"I'm not being generous, I merely wish to be left in peace."
"This isn't about debt, as it happens," Lord Harbury said. "Perhaps I misspoke when I talked ofowing."
"Then I suggest you try to speak more clearly."
"I don't know why you're so stubborn in your dislike for me," Lord Harbury sighed. "I've never been anything but admiring toward you, Your Grace."
"Why don't you just tell me what this is all about so that we can go our separate ways?" James suggested.
"Very well. It has to do with the duchess."
"What about her?"
"Well, it was your uncle's greatest fear that she would be left alone in the world if something were to happen to him! We spoke about it before they were married, you see, and on that occasion he made me promise that I would see to it that she was cared for. Now, for the past two years I have been unable tokeep that promise, since she has sequestered herself in the estate and refused contact with society at large. But now that she has rejoined the world, I feel compelled to live up to my promise."
"What does that mean? What does living up to your promise look like?"
"I'm talking about marriage, of course," Lord Harbury said. "I'm going to propose marriage to the duchess."
"You're going towhat? No. Absolutely not," James barked at the viscount, shocked at the anger that had surged up in him at the very suggestion. "I won't permit you to do anything of the kind."
"Forgive me, but did you not tell her that she would be free to choose her own husband? I seem to recall her saying that."
"That doesn't mean I'm going to allow you to propose to her without even—without even discussing the matter with me first."
"We're discussing it right now," Lord Harbury pointed out calmly.
"He's right, you know," William agreed. Was it James' imagination, or did his friend sound as though he was on the verge of laughter? There was nothing funny about any of this!
"This isn't a proper discussion," James said firmly. "If you had any respect, you would have come over here and asked me formy permission. You wouldn't simply announce your intentions as if my opinion made no difference to you."
"But…respectfully, Your Grace, I already know your opinion of me," Lord Harbury pointed out. "You made it abundantly clear the other night at the dinner party. There's nothing you or I could say to one another on that subject that hasn't already been made apparent. And I know enough to realize that if I came over here and sought your blessing to propose marriage to the duchess, you would say no."
"Of course I would."
"And I would ask her to marry me anyway. So why go through all that? I'm showing you respect by letting you know in advance what is about to happen, but I don't ask you for your permission to do what I have already decided upon. I don't require your blessing."
James seethed. "You're really intending to go through with this."
"My mind is made up. I will present myself at your home tomorrow for an audience with the duchess, and I will ask her to marry me."
"And if she refuses you?"
"I think I can persuade her. When she realizes this was what her late husband wanted, that might make a difference. And we'll be a good match. I can offer her a very good life—likely better thananything she could expect with any other gentleman. I think I can make her see why I am the best choice for her."
"What will you do if I refuse to let you talk to her?"
"You can't do that forever," the viscount said placidly. "I think you know that, and I think you will let me see her for that reason. You don't want this to drag on. Eventually she and I will be in a room together and I will be able to make my offer. You don't want to be looking in the shadows at every party, trying to make sure that doesn't happen. And besides," he smiled, "Iwilltake good care of her, Your Grace, and I know that's what you want. Deep down, thought you might be suspicious of me, you know that this is a good match."
He rose from the table. "Thank you for your time," he said. "I'll see you tomorrow."
"Now will you admit it?" William asked as the viscount walked off.
"Admit what?"
"James, for goodness' sake—you love her. You're in love with her. It's so obvious. I've never seen you be so rude to anyone before, and she's quite right to suggest that there's only one possible motive for this change in your behavior. You love her. You don't want him to marry her because you want to marry her yourself."
A chill passed through James.
