He pulled away, and it was like he’d read her mind when he whispered, “There is nothing I’d like more than to lay you down on the settee and forget the madness of today. But it is getting late and we have somewhere to be.”
She tilted her head. “Where?”
“My mother’s. We’ll go in the guise of telling her of our engagement. But while we’re there, Gray and I will need to tell Felicity about the death of the Duke of Kirkford.”
Elise shuddered. “She will be devastated.”
“That’s why I’m glad you’ll be there to help,” he said, holding her gaze steadily. “Now go up and change. Gray managed to convince the guard that we should take your clothing as we planned.”
She blinked. He was offering her a little trust by asking her for her help with Felicity. She saw that. And though it was just a beginning, she would take it. Cling to it with both hands.
And pray she could one day manage to parlay it into a happy future.
Chapter Nineteen
Lucien looked at Elise as she shifted in her seat, staring at the door where Felicity and his mother would soon join them and Gray and Rosalinde. The other couple was standing by the fire, their heads close together in private conversation.
Stenfax reached out and took Elise’s hand, squeezing gently. “It’s fine,” he whispered.
Her already pale face drained further of color. “How can it be fine? Your mother must hate me as much as you and your siblings did.”
Lucien frowned at her observation. She had lived in the shadow of his family’s disdain for so long, now that she had been drawn out into the light it was like she didn’t know what to do. That was his fault, he supposed. After all, she felt the walls between them.
He wanted so much to bring them down, but it wasn’t so simple as that.
“Mama is an uncomplicated person,” he said softly. “Will she be…confusedby this change of events? I suppose she will. After all, I didn’t hide my grief over losing you well, but she isn’t the kind to turn away anyone. I assure you. Especially if Gray and Felicity show their support for the match.”
The mention of his sister made Elise’s face fall further. “Oh, how will Felicity take this news?” she whispered.
He tensed at the thought, but was happy to share his worries with someone who understood. “I’ll have to draw her aside to tell her, and I admit I don’t look forward to that moment.”
“I’ll help you as best I can,” Elise said softly as she threaded her fingers through his. He looked down at her, soaking in the succor of her support, feeling the glow of his love for her in return.
Felicity entered the room and he drew away from Elise, rising to his feet as he faced his sister and his mother. Lady Stenfax smiled, but the expression slowly fell as she realized Elise was standing in her parlor.
“I—” she began. “Good Lord, Your Grace, I had no idea you would be joining the family for supper tonight.”
“Lady Stenfax,” Elise said, holding out a shaking hand toward his mother. “I hope my being here doesn’t put you out overly much.”
His mother blinked, and for a brief moment Stenfax though she might, indeed, refuse Elise. But then she put out her hand and caught Elise’s gently. “Of course not, my dear. We will add another plate for supper. It has been…” She shot Stenfax a side glance. “…a very long time since we last saw you.”
Stenfax cleared his throat as he sidled up to Elise and gently slipped an arm around her waist. He felt her lean into him a fraction and stroked his fingers against her side in some form of comfort. “Mama, I have news for you.”
Lady Stenfax’s eyes widened even further as she stared at the two of them. “I see that you do. What is going on?”
“Elise and I will wed,” he said softly. “In Caraway Court, in two weeks’ time.”
It seemed the room held its collective breath as they awaited Lady Stenfax’s reaction, but none more than Elise. He supposed he understood why. After all, she’d always liked his family, and since her own parents had both died during her marriage to Kirkford, she was quite alone in the world. He could imagine she would welcome the gentle presence of his mother.
“That’s wonderful,” Lady Stenfax said at last, and moved toward the couple to first kiss her son’s cheek and then catch Elise’s hands. “My dear, we have very much missed you in the company of our family. I only wish your parents were here to see this day. I know they wished for it.”
Elise blinked in surprise. “You stayed in touch with my parents…after?”
Lady Stenfax wrinkled her brow. “Of course I did. I hope you got my note when they passed.”
Elise swallowed hard. “I did, my lady. I am sorry I didn’t write back—my grief was too much, I fear.” She glanced at Stenfax with a soft smile. “But I did appreciate your kind words.”
She was so lovely in that moment that it took everything in Stenfax not to grab her, sweep her over his shoulder and take her back to his home to lay claim to her right then and there. But he had one final unpleasant duty that night and it had to do with Felicity.
