“Then let us hope that your bones are right,” Rupert quipped, as Preston grinned. “Here we are, then. Let us hope this evening is nothing provides us with a way to find some closure, one way or another!”
“Finchley?I must speak with you. I – ”
“Lord Finchley? Forgive the interruption, but I have been told to direct you to Lord Hereford at once.” Lady Cumbria glanced at Lady Eleanor, whose face was pale, her blue eyes rounded. “Eleanor, your father is watching.”
She closed her eyes, and Rupert frowned. “Is everything all right?”
“We are engaged,” Lady Eleanor said, as Lady Cumbria took Rupert’s arm and began to lead him away. “I will explain all soon, but those are the circumstances by which you are to meet my father.”
Rupert blinked rapidly, clearing his throat as he fought to find composure.
“This introduction must be made at once,” Lady Cumbria said, out of the corner of her mouth. “Eleanor will explain all to you thereafter, but thismusttake place if she is to be saved from Lord Ashworth.”
“Lord Ashworth?” Heat shot through Rupert’s frame, startling him out of his shock as Lady Cumbria nodded. Someone knocked into the back of him, and Rupert frowned, glancing over his shoulder at the gentleman, before returning his attention to Lady Cumbria. “Is there something – ”
“Here, Lord Hereford.” There was no time for Lady Cumbria to answer Rupert’s question, nor any time for Rupert to ask anything more! “Here he is, as I promised.” Smiling warmly at Rupert and then looking to Lord Hereford, she set out one hand towards Rupert. “Hereford, might I present to you the Marquess of Finchley? Lord Finchley, this is my brother-in-law, the Earl of Hereford.”
Rupert bowed quickly, aware of the man’s keen eyes on him as he lifted his head. “Lord Hereford. I am very glad to make your acquaintance.”
“As am I, though I must say I am surprised it has taken you so long to make an official introduction to me, given what you intend for my daughter.”
A nervousness clung to Rupert’s stomach, but he continued regardless, forcing a smile. “I quite understand your displeasure, Lord Hereford. I had every intention of doing so, but – ”
“But, as Eleanor explained to you yesterday, Hereford, Lord Finchley was doing his utmost to make sure all of his investments were sound and his future well secured before formally seeking her hand.”
A flicker of a frown darted across Rupert’s forehead, but he brushed it away quickly enough, seeing Lord Hereford’s eyes narrow just a little. “Yes, that is quite so,” he continued, withwhat he hoped sounded like confidence in his voice. “I am very glad to be able to say that all is well and that is why – ”
“My daughter told me she was engaged to you, but you did not come to speak to me at the beginning of your relationship,” Lord Hereford interrupted, taking a step closer to Rupert. “I should have preferred it if you had come to me at the beginning, so that I could have determined whether or not you were worthy of her.”
Lord Ashworth might have done what I did not,Rupert thought to himself, as he nodded and spread out his hands.That will make him more favored by Lord Hereford than I.“I will admit that I have not done everything as I ought,” he admitted, hoping that this would placate Lord Hereford. “As I have said, I wanted to make sure everything was firmly in place before I offered for her hand, although to marry her would grant me the greatest wish of my heart.”
Lord Hereford’s lips pushed upwards for only a moment, then fell again. “Pretty words, Lord Finchley.”
“But honestly meant,” Rupert answered firmly. “I care deeply for your daughter, Lord Hereford. It isbecauseof such feelings that I wanted to make certain everything was settled.”
“And is it?”
Rupert blinked, cleared his throat, and then nodded. “Yes, it is.” That was not the truth, of course, but he certainly could not share all of his present circumstances with Lord Hereford! “That is why now, I ask for your permission to marry her.”
The answer did not come at once, unsettling Rupert all the more. He wanted to cry out in frustration, wanted to declare repeatedly to Lord Hereford that he would do anything and everything he could simply to call Lady Eleanor his bride, but patience told him to quieten himself. Standing tall, he curled and uncurled his hands, waiting as Lord Hereford continued to assess him.
Then, the gentleman sighed.
“You have it – but only for the moment, so you will not make any sort of announcement as yet,” he said begrudgingly as a kick of joy hit Rupert’s stomach. “I have told Eleanor that I will make my own enquiries as to your standing and your character, just as I would do for any other.”
“I am certain that your permission will remain,” Rupert replied confidently, hiding the slight niggle of worry that bit at him as he thought about his present circumstances. “I thank you, Lord Finchley. If you would excuse me now, I must go and speak with Lady Eleanor.”
Lord Hereford opened his mouth as if he were to say something more, but Lady Cumbria quickly stepped in, allowing Rupert to move away without difficulty. Lady Eleanor was standing just where he had left her, her face still pale and worry lining her forehead.
“There is no need to worry, my love,” Rupert said gently, reaching for her hand and pressing it for a moment or two as Lady Catherine drew near to them both, having just finished her dance. “All is well.”
She looked up at him, her eyes swimming with tears. “I am sorry that I did not tell you before now. I thought to write but then whenever I tried, the words did not come and – ”
“There is no need for any concern, truly!” Rupert exclaimed, smiling at her. “I am glad, soveryglad that this moment has come, Eleanor.”
She swallowed, her eyes glassy. “Truly?”
“Of course.” Wishing that he could lower his head and kiss her in front of the other guests, Rupert contented himself with taking her hand and pressing a kiss to the back of it. “This has brought me nothing but joy, I assure you. This is what I wanted, what we both wanted.”
