“I came in one of the side doors with Gibby and my cousins. We knew if we came in the front doors, Gib would immediately be swamped with people wanting to congratulate him.”
“How is Sir Randolph?”
“You mean other than the fact he has a cut lip, a black eye, and very swollen knuckles?”
“Ouch!” she said with a grimace.
Race chuckled. “No, really, he’s doing exceptionally well for an old man who went four rounds in the prize ring.”
“I’d like to see him and offer my congratulations on his victory.”
“Let’s go and do it now, as I’m desperate to have some time alone with you.”
They started toward the ballroom. “I don’t think that will be possible tonight.”
His brows drew together as they made their way through the crush of people. “Duchess, that is not what I want to hear from you.”
“You must speak to Mr. Bickerman about Captain Spyglass’s ship.”
“Never fear. That will be done first. But then I’m coming to see you, and I will continue until you come to your senses and agree to marry me.”
Susannah gasped and looked around. “Race, you shouldn’t say that so loud. Someone might hear you.”
He smiled. “So be it. I am not afraid to let people know that I love you and I want to marry you.”
Susannah’s heart lifted; her hands trembled with expectancy. She stopped in the middle of the room. “Are you really asking me to marry you?”
Suddenly a hand clapped Race on the back, and Blake, Henrietta, Morgan, and Sir Randolph gathered around them. Susannah smiled as greetings were exchanged among the group. There would be time later to talk to Race about love and marriage. But for now, she was so happy he wanted to marry her, she felt as if she were walking on air.
She knew she was not Race’s cousins’ favorite person, but at least they tolerated her in good humor. She liked the fact that it didn’t bother Race, but instead he reveled in it. Sir Randolph’s face was horrifying. Both his eyes were swollen as well as one side of his mouth, and there was a cut above one eye.
“Sir Randolph,” Susannah said, “how wonderful to see you looking so well. Congratulations on your victory.”
The dapper gentleman bowed. “Duchess, thank you kindly. There was one time this afternoon I was beginning to have doubts as to whether I would win.”
“I never lost faith in you,” she said with encouragement.
“I want everyone to know that Gibby promised us,” Race said, pointing to his two cousins, “that he would never do anything as foolish as this fight ever again. We intend to hold him to that.”
“I gave my word,” Sir Randolph added.
“And we all know what your word means to you, don’t we?” Henrietta said.
“Indeed we do,” Susannah agreed. “I believe he once said something to the fact that if a man loses his wealth, he’s lost nothing. If he loses his good health, he’s lost something, but if he loses his honor, he’s lost everything.”
“That is exactly what Lord Chesterfield said, and I believe it and live by every word of it,” Sir Randolph agreed.
Morgan chuckled. “I think one or both of you have added words or taken words from Chesterfield’s actual quote, but you are probably close enough.”
Susannah noticed, as they continued to chat, that the noise in the room slowly got quieter. Suddenly, she saw the people in front of them stepping aside, parting as if to let someone pass. Gasps and soft whispers rumbled throughout the room.
Race gave Susannah a questioning glance. “I wonder what’s going on.”
“I have no idea.”
“Maybe the prince came in to offer his congratulations to Sir Randolph,” Henrietta offered.
“Can’t be,” Gibby said. “He’s already sent me a congratulatory note. Besides that, the prince always has someone announce him. But I don’t know of anyone else who would bring about this kind of hush in such a large crowd.”
