Edward fell into step behind the aged man and was surprised when Lady Amelia followed both of them.
Some, but not all, of his humor gone, he listened as the butler announced him at the door of His Grace’s study.
“Your Grace.” Edward bowed crisply after stepping into the wood-paneled room, sobering to fit the picture of repentance.
The duke had a commanding presence with a large, muscular frame and intelligent, steely eyes. A lesser man might have cowered at the look he shot Edward.
Luckily, Edward was no lesser man.
“Lord Norwich, I assume you remember my daughter?” The duke gestured behind Edward with one arm.
“Yes, of course. Lady Amelia.” He bowed again, perhaps even lower this time.
“Have a seat, Amelia,” His Grace said.
She swept past Edward and settled stiffly in a chair near the window.
It was strange that she was here. Why would her father require her presence? Or hadsherequested to attend? Odd, really. He turned back to her father.
“Sit, Norwich.”
Edward obeyed the clear command; it was best not to ruffle too many feathers at the start of a meeting such as this. A pang of regret that he’d managed to get himself into such a situation again surfaced, but he elbowed it away. There would be plenty of time to complete his transformation into a better man once this was all settled.
His eyes surveyed the duke. The man’s creased face and dark, graying hair made him every bit as distinguished as he must have appeared in his youth. Edward crossed one leg over the other, leveling a confident stare at the man. What sort of father would he prove to be? Blustering? Angry? Embarrassed? Probably angry. Regardless, it was in Edward’s best interests to continue in a subservient nature. Despite Edward’s capabilities, the duke would likely take a bit more finessing than most.
“Your Grace, I must begin by apologizing for the unfortunate circumstances in which I became acquainted with your daughter. I am certain I do not need to inform you that nothing—”
“I am certainIdo not need to informyou,” the duke cut in, folding his arms over his chest, “of the damage to my daughter’s reputation you have been complicit in.” He raised his eyebrows, challenging Edward with a look.
Well, that was not the best start.
Edward cleared his throat, trying again. “Any damage that might have ensued causes me great distress, Your Grace, but I must disagree on my involvement. I believe it would be better described as simply a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.” He smiled humbly, lifting his hands, palms up, in a placating gesture.
Lady Amelia emitted a strangled exclamation. He ignored her, though only barely.
The duke’s expression did not change, though he stood, pressing his palms to the top of his desk. “I’ve no need of your flowery speeches, Norwich. I know your reputation, and I will not have my own family’s sullied by this event. You will do right by my daughter, or you will answer to me.”
The strangled noise sounded again at his right.
Edward met the duke’s gaze squarely, resisting the urge to pull at his cravat. This was not at all how he had anticipated their meeting going. Yes, he’d expected the duke to be upset, but he’d also expected the man to see reason.
“Your Grace, I am unsure what you could be implying.”
The duke’s eyes bore into his own, and Edward’s began to water with his attempt to maintain the gaze.
“I amimplyingnothing, Lord Norwich. I am explicitly informing you that youwillmarry my daughter or I will personally drag you from the country by your neck.”
“Papa.” Lady Amelia entered the conversation tentatively, a slight note of desperation not entirely hidden from her tone.
The duke did not remove his commanding gaze from Edward despite stilling to listen to his daughter. It was enough for her, apparently, for her careful voice sounded again.
“I promise you nothing untoward occurred.” She paused, and Edward could hear her shifting in her chair. “You, after all, mentioned Lord Norwich’s reputation, and I could not agree more. Why, then, should we wish our family to be tainted by aligning with such gossip? Would it not be better to forget the whole thing occurred at all?”
Edward tamped down the defensive retort rising in his throat. After all, he wished for the same thing as Lady Amelia. But her argument against him stung. Why though? He was well aware of how all of London viewed him.
His Grace finally turned to gaze upon his daughter. The lines about his mouth lessened slightly, and his brow smoothed. “Amelia, I do not believe you understand the gravity of what your reputation faces.”
“I do. Most definitely. But perhaps I can return home this Season and wait for the gossip to settle. I can try again next Season. I do not mind. Anything but marria—”
