“My study,” Lexham said, and led the way there.
Marchmont closed the door behind him when he entered. “I want to marry Zoe,” he said.
“Do you, indeed?” said Lexham. He stepped behind his desk, which was heaped with papers, as usual. “What’s done it? The hoops? The plumes?” He picked up a piece of paper, frowned at it, and set it down again.
“I’m not joking,” said Marchmont.
“I didn’t think you were. But you know, she did make you a most handsome offer some weeks ago, as I recall, and you turned it down.”
“As I recollect, I said at the time that I was tempted but accepting would be taking unfair advantage,” said Marchmont. “She believed then that she had no alternative.”
She didn’t have one now, either.
“I thought she wanted to meet other men,” Lexham said. “I thought that would mean more than two fellows she hadn’t clapped eyes on before.”
“I find that I prefer she meet other menafterwe’re married,” said Marchmont. “I’m possessive, you see.”
“Are you, indeed?”
“Zoe explained it to me,” Marchmont said.
“In the carriage,” said Lexham. “When you were quite private.”
Guilt ate at Marchmont like acid.
“Where I proposed,” he said. “Contrary to my aunt’s assertions—”
Lexham put up his hand. “My lady told me what happened. Lady Sophronia has her own distinctive view of the world. The rest of us must bear our doubts and uncertainties, but she is always certain. We all know how difficult it is to persuade the lady out of a misapprehension. You could hardly make the rest of the company wait while you embarked upon that Herculean labor. You’d make quicker work of cleaning the Augean Stables.”
“I owe her thanks for this particular hallucination,” Marchmont said. “When I found myself alone with Zoe…Well, I believe it’s enough to say that I realized I didn’t want her to marry anybody but me. She said she’d have me. All we want is your consent.”
There was a long pause. Lexham left the place behind his desk and walked to the fire. He stood there, looking into the grate, as he so often did when cogitating.
After a time he looked at Marchmont. “I notice that you don’t say you’re over head and ears in love with Zoe.”
Marchmont found himself at a loss how to answer, a rare experience for him, though not surprising in the circumstances. When he’d set out this day, the last thing he’d expected was to be standing here, asking Lexham for his daughter’s hand—and all the other delicious parts of her.
He was over head and ears in lust, beyond a doubt. He had no idea what anyone meant by love in these cases. He’d always assumed it was a euphemism for a strong attraction.
“You don’t say, either, that without her your life would be a desert,” Lexham added after a moment. “But that isn’t the sort of thing you’d say.” He shrugged. “And it isn’t the sort of thing I could easily stomach. No, I suppose I don’t expect it, though I’m not altogether surprised at this turn of events. You’ve always had the knack of dealing with her, and I’ll feel less anxious trusting her to you than to anyone else I can think of.”
Ah,yes,I’m to be trusted. Give me half an hour alone in a carriage with your daughter and her virtue’s done for.
Lexham nodded to himself. “Then, too, she’ll be a duchess, and I’m no different than any other father in wishing to see my child well set up in life. Yes, it will do, it will do.”
Marchmont let out the breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding.
Lexham gave him a quizzical look. “Did you think I’d say no?”
“She’s been back for only a few weeks,” Marchmont said. “I thought you might tell me I was too hasty—or you weren’t quite ready to give her up.”
“I shan’t see her any less than I do at present,” said Lexham. “She lives under my roof, but I’m hardly ever at home. And when I am at home, my daughters usually turn up, I find. They’re the very devil to get rid of.” He laughed then. “Come, Marchmont, give me your hand.”
His former ward did so and thanked him.
“A most satisfactory day this has turned out to be,” Lexham said. “The royal family has smiled on my daughter, and she’s netted herself London’s most sought-after bachelor. A duke, no less.” He laughed. “I always said Zoe was a clever girl. Well, then, you have my blessing, Marchmont. Now let me speak to her.”
Late that night
