“That’s another thing! You had no business involving Lady Fosberry in this wild scheme of yours!”
Lady Fosberry cleared her throat. “They did send me a letter asking for my assistance before they ever left Kent. It wasn’t as if they ran off to London all willy-nilly?—”
“Well, I’m pleased they informed someone of their plans, at least!” Johnathan paced to the window and back again before finally coming to a stop in front of the fireplace. “Do you have any idea what could have happened to you? Has it occurred to any of you all the things that might have gone wrong?”
“But nothing did go wrong, Johnathan,” Lady Fosberry said in her most reasonable tone. “Your sisters are perfectly well, as you can see.”
“I beg your pardon, but if nothing went wrong, then perhaps you’d care to explain why the first thing I saw when I came up the drive was Lord Windham kissing my sister in your rose garden!”
“Hattie!” Sarah’s hand flew to her mouth, but there was no hiding the grin on her lips. “Kissing, in the garden! My goodness, how shocking of you! Wait until Alice Weatherby hears about?—”
“Sarah, dear.” Lady Fosberry shook her head. “Not now, if you please.”
“I’ve heard some ugly rumors about you, Windham.” Johnathan turned an icy glare on Cass. “I never credited any of them, because I remember you as a decent lad who was a goodfriend to my sisters, but now I wonder if the gossips weren’t right about you all along, and you’re every bit the scoundrel they?—”
“Cassisn’ta scoundrel!” Hattie leaped to her feet. “He’s a good, decent gentleman.”
“A good, decent gentleman doesn’t take advantage of an innocent young lady by luring her into a deserted garden and?—”
“Come now, Johnathan, that’s not fair,” Lady Fosberry began, only to be drowned out by Hattie. “For pity’s sake, he neverluredme any?—”
“I’m in love with her, Melrose.” Cass had remained respectfully silent throughout Johnathan’s harangue, but now his quiet voice cut through the room, and every head turned towards him. “I’ve been in love with Hattie for years. I want to marry her.”
Margaret let out a soft gasp before an abrupt silence fell.
But Hattie didn’t notice it. She rose on shaking legs to face Cass, her heart melting at the tender expression in his dark eyes. “You…you want to marry me?”
“Of course I do, Hattie.” Cass was at her side in an instant, reaching for her hands. “More than I’ve ever wanted anything.”
“Why, how wonderful!” Sarah clapped her hands together with a squeal. “You’re to become the Countess of Windham, Hattie!”
“I knew it all along.” Lady Fosberry gave a satisfied nod. “Goodness knows it took you long enough to get on with it, Lord Windham. I was afraid Hattie would run off back to Kent before you could get to the point, but here we are.”
“You must know, you must see how much I love you.” Cass brought her hands to his lips and kissed them, one after the other. “Will you have me, Hattie?”
A thousand words rushed to her lips at once, but in the end, to her everlasting shame she only got out a “Yes, please,” before her eyes filled with tears.
“Then I have nothing more to wish for. You’ve made me the happiest of men, Hattie Parrish.”
Cass pressed a chaste kiss to her cheek before turning and offering Johnathan a respectful bow. “I realize this is all a bit irregular, my lord, but I love your sister and would never do anything to hurt her. May I have your permission to have Hattie’s hand in marriage, Lord Melrose?”
Johnathan looked from one smiling face to another and dropped onto a settee with a huff. “I suppose it’s either a wedding or a duel, isn’t it, Windham?”
They all held their breaths, waiting, until at last Johnathan let out a defeated sigh. “I’m not entirely sure about you, Windham, but you have my conditional blessing, pending a long betrothal in which you will endeavor to prove to me you’re sensible of the treasure you’ve won. Do that, and I will be content.”
“Oh, Hattie.” Margaret rose to embrace her, tears in her eyes. “How happy I am for you! And Lord Windham.” She turned to Cass, a tremulous smile on her lips. “I’ve always believed you and Hattie were destined for each other, ever since the first day you appeared in Kent.”
“It does seem so, doesn’t it?” Sarah jumped up and caught Hattie in a tight hug. “Fate is a strange creature, is she not? I only hope she’s as kind to me and Margaret. Lady Blackhurst’s rout is next week. Perhaps we should?—”
“There will be no routs for any of you.” Johnathan’s lips were set in a stern line. “All three of you are returning to Kent with me as soon as the sun rises tomorrow morning. I suppose you’re welcome as well, Windham,” he added reluctantly.
Lady Fosberry exchanged a look with Margaret and Sarah. “Oh, no, I’m afraid that won’t do, Lord Melrose.”
“It won’t do?” Johnathan looked from one to the other of them. “What do you mean, it won’tdo? Why the dev…that is,surely you don’t expect me to return to Kent without my sisters? Emmeline is already beside herself with worry, and?—”
“Hattie isn’t the only one of your sisters with a suitor, Lord Melrose.” Lady Fosberry gave him a bright smile. “Isn’t it wonderful? Your sisters have taken thetonby storm this season.”
“God help us all,” Johnathan muttered.
