Knowing his son was marrying the sister of an impoverished earl, who Matthew would be taking under his wing, would have had his father rolling in his grave.Another good reason for his choice.
“Will… will your grandmother not approve?”Lady Johanna asked in a soft whisper, sounding very worried.He had not realized she might think Christian was speaking of approval of her.
Neither had Christian.
“No, no, she’ll approve of you, certainly,” both of them rushed to reassure her.
“She will be very happy I am getting married, and she will have no qualms over your lineage nor your family’s current situation,” Matthew said quickly.
“You are not the reason she’ll disapprove,” Christian piled on.“She’s going to be very annoyed with Matthew for rushing things, even if she understands the reasoning.She’ll want the big church wedding and all the pomp and circumstance.”
“I am hoping that having your sisters to take under her wing will improve her mood.”Matthew grinned, giving her hand another squeeze.He glanced out of the carriage.They had finally reached Mayfair and were nearing his London home.“And the satisfaction of having me married off before this Season is over.Besides, we can call it anexclusivewedding.I’ll tell her that Nathanial and Kalina set the precedent, so she cannot even blame me.”
Christian rolled his eyes but did not disagree as the carriage came to a stop.
“I will make straight for Falmouth Heath in the morning,” Christian reassured Lady Johanna.“With plenty of footmen and stableboys.I’ll have your family to you as quickly as possible.”
“Thank you, Your Grace,” she said with heartfelt fervor, causing Matthew to frown.
He was the one making it possible.Stepping out of the carriage, he wondered at the small twinge in his chest that her gratitude toward Christian had caused.He’d never felt anything like it before.Turning back to the carriage, he held out his hand to help his new fiancée down the stairs.
She smiled at him, the light of the streetlamps making her violet eyes glow.
“Thank you, Your Grace.”It was a shyer expression of gratitude than Christian had received, yet it felt deeper.That little twinge in Matthew’s chest settled immediately.
“It is my pleasure,” he said with satisfaction before giving Christian a nod.As they stepped away, the coachman closed the door and got back into position to take Christian to his own home.Matthew had no doubt he would be up early tomorrow to ride to the rescue of Lady Johanna’s family.
The house was not as dark as he’d expected, but that was a good thing.Sometimes his grandmother had difficulty sleeping.Perhaps she was still up.Then he could get the introductions out of the way immediately.
His luck held, as it often did.
Holt, his butler, opened the door to admit them and did not blink twice at the fact that Matthew had a rather disheveled young lady on his arm.The man was rather used to Matthew arriving home in all sorts of situations.Grandmama was just coming down the stairs, and she came to a halt, her mouth dropping open at the sight of him.She wasnotas used to dealing with Matthew’s more unusual appearances, as they had not occupied the same household until this Season.
“Hello, Grandmama,” he said cheerfully.“You wanted me to tell you the moment I found my bride.Lady Johanna has done me the honor of agreeing to marry me.”
ChapterThree
Johanna
This was not how she would have chosen to meet the Duke of St.Albans’ grandmother.She wanted to sink into the floor as the elegant older woman stared at them in pure shock.Johanna was beginning to realize the duke enjoyed shocking people.He was certainly very good at it.
“Lady Johanna, this is my grandmother, Lady Moira Stark.”
Not a duchess, then; she must be his grandmother on his mother’s side.Still, nobility.Despite the fact she’d never had an official come-out, Johannawastrained, to the best of her mother’s ability.She sank into a curtsy she hoped was the proper degree and did her best not to wobble.
Thankfully, she had been practicing before the house party, and she managed to keep her balance.
“Matthew Ferdinand Cassius St.Albans!”Lady Stark might be in a dressing gown with a bonnet over her hair, but she did not need proper clothing to be intimidating.Johanna bounced up from her curtsy, quivering in place, and wondered if she should run—but she had nowhere to run to.“This is not how you introduce your fiancée to your grandmother!”
Relief bubbled up inside Johanna so fast and so strong, she nearly collapsed in a heap before locking her knees into place.His grandmother was upset about the introduction, not about Johanna or her appearance.She could have cried, she was so relieved.
St.Albans had quit her side, leaving Johanna in the middle of the foyer, bounding up the stairs to drop a kiss on his grandmother’s cheek.She did not know if she felt abandoned or relieved that he had taken his grandmother’s focus so completely.
“You did say immediately,” he said cheerfully.
The older woman swatted him on the shoulder with her hand.
“You know this is not what I meant, you rapscallion!”Pursing her lips, Lady Stark glared at him.
