It was the first time she had ever defied her mother, and Augusta’s jaw dropped in shock. Recovering quickly, she said in a low, furious voice, “You are aVangelder, my girl, and I’ve devoted my life to training you to be worthy of the highest station. I will never permit you to throw yourself away on a worthless, fortune-huntingyoungerson!”
“Paul is no fortune hunter! He said that if you refused permission, we could live on his income,” Sunny said hotly. “And he isn’t worthless! He’s a British aristocrat, exactly what you wanted for me, and he has a great future in British politics. He was recently made a junior minister, and he says that with me by his side he’ll soon be in theCabinet.”
“Your money would certainly help his career,” Augusta said grimly, “but he’ll have to find himself another heiress, because I will never give myconsent.”
“I don’t need your consent!” Sunny said fiercely. “I’m of legal age and can marry whomever I wish. AndIwill!”
“How dare you speak to your mother this way!” Augusta grabbed Sunny’s elbow, then marched her down the hall to her bedroom and shoved her inside. “If you think a humble life is so splendid, you can stay locked in here and live on bread and water until you changeyourmind!”
As the key turned in the lock, Sunny collapsed, shaking, on the bed. She had never dreamed how painful defiance could be. Yet she could not surrender, not when her whole life’s happiness was atstake.
She must see Paul; he would know whattodo.
The thought steadied her churning emotions, and she began to consider what to do. Her bedroom opened onto the roof of one of the porches, and her older brother Charlie had showed her how to climb to the ground. Her mother had never dreamed that her well-bred daughter would behave in such a hoydenishfashion.
Paul was staying at Windfall, which was only a mile away. Would he be there this evening? Yes, he'd mentioned that the Astors were giving a dinner party. She would wait until her mother retired, then escape and walk toWindfall.
With a veil over her face, no one would recognize her even if she was seen. She’d go to the servants’ entrance and ask for the butler. He knew her, and she thought that for a suitable consideration he would summon Paul and let them have a few minutes ofprivacy.
Once they were together, everything would be allright.
* * *
Sunny’s planwent smoothly and by ten o’clock that evening she was pacing nervously around the Windfall servants’ sitting room. She hoped Paul would be able to slip away quietly when the butler delivered her message. But what if the butler betrayed her to Mrs. Astor? Or if Mrs. Astor suspected that something was amiss and decided toinvestigate?
The door opened and she whirled around, ready to jump from her skin. With a wave of relief, she saw that it was Paul, devastatingly attractive in his evening dress. Coming toward her with concern on his face, he said, “Darling, you shouldn’t risk your reputation like this. But it’s wonderful to see youunexpectedly!"
He opened his arms and she went into them eagerly. She loved his height, which made her feel small and feminine. It was the first time they had real privacy, and his kiss far surpassed what they had shared before. Her resolve strengthened. She would never give up his love for the dubious pleasure of marrying a nondescript duke.Never!
Remembering the reason for her visit, she reluctantly ended the kiss. “Oh, Paul, something dreadful has happened!” she said miserably. “Today my mother told me that she has arranged for me to marry someone else. I told her about our betrothal, but she won’t hear of it. She locked me in my room and swore I’d stay there on bread and water until I changedmymind.”
“How dare she treat you in such a way!” Paul exclaimed. “I won’tpermitit!”
“I refused to agree to her wishes, of course, but it was so difficult. I...I think we should elope.Tonight.”
“Right now?” he said, startled. “That’s not what I want for you, darling. You deserve the grandest wedding of the century, not a furtive, hole-in-corneraffair.”
“What does that matter?” she said impatiently. “I’m trying to be strong, but my mother is...is not easy toresist.”
“Who does she want you tomarry?”
“The new Duke of Thornborough, Justin Aubrey. His brother, Gavin, just died, and Justin needs arichwife.”
Before she could say more, Paul said in a stunned voice, “The Duke of Thornborough! You would be one of the most influential women inEngland.”
“And one of the unhappiest.” Tears welled in her eyes, and she blinked them back angrily. “I need to be withyou,Paul.”
“We must reason this out.” He stroked her back soothingly. “Your mother flatly refused to consider me as asuitor?”
“She said that it was unthinkable that I should marry a nobody.” Sunny relaxed again, comforted by his touch. “Such nonsense! Titles mean nothing. What matters is being a gentleman, and no one is more gentlemanlythanyou.”
After a long pause, Paul said gravely, “Sunny, I can’t marry you against your mother’s wishes. Though I knew that she would not be enthusiastic about my suit, I thought I would be able to persuade her. But to be Duchess of Thornborough! With that in prospect, she will neveracceptme."
A tendril of fear curled through Sunny. “It is not my mother’s place to choose my husband,” she said sharply. “It’s mine, and you are my choice. That’s all thatmatters.”
“If only it were that simple!” He sighed. “But it’s not, my dear. You are not simply my own sweet love, but a national treasure, one of America’s princesses. What kind of cad would I be to take advantage of your innocence to keep you from a gloriousfuture?”
Sunny stared at him, thinking that this scene couldn’t be real. Perhaps she had fallen off her bicycle and injured her head and everything that had happened since was only a bad dream. “You’re saying you don’t want tomarryme?”
