The coach pulled up before the grand stairs of Silver Meadows. Pleased to see that no one else was calling quite this early, he calculated he had at least thirty minutes before anyone would arrive, if they arrived. With the duke and duchess gone and most of Northampton already in London, there were few people about beyond Lady Burchell.
As he was shown into the parlor, he hoped Mariel had received his note. He was well aware she did not like changing plans, but being in public again in Northampton was out of the question. Gravitating to the window, he viewed the fine lawns of the large estate. He had to acknowledge that it was a fitting place for a finishing school. When he heard footsteps on the staircase to the upper floors, he turned toward the open parlor doors.
Mariel swept in wearing a lavender day dress that gave a light glow to her skin. She held out her gloved hands. “My Lord Blackmore. What a pleasant surprise. I had not expected to see you again so soon.”
At her formal greeting, he looked beyond her to see a footman standing by the doors. At least the duchess had taken her butler with her. “I admit Lady Beaumont, I have been quite anxious to see you again.” He squeezed her hands.
She looked to the footman. “Please have tea served.”
The footman gave a short bow and headed off.
Mariel let go of one hand and walked him to the arm chair next to the settee. “I received your note.” She kept her voice low. “I can only assume something is amiss.”
It hadn’t occurred to him that she would think so simply because he wished to speak in private. “Not at all. I simply wanted to discuss our plans.” He kept it vague, not wishing to begin until the refreshments were brought.
She dropped his hand and floated down onto the settee. “Of that, I’m glad to hear. Did your men find the poacher?”
He shook his head as he sat in the chair perpendicular to her. “There was no sign of him, but I put out word that he was spotted, so I doubt he’ll make that mistake again.”
“Any man who can’t tell the difference between a deer and a horse should be forbidden to hunt.” She paused, her green eyes looking about as she thought. “Unless, of course, he was aged and cannot see well. In that case, his family should see to him.”
Only she could find a sympathetic reason for someone almost shooting her. Even as he thought of how close the first bullet had come to hitting her, his chest tightened. “I’m relieved that you were not injured.”
“Me? I’m glad Atalanta wasn’t injured.”
He suppressed a grin. Any other woman would have fainted on the spot, but Mariel was most concerned about getting her horse away from danger. She truly was remarkable.
“Have you heard from your mother? Has she settled into your house in London?”
He didn’t want to discuss his mother, but it was a safe subject for now. “Yes. I received a letter from her just yesterday. She wants to plan a ball for us.”
Her eyes widened. “Oh no. You mustn’t let her.”
“Do not worry. I convinced her it was more proper for your family to do the honors first.”
She clasped her hand around the index finger of her other. “That was the perfect answer. I will, of course, put my family off any grand ideas. Joanna was skeptical when I told her you had committed to our betrothal. In fact, she mumbled something about writing up a new marriage settlement.” She cocked her head and raised her brows. “You will not want to sign any new contract my dear sister creates. Ever since our old solicitor beggared us, she has taken tight reins on our financial affairs.”
“Your sister? The duchess?” He knew the woman read a lot, but to handle the affairs of one family, never mind two, would be too much.
Mariel waved off his comment. “Not to worry. Joanna adores numbers, and according to the duke, is better than he at them. She did write Amelia’s betrothal agreement, and Amelia and the Earl are quite happy with it.” She turned toward the doors as the footman returned with the tea service.
Once the man left, Mariel set about pouring them tea. Not once did she ask what he preferred and as he lifted the dark liquid to his lips, he found it exactly as he liked it, a bit of sugar and no cream.
She gave him a shy smile. “Is it acceptable?”
Acceptable? It was perfect. Everything about her was perfect, and no one seemed to notice but him. That knowledge irritated him. “Very.” Taking a second sip, he set the tea cup down and stood.
At her look of surprise, he laid his finger against his lips then quietly moved to the doors. Looking about and seeing no one, he quietly closed them. When he turned to her, there was a slight flush in her cheeks.
He strode back and sat next to her. “I know this is slightly untoward, but I did say I wished to speak to you in private.”
“So you did.” Her voice was hushed as if she expected a romantic interlude.
That hadn’t occurred to him, but it should have. She was still a woman in her prime and she would assume that if he wished for a private meeting that it would not be entirely proper. Unfortunately, now that the thought was in his head, his body agreed.
Forgetting his true reason for being there, he cupped her cheek. “Do you know you were the one person I thought of every day while on the continent?”
Her lips parted as she took a sudden breath. “I have never stopped thinking of you.”
