the country soon too. He apparently did not participate intonevents, or so he had told Lucas when the two of them had talked for a while yesterday. He had come to purchase new clothes for his daughter with the help of his sisters and sister-in-law.
Philippa needed to spend time with her brothers while she could.
In addition, Lucas needed to get to know them all better too. He needed to reassure them, if it was possible after that very abrupt wedding yesterday, that he would treat their sister—and daughter in the case of the dowager countess—with respect and affection, that she had not made a mistake she would live to regret. He certainly needed to have another private talk with the Earl of Stratton. The fact that he was already married to Philippa did not excuse him from discussing a proper marriage contract with his brother-in-law.
“And how are you intending to spend the first day of your married life?” Her Grace asked when they had all finished their breakfast and Grandpapa had just admitted, before any of them could risk his wrath by suggesting it, that perhaps he would lie down upon his bed for a short while before going into the drawing room. Lucas had got to his feet to help his grandfather rise from his chair.
“I—” Philippa began.
“We are going to spend it at Stratton House,” Lucas said before leaving the room with the duke. “I sent word there after I returned from my ride. Philippa’s family will be expecting us.”
“Oh,” Philippa said. She sounded surprised. “Thank you. I was hoping to see Nicholas and Owen sometime today.”
“You will give them our very best wishes, Philippa,” the duchess said. “Especially Major Ware, who I expect is quite eager to return to his regiment.”
“Thank you,” Philippa said again.
They walked to Stratton House since there was so sign of rain clouds and no appreciable wind and it was really not far. Lucas liked having his wife on his arm, he discovered, her slender gloved hand resting upon his sleeve, her step light, the brim of her bonnet hiding her face from his view except when she tipped back her head to speak to him. Every time she did so, her face looked slightly flushed and animated and happy. He knew the happiness was there because she was about to see her family. Even so, that was happening because he had decided to take her there without having to be asked.
“I intend to have a private talk with Stratton if it is convenient to him,” he told her. “We need to discuss a marriage contract, even though it will be after the fact.”
“Will you?” she said, smiling. “I am sure Devlin will be delighted to talk with you.”
He hesitated a moment. “I would like to tell him the story I told you a few weeks ago,” he said. “You gave him your account of that incident some time ago, but he has not heard my explanation.Notmy excuse, I hasten to add. There is no excuse for what I said that evening. But he must be feeling very uneasy about our marriage. Perhaps I can allay some of his fears by telling him the full story of what led me to say those words. Doing so, however, will show your father and his in a poor light. I will remain quiet if you would prefer.”
She thought about it for a few moments. “I almost told him myself the night before last,” she said. “He was indeed disturbed that I had agreed to marry you. He tried to talk me out of it. I didnot tell him, though. It is a story that defames your mother, and I decided I had no right to tell it without your knowing.”
His grandfather had embarrassed him, and surely Philippa too, just before breakfast when he had talked about how it was his dearest wish and Grandmama’s that they would be as happy and devoted a couple as their respective parents had been. Grandpapa had also made his comment about their two happy families having been united by this new marriage, as though there was now the double likelihood that their union would be a perfect one. Perhaps, though, Lucas thought, they really could heal old wounds, even though no one but the two of them knew they existed.
They did not have to allow themselves to be dragged down forever by an ill-considered and ultimately tragic affair between his mother and her father. It had had terrible effects upon him as he grew up, keeping a heavy secret buried inside him instead of sharing it with his family. It had had even worse effects upon Philippa, though she had not known of the affair, because of what he had said one evening, quite unaware that she had overheard him. She too had bottled up her secret knowledge inside until she had told her brother last year.
They did not have to be defined by the past, however. He wasnothis mother, just as she was not her father. The present was theirs as was however much of the future was allotted to them. Perhaps they reallycouldbe as devoted and happy as his grandparents expected them to be. The present Stratton and his countess seemed happy enough.ThisStratton certainly seemed nothing like what Lucas knew of his father.
“Yes, tell Devlin your story,” Philippa said as they turned onto Grosvenor Square. “I do not believe you will be destroying any illusions. He has none. But this is something he ought to know. Heloves me very dearly. He wants more than anything to see me happy.”
She believed, then, that they could be happy? Lucas was beginning to understand the great disadvantage of their having rushed so headlong into marriage—though really he at least had had no choice. They had been given no chance to become betrothed, to get to know each other more gradually and more fully, to prepare themselves for the changes marriage would bring to their lives. He had not made a good start this morning. By doubting himself and feeling unworthy of the great sacrifice she had made for his sake and his grandfather’s, he had almost certainly given the impression that he did not care very deeply for her. He had gone off riding in Hyde Park when he might have stayed in bed with her and gathered her in his arms, perhaps made love to her again if she had felt up to it. Or he could simply have let her sleep until she woke on her own and then talked for a while before they got up together. They could have planned their day together.
He hadsomuch to learn.
Their approach to Stratton House must have been observed. The front doors were being thrown open even before they reached the steps.
She turned her face toward him. “It was thoughtful of you to arrange for me to come here today,” she said. “And it was kind of you to come too. It matters to me.”
—
