Justin’s mouth tightened. “I wouldn’t be marrying the girl with the intention of divorcing her,Burrell.”
“Of course not,” the solicitor said quickly. After a shuffle of papers, he added, “If I may say so, you’re very different from yourbrother.”
“Say what you like,” Justin said tersely. Yet though he told himself that a rich wife was strictly a practical matter, the possibility of marrying Sunny Vangelder filled him with raw, achinghunger.
If she came to Swindon, there would always besunshine.
* * *
Newport, RhodeIsland
Laughing and breathlessfrom the bicycle ride, Sunny waved goodbye to her friends, then skipped up the steps of The Tides, the Vangelder summer home. Like most Newport “cottages,” it would have been called a mansion anywhere else. But the atmosphere was more relaxed than New York City and she always enjoyed the months spent inNewport.
This summer was the best ever, because the Honorable Paul Curzon was visiting the Astors. He had arrived in Newport three weeks earlier, and the first time they had waltzed together he had confided that he had come to America to seeSunny.
She had almost expired from sheer bliss, for she had been thinking of Paul ever since their first meeting. They had carried on a delicious flirtation throughout the season, and she had sensed that there were deeper feelings on both sides. She'd been bitterly disappointed that he had not offered forherthen.
As they danced, he explained that he had not spoken earlier for he had feared that he would not be considered an acceptable suitor. But after weeks of yearning, he had finally decided to come to America and declarehislove.
Breathlessly she had confessed that she also had tender feelings for him. Ever since that night, she had been living in an enchanted dream. Each morning she woke with the knowledge that she would see Paul at least once during the day, perhaps more than that. The business of Newport was society, and there was an endless succession of balls and dinner parties and polomatches.
Though the two of them had behaved impeccably in public, on two magical occasions they had had a moment’s privacy, and he had kissed her with a passion that made her blood sing through her veins. At night, as she lay in her chaste bed, she remembered those kisses and yearnedformore.
His courtship had culminated this morning, in the few minutes when the two of them had cycled ahead of the rest of their party. After declaring his love, he had asked her to marry him. Dizzy with delight, she had acceptedinstantly.
As Sunny stepped into the cool marble vestibule of The Tides, she tried to calm her expression, for she knew that she was beaming like a fool. It was going to be hard to keep her lovely secret, but she must until the next day, when Paul would ask her mother’s permission. Her mother would not be enthralled by the match, but Sunny was sure she would come around. Paul came from a fine family and he had a distinguished career in frontofhim.
She handed the butler her hat, saying gaily, “It’s a beautiful day,Graves.”
“Indeed it is, Miss Sarah.” Taking the hat, he added, “Your mother has asked that you see her as soon as you return home. I believe that she is in her privatesalon.”
Such summons were not uncommon, so Sunny went upstairs with no premonition of disaster. She knocked on her mother’s door and wasinvitedin.
When she entered, Augusta looked up from her desk with triumph in her eyes. “I have splendid news, Sarah! I’ll admit I was tempted by some of the offers I received for your hand, but it was right to wait.” After a portentous pause, she said, “You, my dear, are going to become the Duchess ofThornborough.”
The shock was so stunning that at first Sunny could only say stupidly, “What on earth doyoumean?”
“You’re going to marry Thornborough, of course,” her mother said briskly. “For the last several days cables have been flying back and forth between Newport and England. The essentials have been settled, and Thornborough is on his way to Newport to make you a formaloffer.”
“But I thought the Duke of Thornborough was going to marry Mrs.Russell.”
“That was Gavin, the eighth duke. Unfortunately he was killed in a train wreck several weeks ago, two days before he was to marry May.” Augusta smiled maliciously. “I would wager that May tried her luck with his successor, but clearly the ninth duke has better taste than hisbrother.”
Feeling ice-cold, Sunny sank into a chair. “How can I marry a man whom I’ve never even met?” she saidweakly.
“Katie Westron said that you did meet him. In fact, you spent a rather indecent amount of time strolling through the Swindon gardens together,” her mother said. “He was Lord Justin Aubrey then, younger brother to the duke whojustdied.”
The fete at Swindon was when Sunny had met Paul. Beside that, other events of the day had paled. Dazedly she tried to remember more. The gardens had been superb, and she vaguely recalled being escorted through them by someone. Had that been Lord Justin? She supposed so, though she could remember nothing about him except that he was dark, and quiet, and...unmemorable.
But it didn’t matter what he was like, because she wasn’t going to marry him. Steeling herself for battle, Sunny said, “I can’t marry Thornborough because I’m betrothed to PaulCurzon.”
There was an instant of ominous silence before her mother exploded. “Nonsense! I considered putting a stop to that earlier, but I thought it was a harmless flirtation. I couldn’t believe you would be so foolish as to entertain thoughts of marrying such a man.” Her eyes narrowed. “I trust you’ve had the sense not to tell anyone about this so-calledengagement?”
Sunny shook her head. “Paul only asked me thismorning.”
“I shall send him a note saying he is never to call on you, or speak to you, again. That will put an end to this idiocy.” Augusta drummed her fingers on the elaborate desk as she thought. “Thornborough will be here in nine days. I shall give a ball in his honor a week later, and we can announce the betrothal then. The wedding should take place in October, I think. It will take that long to make suitablearrangements.”
Knowing that she faced the fight of her life, Sunny wiped her damp palms on her skirt as she struggled for calm. “You must cable the duke and stop him from coming, Mother. Paul Curzon and I love each other, and I am going tomarryhim.”
