Bridget cheered, and Johanna could not stop herself from making a very small cheering sound of her own.It truly was a wonderful day.
And tomorrow she would marry a duke.Bridget might be excited, but Johanna was still terrified.
Still, if last night was anything to go by, there were some parts of being a duchess that she thought she might enjoy.
Matthew
Spending time with Micah Ashfield was rather enjoyable, Matthew found.While part of him felt as though he should be looking for the Earl of Cornwall and finding out why he’d invited the Duke of Hereford to the hunting lodge where he’d died, it was nice to help someone with their problems for a bit instead.
First, he took Micah to the tailor, which thankfully did not require much input from him since they were well equipped to outfit the earl without Matthew’s opinion.After that, it was several stops at shops for other necessities, by which time Micah was beginning to look a bit apprehensive.
“Is something amiss?”Matthew asked him.“Was there something else you needed?”He did not like seeing the young man’s exuberance dimmed.
Micah shook his head.
“You have already done too much,” he said quietly, ducking his head down and glancing at Matthew as they walked along the street.The passersby were paying very little attention to them, other than those who recognized Matthew and made their acknowledgments.Several glanced at Micah’s startlingly light hair with interest, but no more than that.“I am not sure I can ever repay you.”
“You do not need to,” Matthew reassured him, feeling utterly generous.He’d already flipped his coin and knew that he was paying for everything, as a gift.“I am marrying your sister.It is only expected from thetonthat I would take you under my wing and ensure you and your family are provided for.”
For a long moment, Micah was silent, processing that thought as they ambled down the road.
“I feel as though I should not lean on you, though,” he replied quietly.“I am going to be an earl.”
“When you reach your majority, that might be true,” Matthew agreed cheerfully.“But you will always be able to come to me with any questions you have.We are going to be family.”
Though he would not have gone to his own father with questions, Matthew had good friends who he could approach with any of his issues.He had seen some of their relationships with their fathers and knew what was possible.Not that Micah was his son, but he could fill the role in some manner, especially as Micah’s guardian had proven to be deficient.
Even if the man was not stealing from the estate, suggesting that Johanna sell herself at such an auction as they’d attempted…
The man was a scoundrel and a reprobate from that alone.
“You should also cultivate a group of friends.You’ll find them at university, most likely, or among your peers,” Matthew explained as a man who fit such a description appeared at the corner.The Duke of Ormonde was also out for a walk today… or perhaps, going by his disheveled appearance and unshaven jawline, on his way home from the night before.“Come along.”
Matthew picked up the pace, and Micah followed him with alacrity.
“Ormonde!”Matthew called out before Drake could cross the street, not caring that it was gauche.Perhaps he should have checked with his coin, but there was not enough time, and he did not want Drake to disappear into the crowd.
The other man paused and turned, his expression clearing when he saw that it was Matthew hailing him.His eyes flicked to Matthew’s side, where Micah was coming along.
“St.Albans,” he said with a formal nod.“And Falmouth, I presume.”
“The Duke of Ormonde,” Matthew told Micah, who breathlessly made his bow.
Despite his rumpled clothing and hairy face, Drake made a rather imposing figure in his black attire, relieved only by the starchy white of his shirt and the copper pocket square tucked over his breast.There was always something about him that exuded high amounts of confidence, even for a duke.
“I was hoping to catch you,” Matthew said.“I was wondering if you’d sent out the investigators yet.”
“Sent, and they have returned.”Drake’s dark gaze flicked over Matthew and Micah.“I was going to visit you this afternoon.You might as well come with me.This is not a discussion for the street.”
Which was how Micah ended up visiting the Duke of Ormonde’s household with Matthew and learned that not only had his former guardian been stealing from them, but he’d fled to the Americas already.He’d boarded the ship yesterday and was currently far out of their reach.
Micah knew a startling number of curses for a youth in a household full of women, and he fair blistered the air with them as he paced around in a rage afterward.
Neither of the dukes stopped him.They both understood that kind of anger.If anything, Drake looked upon him more companionably once he’d settled back down.
“There is nothing to be done for now,” Drake told Micah once he’d sat, slumping in his seat with a weariness in his expression that went far beyond his years.He really was far too thin.Living in Matthew’s household, under his grandmother’s wing, should help rectify that.“I will send men after him, and we will have him returned to England to pay for his crimes when we can.In the meantime, we will have Matthew appointed as your new guardian and recover what funds we can.”
“But why would you do all this for me?”Micah asked, looking at Drake with utter bewilderment.“I know Matthew is to be my brother-in-law and feels responsible… but why are you doing this?”
