No. She forced herself to calm down. That wouldn’t change anything. She wouldn’t be able to hurry back to the Duke with the news that their goal had been achieved and they could call offtheir engagement. It wouldn’t be safe to do that until Marina had secured an engagement of her own. Once she had, Father would be unlikely to force her to end it, because he wouldn’t want the negative attention it would get him from the rest of theton. It would also make it that much more difficult to find another husband for Marina.
Once they’re engaged, we’ll know we’ve succeeded.
But first, they had to get through this conversation, and it truly looked as if Gilbert wasn’t capable of beginning. He turned his handkerchief over and over in his hands and cleared his throat several times.
I’m going to have to get this started for them,Susan thought.
She sat forward. “Mr. Jones, I’m sorry you couldn’t be at the engagement party the other night. Everything was so beautiful.”
“Oh.” Gilbert’s cheeks went slightly pink. “I’m so glad to hear it, Lady Susan. I don’t know the Duke of Heathmare except by reputation. How is he settling into his new title?”
“Very well, I think,” Susan said. “He’s going to be a good fit for it, and I look forward to helping him with it once we’re married.”
Gilbert nodded. “I’m very happy for you.” He seemed to have found his boldness once more, for now he turned to face Father. “As I said—since Lady Susan is to be married, I’ve come to seekyour permission to court Lady Marina, with the intent to offer her an engagement as well.”
Father’s face showed no reaction, gave away nothing at all. “You are the youngest son of a baron,” he pointed out. “My eldest daughter, Lady Leah, is married to an earl, and now my middle daughter is set to marry a duke.”
“Yes,” Gilbert said. “I’d hoped that you might look past my lack of a high rank in the peerage, knowing that your other daughters have secured such dignifying matches.”
“And why should I allow my youngest daughter to be courted by someone beneath her station?” Father asked, his eyebrows lifting marginally. “I’m sure you’ve guessed that Marina is the one I worry the least about finding a match for. She’s the most charming, the most social, and the only one of my daughters who ever showed real interest in finding a husband. If I can find titled men for the other two, I can certainly find someone for her.”
“But, Father,” Marina spoke up, “I care for Gilbert. Iwantto be courted by him. You see me show enthusiasm for marriage, but that’s because I want to be married to him.” She blushed, but continued on bravely. “Didn’t you see the way Sue changed while we were at Heathmare? Didn’t you notice how much more cheerful she was when we were around the Duke? She never wanted to marry before—but now she does, because ofhim. And that’s the way it is for me too. I want to marry Gilbert… if… if he asks me someday, I mean.”
“It’s my intention to do just that, Lady Marina,” Gilbert said solemnly. “I would ask you today if it weren’t for the fact that I know your father would appreciate a proper courtship first.”
“I most certainly would!” Father said. “Sending a letter may be innocuous, but a rush engagement would certainly get tongues wagging. You know that very well.”
He didn’t look at Susan, but she felt as if he was speaking directly to her all the same. She had never met the Duke before the stay at Heathmare—there had certainly been no courtship. But in her case, Father had been willing to risk a bit of talk. They all had. It was more important to get her married and out of the way of Marina’s future than it was to take care with her reputation. After all, in Susan’s case, the choices were mild gossip or spinsterhood.
Gilbert was speaking again, thankfully, pulling everyone’s thoughts back to the present moment. “The truth is, Lord Crownway, my preference is the same as yours in this regard. I also want to have a courtship. Not because I’m uncertain of my feelings for Lady Marina—I’ve never been more sure about anything in my life. But because I want us to have these early memories together. If all goes well, I would like to be married to your daughter for a very long time. I would like us to grow old together. But first, I would like us to be young together.”
Susan’s heart warmed, listening to his professions of love.
She didn’t know why it was that she was able to believe Gilbert when he said he was in love with Marina. She had certainly neverput much faith in anyone else making claims of love. Ever since her mother had left her father, claiming that their love had never been what she had believed it to be, Susan hadn’t been able to trust that love was real.
But there was something about Gilbert that had persuaded her. Maybe it was that he wasn’t conventionally attractive, and yet he was so sincere. Maybe it was the way he never gave up.
Whatever it was, Susan wanted him to have the chance he was seeking. She wanted him to try to make Marina happy. She believed he wanted that too.
And, at long last, her father nodded. “Very well,” he said. “You have my permission.”
The smile that broke across Marina’s face at those words was like the sun rising, and Susan felt a burst of joy as well.
Her little sister was going to find her way to happiness.
That was the only thing Susan had ever truly wanted.
CHAPTER 8
“Is there anything I can do for you right now, Your Grace?”
Norman turned toward his valet, Mr. Billings. They had just finished unpacking and settling Norman into his townhome for the next several days. There was a great deal to do in the process of establishing himself as a reputable businessman and member of society, and these trips to London were an important part of that.
“Nothing more right now, Mr. Billings,” he said. “I have no meetings until tomorrow, so I planned to spend today relaxing. You may have the rest of the day off, if you’d like it.”
Mr. Billings hesitated. “Forgive me, Your Grace, but I wondered… since we’re in London, aren’t you thinking of paying a visit to your fiancée? I don’t mean to overstep,” he added quickly. “It’s just that I’ve reviewed your schedule, and if youdo intend to see Lady Susan, I’m not sure you’ll have time after today.”
“No, you’re right,” Norman said. The truth was that hehadthought of seeing Lady Susan. The idea had been in his head throughout the journey he’d taken to get here. He had put off deciding what to do, and he realized now that a part of him had been hoping the decision would somehow be taken from him.
