Knowing he would do whatever necessary to protect her, he squeezed her hand one more time but was then forced to release it. The footmen put down the step and the four of them climbed out.
The earl and countess would lead the way to the entrance. Behind them were all of Natalie’s brothers and young Spencer’s wife. Feeling as though they were going into a battle of sorts, Garrett tucked Natalie’s hand around his sleeve and escorted her toward the throng of invitees.
She held her chin high and met the eyes of several ladies and gentlemen as they edged forward. Fearlessly clutchingGarrett’s arm, she ought to have instead removed herself from his side for her own self-preservation. Not Natalie, though. She made polite conversation and smiled brightly at everybody they met. Garrett nodded and added his own greetings.
Although a few eyes looked past him coldly, most, surprisingly, met his gaze. And then as they stepped on board, Garrett recognized the petite platinum-haired lady who’d visited him two days before. Her husband, the Duke of Cortland, stood beside her protectively as they greeted each of their guests. When Garrett stepped forward, the duchess introduced him to her husband as her long-lost cousin. Although the duke seemed to size him up critically, the couple’s welcome seemed genuine.
“Welcome to the family, Hawthorne.” The clean-cut, elegantly-attired gentleman shook Garrett’s hand. “My wife speaks highly of you. Felicitations on your engagement.” With a glance at Natalie, his eyes twinkled a bit. “My compliments on your choice of fiancée.”
Garrett placed a possessive hand over Natalie’s. Natalie smiled and laughed at the duke’s comment. “This one shall not get off as easily as you did, Your Grace,” she said fondly. A few nearby onlookers looked shocked at her reference to her own broken engagement.
The duke laughed and winked at Garrett. “I should hope not,” was all he said.
Garrett and Natalie moved on so as not to hold up the reception line. “That wasn’t so bad, now, was it?” Natalie whispered.
He tilted his head to hear her and let a smile play about his mouth.
He didn’t answer as they worked their way through the crowd to an open section of the railing. They stood together in an odd sort of silence until the engines roared to life, propelling the vessel away from shore. Vibrant scenery rolled past them as they picked up speed. Trees and shrubs blazed amyriad of colors, ranging from greens to golds to bright reds. The lawns spread out like a giant carpet, and autumn flowers bloomed, mostly chrysanthemums. Several mansions backed up to the river along this section. A slight breeze kept the sunshine from being overly warm.
The two of them stood alone together, watching the passing landscape quietly, until Natalie broke the silence. “Are you so very, terribly angry with me, then?”
But he was! He had been. Where was his anger now? Had he completely forgotten it after spending a few moments in her presence? He turned his back on the passing scenery and faced her fully. She looked sheepish and yet pleased with herself. How had the duchess described Natalie to him? Intrepid. That was the word she’d used. It fitted the minx perfectly.
“Would it do any good?” he asked. She opened her eyes in feigned innocence, and he changed the subject. “I have been by your father’s house several times to wait upon you, but you have been away each time. I was beginning to think you might be avoiding me…”
Natalie didn’t take his bait. Appearing contrite, she bit her lip and then looked into his eyes. “I know you did not want any of this.”
Garrett shrugged. In that moment, he found her stubbornness and manipulation not so very problematic after all. In fact, if not for her willfulness, he would not now be standing beside her, floating along on a beautiful day with a glass of champagne in his hand. Ignoring the somber nature of their conversation, he grinned. “You look lovelier than ever today.” His gaze fell upon her lips. “It seems you must be getting on well with Sissy, your new maid.”
Natalie touched her hair in a self-conscious motion. Tilting her head, she laughed. “Oh, we are.” With that, she launched into a rush of words as to how Tinsdale was managing as sole guardian of Baby Bear and how delighted she’d been to seeLilly again. Garrett enjoyed listening. She glowed with warmth and sunshine after a lifetime of weighted darkness. It would be dark again when this was all over. Perhaps not forever, but for a long time. He did not anticipate it.
He was yet to believe they did not have insurmountable impediments in their path. But he pushed these thoughts away.
He informed her of Marcus’s progress, of his plans to rebuild Maple Hall, and even a few bills he was considering that were to be presented in Parliament. Her questions showed keen intelligence. When a chime rang, signifying a toast, Garrett was surprised at how much he’d been talking. Their absorption in each other was scandalous, really. Not what they needed, but he had missed her.
He’d yearned just to be with her.
They both paused and turned to listen to the duke as he commanded his guests’ attention. Natalie’s hand found his own, hidden again by the folds of her gown. Unexpected warmth filled his heart at the connection.
“My dear friends.” The duke’s voice rang out clearly. All eyes focused on him. The man possessed a very strong presence. “My duchess and I, first and foremost, would like to thank all of you for joining us in celebration.” The duke paused and looked around at the now-curious onlookers. “For, yes, celebrations are in order. You see, my lovely duchess, her aunt, Lady Sheffield, and our niece, now Mrs. Joseph Spencer, have been reunited with a relation who until recently was unknown to them. They are delighted to have discovered their cousin and nephew, Garrett Castleton, the Earl of Hawthorne.”
All eyes swung toward Garrett and Natalie.
“My duchess wished to celebrate the occasion by bringing our dearest friends together to join us in welcoming him to our family. Join us,” he commanded, “in welcoming Lord Hawthorne and his lovely fiancée, Lady Natalie Spencer. For a cousin of my wife’s is a cousin of mine.” This last, the duke saidalmost threateningly. “And so I propose, as the summer season comes to an end, a toast to new connections, be it by marriage or be it by blood.” He lifted his glass toward Natalie and Garrett with a martial gleam in his eyes.
“New connections,” several of the guests repeated with raised glasses. The duke did not lift the glass to his lips until all other glasses were raised. It seemed a line had been drawn. Watching Natalie from behind the rim of his own, Garrett raised one eyebrow questioningly at his fiancée.
What have you done?
Taking a sip of the sparkling drink, the corners of her lips tilted upwards.
It seemed they had more support than he’d realized.
THROUGHOUT THE NEXT FEW WEEKS
Throughout the next few weeks, Natalie and Garrett endured the diligent eyes of theton, watching them everywhere they went. The high sticklers of society, it seemed, were holding their breath, waiting for Natalie or Garrett to step out of lineandgive them full right to rain down their judgment upon the couple. But until then, no one dared censure the earl and his flighty fiancée. For some reason, London’s most disgraceful pair had been warmly embraced by a few of theton’smost powerful members. It was difficult to understand how the Duke of Cortland could act so kindly toward her. She’d jilted him, after all, had she not?
With mixed feelings of excitement and sheer terror, Natalie, her mother, and Aunt Eleanor whirled about from one event to another. On a few occasions, they were escorted by Lord Hawthorne and her father. But it would be unseemly to appear to be living in his pocket. It was best that she remain close to her chaperones. And although worse than her punishment last spring, she dared not take any missteps. This time she had everything to lose.
