Danielle was about to respond, but her uncle appeared on the parlor’s threshold. “I understand best wishes are in order,” he said with a grin as he approached the two women.
“Who toldyou?” Clarinda asked as he kissed her on the forehead.
“Why, the lucky groom-to-be, of course. Mr. Comber paid a call on me this morning. We’ve already discussed the particulars,” he explained. “Finished up a moment ago.” He turned his gaze onto Danielle. “So... it sounds as if you’ll be on your way to Greece next week?”
Danielle beamed in delight. “Oh, Uncle, I can hardly wait,” she replied. “We’ll start there and then go to the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. We’re saving Rome for last. Did he tell you about the townhouse?”
Grinning at her enthusiasm, her uncle took the chair adjacent to the settee. “Indeed. Apparently it has an exceptional cook and is ready for you to move in.”
“I’ve taken a tour,” Danielle admitted. “Earlier today. I’m to have my lady’s maid pack whatever I’m not taking on the trip and have it moved to the house so it will be ready for when we return.” She squealed in delight.
“Mr. Comber seems as if he has all well in hand,” Daniel remarked. “In fact, it seems Andrew is even more in love with you than his brother is with Dahlia,” he added. “Of course, Anthony has always been the more serious of those twins.”
Danielle’s blush deepened. “As I am in love with him,” she replied on a sigh. “Oh, Uncle, I can hardly wait to run my own household and...” Her eyes rounded. “What’s this about Anthony and Dahlia?”
His gaze darting to Clarinda, Daniel realized he would have to tell her about the other betrothal. “Our eldest had her own good news today,” he hedged.
“Did she?” Clarinda asked in alarm. “Why didn’t you mention it during dinner?”
Daniel swallowed. “Uh... um... I thought perhaps she should be the one to tell you,” he stammered.
As if on cue, Dahlia swept into the parlor, her face flushed and displaying a happy expression. “Oh, Mother! Uncle! Danny! I’ve the mostwonderfulnews,” she said, nearly breathless as she hurried to the settee. Despite the width of her bell skirt and those of her sister and mother, she wedged herself onto the settee and beamed in delight. When her sister didn’t say anything, Dahlia sobered, “How was the kidnapping?”
Her mouth dropping open in disbelief, Danielle gave her sister a quelling glance. “I agreed to wed Andrew after he proposed again. Twice,” she replied, deciding it best she not acknowledge the mention of a kidnapping. “I rather adored how determined he was to secure my hand,” she added sweetly.
“Anthony agreed to marry your sister aftersheproposed,” Daniel said, his quirked brow suggesting he was still rather amused by the situation.
“Uncle!” Dahlia groused. “You didn’t have to mention that.”
“Youproposed?” Clarinda asked in alarm, her manner suggesting she was a bit miffed her husband hadn’t told her about Dahlia’s betrothal. Her look of horror abated somewhat. “Well, you certainly aren’t the first aristocrat’s daughter to do so, I suppose.”
“Anthony did propose first,” Dahlia countered on a huff. “Twice, actually. But when I hesitated because he spoke of negotiating the terms of our marriage, he withdrew his proposal. And Father was most unhelpful. I think because he was probably still embarrassed by how Anthony punched him in the face during the garden party.”
Her eyes once again widening in alarm, Clarinda exchanged a quick glance with Daniel before their gazes swept the parlor, as if they expected the ghost of the late earl to make an unwelcome appearance.
“If you’re looking for Father, he won’t be bothering us again,” Dahlia announced. “Unless we don’t wed, in which case it seems he’ll be back to haunting us,” she added as she turned to face her sister. “Andrew said you were going to wed next week, but Lady Aimsley is of the opinion we should wed together.”
“Oh, that really would be preferable,” Clarinda commented.
“Except I made a deal with Anthony that he would wed Dahlia by the end of April,” Daniel countered. “He agreed.”
Clarinda inhaled as if to complain but instead allowed a shrug. “Well, then I suppose we shall have to arrange a quick wedding for the both of you,” she suggested, feigning disappointment.
“Although we’re both planning to go to Greece on our wedding trips, we won’t be going when you do”, Dahlia explained. “Lord Aimsley has asked Anthony to oversee the construction of new tenant cottages at Aimsley Park, and Lady Aimsley has asked me to run the household there.”
“Oh, you’ll love Aimsley Park,” Clarinda replied. “And Wiltshire isn’t that far away I suppose. When will you go on your wedding trip?”
“As soon as the cottages are finished. Hopefully this winter,” Dahlia replied. “The weather won’t be so hot in Greece.”
“We may not see you there,” Danielle commented. “I think our plan is to end our trip in Rome. So romantic,” she added on a sigh. She straightened and announced, “Mother already has plans for my bedchamber.”
“Hers as well,” Clarinda said, referring to Dahlia’s bedchamber.
“What?” Dahlia scoffed. She quickly brightened. “Oh, but I don’t mind. I’ve already seen my new bedchamber, and I like it very much,” she claimed, her cheeks reddening at the thought of what Anthony had done to her there only the hour before. She furrowed a brow. “What plans do you have for my bedchamber?”
Clarinda patted her midsection. “I might be having twins again.”
Both daughters rolled their eyes in unison, which had Daniel chuckling. “Oh, dear God. You looked just like your father when you did that.”
Holding their forefingers to their lips, Dahlia and Danielleshushedhim, but their efforts were too late.
As if summoned by his brother’s words, David Fitzwilliam, the late Earl of Norwick, appeared in the middle of the parlor.
