Relief washed over Christopher. The difficult part was done. He had been worried that somehow another proposal would have already arrived for Frances, but her father’s swift approval released him of those worries.
“Thank you. There is one more thing I would like to ask.”
“What is it?” William asked, looking considerably happier.
“I wanted to do this the traditional way by asking you for her hand. But Lady Frances, too, has a stake in this. I would plead with you to bring her here so that I can get her approval as well.”
The Earl nodded, wasting no time to summon one of his servants to send for his daughter.
* * *
No one in the Cooper household had expected that the Duke of Huntington would pay them a visit this evening. Even Frances, who was in the know, had her doubts.
She stood next to her mother, who was bursting at the seams with curiosity.
“Go in with the excuse of asking them for tea. While you are there, pay close attention to what they are speaking about. Listen at the door, if you can,” Albina instructed the young maid, her voice barely above a whisper.
Frances felt a wave of embarrassment and annoyance. She understood her mother’s eagerness—after all, a visit from the Duke was no small event—but she wished for privacy and a bit of respect.
If the Duke had truly stuck to his word, and come to ask for her hand in marriage, her entire life was about to change.
“Do you know anything about his visit?” Albina turned her interrogative stance towards her daughter.
“I have no clue,” Frances said, blushing.
If her mother paid even the least bit of attention, she would easily catch her lie.
“Oh, I hope that he is here for a proposal. Perhaps it was Esther that put in a good word—God bless her if that is truly the case.”
Seeing her mother’s eagerness did not come as a surprise. Albina Cooper was always going to embrace a proposal from the Duke. For her parents, the title was everything.
Suddenly, the maid returned. “They are asking for Lady Frances to be present in the drawing room.”
Albina let out an excited hurrah. “Go on, then. He is here to seeyou.Oh, heavens, this is just the perfect day.”
Frances steeled herself, nervously making her way into the drawing room. There sat Christopher with her father, his gaze landing on her from across the room. She looked away, instead looking down at the carpeted floor.
“Lady Frances,” he greeted politely.
“Your Grace.”
Their eyes met for a second, and Frances all but turned red.
Why did he have to look at her so intensely? It was distracting, if not disconcerting.
“My dear, His Grace has something important he wishes to discuss with you,” William announced.
Christopher turned to him. “My Lord, now that I have your blessing, would it be possible if I could speak to Lady Frances in private?”
William hesitated for a moment. It was not common for a father to leave his unmarried daughter in a room alone with another man. But since it was a duke who was asking, he relaxed his stance.
“I shall ask for her lady’s maid to join as a chaperone. Then you may talk.”
Frances gulped as Wiliam left the room and Anna came inside, standing by the door.
Christopher then turned to her again.
“You kept your promise,” she said in a hushed tone, careful not to let Anna hear, even though she trusted her.
