Her mother was the first to recover. She breezed into the room with a swish of lavender skirts. “Well then, I guess we better sit down and get acquainted, young man.”
“Mother, Gilchrest, this is Lord Wrotham. We met two weeks ago at the masquerade ball.”
Andrew and Emma moved into the room and sat together on the settee. Her mother spread her skirts out and settled on the divan, and Morgan led Caroline to one of the stuffed chairs. Then he stood sentry next to her.
“I beg your forgiveness, Your Grace.” He addressed her brother. “I planned to come speak with you. But I wanted to make sure I had the lady’s consent first.”
Andrew narrowed his eyes as if sizing up the man in front of him. Caroline held her breath. If her brother disapproved, her plan was sunk.
He nodded. “Finally, one of your suitors has figured out the right way to do this.”
She grinned.
“Lord Wrotham, tell us about yourself.” Her mother asked. “I thought I knew everyone in town.”
“Lord Wrotham is a military man. He is friends with Jack, Mother.”
Morgan nodded. “Yes, Aston saved my life twice over the years. We met in the service.”
“Did you serve on the same ship?” Emma asked.
“No, I am an infantry man. In ‘96, my small unit of nine was on a reconnaissance mission to find out which direction the French troops were headed, and we got cut off outside of Barcelona. Aston rescued us, shuttling us back into Portugal.”
“I’m surprised your father let his heir go to war.” Her mother raised one eyebrow.
“The truth is I ran away from home. My father and I had a strained relationship.” He grimaced. “I inherited the title only last year.”
“And your mother?”
“She died when I was a small boy.”
Caroline glanced up at him.Goodness, he and Grace grew up alone with an abusive father. No wonder he is so protective.She learned more about the man in the last five minutes than in any of their previous conversations. Conversations that had mostly involved flirtation and her trying to glean information from him or convince him to help her. She had never properly just asked him about his life or his family. She would have to rectify that if they would pass as an engaged couple. Of course, who could concentrate on conversation when he always surprised her with his bone-melting kisses.
Kissing a man behind a closed door, she would get an earful from her mother later, no doubt. She dared to glance over. Surprisingly, she found a smile wreathed her mother’s face and reached her eyes. Perhaps her pleasure at Caroline finally accepting an offer of marriage would replace her disapproval of any improprieties?
“My sister, Grace, is the only family I have left,” Morgan explained.
Caroline snapped her attention back to the conversation at hand. “Yes, in fact, we were just discussing how his sister is on her way to visit him, and he is woefully unprepared with accommodations. He planned to put her up in apartments at the Royal Arms Hotel, but I said she must stay here with us, now that she is to become family.” She gave a toothy smile to Morgan. “Isn’t that right, darling?”
Morgan frowned in response. “And I said that would be too much of imposition, and I can take care of my sister.”
“Don’t be silly. It’s no imposition.” Caroline narrowed her eyes in warning. Why was he so stubborn?
Her mother interrupted, “Lord Wrotham, do you not have a house in London?”
“No, ma’am. I have lodgings at The Worthington. I have only recently returned to England.”
Emma, who had been quietly observing the conversation, gave Andrew a sharp nudge with her elbow.
“Ow,” He turned with wide, surprised eyes to his wife. Silent conversation flowed between them. “Oh right, yes. Lord Wrotham, won’t you join me in my study, and we can speak privately.” He cleared his throat. “You may properly state your case for my sister’s hand.”
And just like that, the men quit the room.
Really! It’s not as though she didn’t trust Andrew to care for her assets, but why could she not be party to the discussion. It was her money, after all. She allowed herself one frustrated huff.
When she turned back to Emma and her mother, both ladies were staring at her. Her mother, serene and calm as always, her hands lay folded together in her lap. Emma, on the other hand, scooted forward to the edge of her seat. Her eyes were bright with curiosity.
“So? Tell us every detail!”
