“Thank you,” she said. Whatever others might say, she had never deemed him entirely heartless. Or if he was, his good breeding masked it well.
She had heard rumors already. One always heard rumors, half of them nonsensical, but this one she’d found believable. Perhaps she’d seen this day coming weeks ago, on the night he’d brought her the other generous gift. It might have been then, or maybe on that morning in Hyde Park. She wasn’t sure when it was, but at some point it had become clear to her that this man had given his heart elsewhere, a long time ago, whether he knew it or not.
Being prepared as well as intelligent, she accepted the news good-naturedly and congratulated him as a friend would do—and really, he’d been no more than that in recent weeks.
For what small regret she might feel, the magnificent brooches were more than adequate consolation.
By Friday afternoon, Marchmont had obtained the special license and ordered the ring. He went next to White’s, where he settled various wagers about whether he was or was not engaged to Miss Lexham and placed a bet against himself that he’d be married before the end of the month.
Thus, by the time Society descended upon Hyde Park at the fashionable hour, everybody knew and everybody was talking about it.
At six o’clock, the Duke of Marchmont appeared in Rotten Row. He rode alongside Miss Lexham, who wore a rich blue riding dress of the latest mode. Those able to get close enough said the color matched her eyes exactly. A dashing plumed hat perched on her dark gold tresses. She rode a spirited gelding, which she managed with ease.
The lively beast did want managing, for their progress was slow. Even bitterly disappointed mamas and their equally dismayed unwed daughters hid their feelings. They, like everyone else, wanted to be known to the next Duchess of Marchmont. Everybody was made known to her except the ladies who’d shied away from her at the Birthday Drawing Room. These Marchmont somehow failed to see.
On Friday evening he dineden famillewith the Lexhams.
The family gathered in the library after dinner, as they always did on informal occasions.
It was then Lexham said, “I heard about that ridiculous wager of yours, Marchmont.”
“So many fit that category,” said Marchmont. “To which one do you refer?”
“The one about whether you would or would not be wed by the end of the month. May I point out, firstly, that there’s only one of you—and some might take this as a sign of your turning into Lady Sophronia—and secondly, you’ve less than a week until the end of the month. Would it not be logical to settle it with Zoe?”
Zoe had been exceedingly proper all through dinner. Her dress was exceedingly improper. Once again her breasts were insecurely tucked into the world’s tiniest bodice. At present she stood at the window, looking down into Berkeley Square, where, at this hour, she was unlikely to see anything.
From where he sat, Marchmont had a profile view of her. The candlelight glimmering in her hair and throwing part of her face into shadow made her seem remote, even mysterious. He felt uneasy and found himself wondering whether he did know her, after all. Then he told himself he was ridiculous: It was only a trick of the light.
Thrusting aside doubt, he said, “I find I’m not in favor of long engagements. Zoe, would you mind being married next week?”
“Next week?” said Lady Lexham. “But I thought that was one of your jokes. A short engagement, indeed.”
He remembered then that Zoe was the last of their children. They’d probably want to send her off in style, with a great party. It was, after all, no small thing to have one’s daughter marry a duke. The trouble was, this duke had been one of the family for so long that it was easy, here, to forget his adult position in the world. Here, in some ways, he still felt like Lucien de Grey. Even when he was a boy, the Lexham family rarely used his title. Only in company was he “Lord Lucien.” Zoe had called him that only when she was poking fun at him—or furious with him.
“How thoughtless of me,” he said. “You’ll want a great breakfast or dinner or ball or some such. Those things take time, I’m told. Well, then, sometime in May, perhaps.”
Zoe turned away from the window and gazed at him in the way she sometimes did, as though she thought she could read him. Nobody could read him, he knew.
“A wedding feast?” she said. “Is it necessary?”
“I think your parents would like it.”
“You may find this impossible to believe,” said Lexham, “but my lady and I were young once, too. Life is short and unpredictable. Your parents hadn’t long to enjoy their happiness. Make the most of time, I say. But there, what does Zoe say? You’re subdued this evening, my dear. Have you become awestruck, suddenly, at the idea of becoming a duchess?”
“Not yet, Papa,” she said. “I was only debating which dress to wear to my wedding.” She gave Marchmont an absent smile. “I don’t like long engagements, either. I think it would be fun to marry on the last day of the month.” She laughed, and it was Zoe’s laughter, easy and light, and the sound brightened the room. “I want to see you pay yourself for the wager.”
On Saturday morning the Duke of Marchmont arrived at Lexham House in a state of uncertainty. It was a feeling he rarely experienced and one he didn’t like. This time, though, he couldn’t shake it off or thrust it into the special mental cupboard. It clung to him like a great, prickly cocklebur.
He wasn’t expected, but it never occurred to him to send notice ahead, since he’d never done it before.
He found Zoe in the breakfast room, surrounded by her sisters, all of them cawing and squawking as usual.
“There you are,” one cried as he entered. “It simply can’t be done.”
“Out of the question,” said another.
“She has no trousseau.”
