He shrugged. “He owed me a favor. I gave up a promised property for it.”
She chuckled. “No, you didn’t. You’re just good at fixing things.”
“I’m better at it when the problem doesn’t break my heart,” he replied.
“Stop teasing. Have you met my father yet? The Prince Regent wasn’t the only one who objected today to that wedding.”
He laughed. “Your father was there? Was that your doing, letting him know so he could arrive in time to save you?”
“No, of course not. That was the last thing I wanted, for him to endanger himself and provoke the very scandal he left England to prevent. An old friend of his found out about it and let him know, even though he promised me he wouldn’t.”
“I’m pleased for you, Nessi. I expected it to be another few weeks before your father returned to England, but now your every wish has been granted.”
Not quite. Dare she tell him that she had no desire to get back on the marriage mart? That her heart was already his? She didn’t really need to hide it anymore, did she? But he didn’t want to marry. To push him into it would be the worst sort of manipulation after everything he’d done for her. But she didn’t have to avoid his kisses anymore—if he still wanted hers.
She tested that thought and put a hand on his chest. He teased, “Still practicing seduction?”
“Is it working?”
He pulled her close and kissed her in answer. She wrapped her arms tightly around his neck, wondering if this might be the first time she happily swooned. It felt like she might. This was where she wanted to be. They should be painted like this. She could pose for hours pressed this closely to him. . . .
“Vanessa?” William called out.
She leapt back. Her father’s voice was too close. Having both parents in the same house wasn’t going to give her much privacy!
And then William appeared at the entrance to the garden. “Your mother is looking for—”
“I’ll find her!” she cut in, and rushed past him into the house.
Chapter Fifty-two
“AND WHO MIGHT YOUbe?” William asked from the doorway.
Montgomery bowed slightly, uncomfortable with the frown forming on the older man’s visage. “You would be William Blackburn, Earl of Ketterham, home from the war, as it were? I am Montgomery Townsend. My ward and I have been guests of your wife’s for a few weeks now.”
The frown deepened. “So my wife keeps her lovers under her roof now?”
Montgomery started to say he preferred younger women, but with William in London now—if he’d heard the rumors that Montgomery pursued older women, he just might try to kill him. So he stated the truth. “I’m in love with your daughter.”
“I have three.”
“Nessi.”
“She told you my nickname for her?”
He was relieved that at least the earl’s frown was gone. “It was a mistake. She meant to say Nestor. She was wearing britches at the time—and brandishing pistols when we met.”
William stared hard at him for a moment, but then laughed. “You’ll have to tell me all about that—before you have my blessing to court my daughter.”
Just court? He wanted more than that! “Well, Lord William, if you have a couple of hours I will tell you all about my acquaintance with Vanessa, recount every delightful hour I’ve spent with her. And by the by, I’ll be happy to sign her contract.”
But then Mr. Rickles appeared to announce, “You’re needed on the third floor, my lord.”
“Who is?” William asked.
“Our guest is,” the butler replied.
“I’m also a bloody guest,” William stated, a very clear complaint.
