“What’s wrong?” Solway asked, frowning. “Do ye know those people?” He watched the Lawsons making a fuss over their seating arrangements.
“We asked for your finest table,” Gwenys’s stepmother intoned with a raised voice to ensure everyone noted her displeasure.
The innkeeper was wringing his hands, for the Lawsons were now disrupting the dining pleasure of everyone in this elegant common room. “My lady, I have given you the best possible.”
“But I expected you to give us that corner table by the window overlooking your garden,” she retorted, too busy giving the innkeeper a hard time to notice she was complaining about her own sister-in-law and stepdaughter, namely Miranda and Gwenys, who were keeping company with Solway.
“My lady, please understand that I cannot displace the Duke of Solway and his party, since he also requested this table and is already seated.”
Solway was still gazing at her, seeking an answer to his question.
Gwenys obliged by responding when Miranda could not seem to find her voice. “That’s my father and stepmother. The prune-faced girl beside him is my stepsister, Louisa, and that is her new husband, Baron Montrose.”
Solway nodded. “I have no’ had the pleasure of meeting yer father before, although we serve together in the House of Lords.”
“He isn’t very attentive to his duties,” Miranda muttered. “He only bothers when someone in power twists his arm to attend because his vote is vital for passage of some bill or another. Sorry, Gwenys, I should not speak so ill of him.”
Gwenys placed her hand over Miranda’s. “You are only speaking the truth. I know firsthand just how ineffectual he can be.”
Solway let out a breath, obviously realizing there were bad feelings toward these Lawsons. “I know of Montrose. He’s a decent fellow. How did he end up with yer stepsister?”
“I have no idea,” Gwenys said, her composure suddenly seeming to crumble. “But I would guess it was because of the generous dowry my father provided for her. Your Grace, I have no idea if he will be anywhere near as generous with me.”
The poor girl now looked humiliated, and it tore at Miranda’s heart, for she had felt a similar humiliation when her deceitful husband was alive.
“Gwenys, neither I nor Douglas care what yer father will provide ye should ye marry him,” Solway said, sounding wonderfully protective. “Ye are the treasure, and make no mistake about that.”
Gwenys released a tremulous breath and smiled at him. “Thank you.”
At this moment, Miranda was never happier to be in the company of Solway.
It was not long before Montrose noticed them and broke away from his in-laws to approach. “Solway! I had no idea you were acquainted with my new family,” he said, casting a sincere smile at Gwenys and Miranda. “This is a lovely surprise. My apologies for any embarrassment Lady Lowery might have caused with her complaints.”
Solway rose and responded politely, “I’ll have the steward send over a bottle of their best wine by way of my apology for any misunderstanding.”
“That is very kind of you, but it is I who must give the apology to you,” Montrose insisted. “Ah…erm, may I introduce you to my wife and her parents? Not now, since I do not wish to disturb your supper. But I would be honored if you would stop by our table on your way out.”
“Yes, of course. It is only fitting that I meet Lady Gwenys’s father.”
Montrose’s eyes rounded. “Fitting?”
“Och, aye. Gwenys has quite charmed all of us.”
“I am not surprised,” he said with a gracious smile toward Gwenys.
He and Solway exchanged some more pleasantries before Montrose excused himself to return to his party. “Will you convey my greetings to Douglas? We were at Oxford together. He was easily the brightest in the class, which galled the dons to no end, since they are of the mistaken belief that the English are smarter than us,” he joked, for although Montrose’s mother was English and he had been sent to the finest English schools, his father was Scottish. Montrose clearly felt more of a kinship to his father’s side of the family, even though his accent was English, with only a hint of the Scottish brogue.
Miranda would not be surprised if his English accent was put on in order to fit more easily into Society. With his having now gained his heiress and secured her fortune for his rundown estate, she expected his true brogue would reveal itself shortly.
That he would have preferred to court Gwenys was evident in the glances he kept casting her. Poor fellow, it was hard to hide his yearning, much as he tried to be discreet about it. He also appeared quite alert to Gwenys’s feelings. Something in the way she responded to his mention of Douglas must have given her away, for Montrose now cast her a speculative glance before turning back to Solway. “Well, I’ll be… Is it Douglas who is sweet on Lady Gwenys?”
Gwenys blushed and began to stammer a denial, but Solway placed a gentle hand over hers. “Lass, I’ll answer for ye.”
Miranda breathed a sigh of relief, for Solway had such a protective look about him. He must have noted the waspish looks Louisa and Lady Lowery were tossing at Gwenys, and thisbig bear of a man was not going to allow the dear girl to be shamed or ridiculed in any way.
“Aye, Douglas wishes to court Lady Gwenys, and I heartily approve. He could no’ have chosen a finer lass for himself.” Solway raised his voice as he spoke the last, making certain Louisa and Lady Lowery heard the comment.
Miranda pinched her lips to suppress her smile, but she loved that Solway was astute enough to understand the venom these Lawson ladies held in their hearts for Gwenys. This proud duke was not going to let them diminish her niece in any way.
