“Oh, he was,” Harriet replied. “I think he actually wanted to come, at least to meet the groom. But this trip to London undid him. He hasn’t left his bed since we got here. But speaking of bedridden, Anna told me she’s made a remarkable recovery from her illness, thanks to you.”
Brooke raised a brow. “You were already acquainted with Anna?”
“How could I not be when we both socialize in this town? I admit, though, that I was expecting the animosity you mentioned. I hadn’t seen her since the duels. Does she know why her son wanted to kill mine?”
“Yes.”
“Then she’s being duplicitous, treating me as if nothing has happened?”
“I don’t think so. She’s tasked me with making her son happy. I believe that’s more important to her now than any grudge.”
“A wise choice, making the best of it. But is that what you want?”
For him to be happy? Brooke had thought of it as a goal, that it would bring about peace between them. But she realized now she did want him to be happy. Oh, good grief, she was in love, wasn’t she? Caught in her own snare!
As to her mother’s question, she said, “Yes, it would be nice if we could both be happy.”
“That’s not what I meant.”
“I’m sorry I’m late,” the priest said behind them, and ushered them both farther into the room so they could get the ceremony started.
Chapter Fifty-One
“TELL ME I’M NOTtoo late!”
The door’s bursting open was loud enough, but the crestfallen expression on the intruding lady’s face did more to startle Brooke, shut up the priest, and cause a few gasps. At first, Brooke thought she was one of Dominic’s former mistresses who’d come to object to the wedding. But then she recognized the exceptionally handsome woman from her encounter with her the other day in the Wolfes’ entrance hall.
“No,” Anna answered from the bed. “You’re just in time, Eleanor—if you bring good news?”
Eleanor laughed in relief. “The best, m’dear.”
“Duchess,” Dominic said with a formal bow. “Always good to see you, but Mother didn’t mention you wanted to attend my wedding.”
“Because I don’t, dear boy. I have instead made sure you don’t have one. You can thank me in the usual fashion, a dozen roses, a bauble, and, oh, I love candy.”
The woman seemed absolutely delighted to have said all that, either unaware of the shock she’d just delivered or pleased because of it. Theatrics? Maybe the duchess was an actress?
But Dominic’s frown said he wasn’t pleased by her cryptic statements. “Explain, if you would?”
“Let me,” Anna said. “I might have misled you, Dom, to think I was acquiescent to this match—”
“Might have?” he cut in.
Anna winced a little. “It was good of Lady Brooke to aid in my recovery, but I’m sorry, I still can’t bear the thought of my grandchildren having Whitworth blood. So I asked my dearest friend to intervene and offer the Prince a different alternative.”
Eleanor rolled her eyes with a chuckle before saying to Dominic, “George owes me money, so he wouldn’t dare not receive me this morning or give careful thought to our suggestion. And I sweetened the incentive by mentioning that you and the Whitworth girl like each other and will indeed marry, so he will get nothing, no money, no property. But if he releases you from this forced marriage prior to its happening, then you’ll donate your coal mines to his coffers and sign a pledge not to engage in any more duels with Robert Whitworth. He agreed on the spot, of course. I knew he would.”
Brooke was too stunned to speak, too stunned to think!
But Dominic wasn’t and turned his eyes back to his mother. “I thought you understood you were no longer to make decisions for me. Why didn’t you tell me about this plan before you set it in motion?”
“I didn’t want to get your hopes up if it didn’t work, but it did, and you can’t deny you aren’t relieved to be done with that despicable family.”
“Regardless—”
“That’s quite enough insults,” Harriet cut in sharply. “Thank you, Anna, for giving me back my daughter. She deserves much better than you lot.”
In high dudgeon, Harriet pulled Brooke out of there. No one stopped her, certainly not Dominic. He was free. He might be annoyed with his mother for not consulting him, but he had to be rejoicing nonetheless. Or he would have stopped her, would have told the duchess no thank you, would have married Brooke today despite his mother’s interference...
