“They made me out to be pathetic and utterly incompetent,” he added with gentle humor. “I suppose I am when it comes to matters of a romantic nature. I shudder to think the impression you must have had of me, Lady Gwendolyn.”
“Oh, no,” Gwendolyn insisted, her eyes gleaming with mirth. “They were so sweet in describing you. I saw at once you were a kind and loving father. They obviously love you very much. And they gave me a list of their specific requirements in a mother.”
Miranda was intrigued. “What was on their list?”
Milbury groaned. “All sorts of nonsense.”
Gwendolyn shook her head with vehemence. “Not at all nonsense. Oh, they did mention some silly things, but they understood what was most important. They wanted a mother who would love them as if they were her own. The prospective candidate also had to truly love their father.”
“I think it is a lot to ask,” the marquess said. “Not about my boys, for I would never consider a lady who did not take them into her heart. But as for me, I would not insist on a love match. I had such a marriage with my wife and would happily settle for someone kind and intelligent, someone who would be a good influence on my boys.”
Gwendolyn regarded the marquess thoughtfully. “No, your sons are right about this. I think any lady you choose must love youandthe boys. You need someone who will be more thanmerely a governess for them. She must be a true wife to you, as well.”
He shrugged. “Well, this is not so important for me. I’ll be pleased if she cares for me, but I am most worried about my boys. They have had a difficult time of it since losing their mother. She was a wonderful woman and they miss her quite badly.”
“And you, Lord Milbury?” Miranda asked.
He nodded. “Yes, I still miss her very much.”
Miranda could see that he had a kind heart and would make a good husband for the fortunate lady he ultimately chose.
Gwendolyn was still eyeing her keenly. As a prospective match for Milbury?
Miranda blamed herself for giving the impression she was available. Yes, Gwendolyn must have thought she did not love Solway. After all, Gwendolyn had been there when she ran out of the parlor like a frightened squirrel instead of listening to her heart and accepting his offer of marriage.
An offer given in front of all her friends.
He had laid bare his heart and she had trampled on it. How could she have been so cruel as to humiliate him like that? And done it after he had valiantly saved Gwenys.
Miranda made an excuse to move off to chat with other friends before Gwendolyn got more ideas. Besides, was it not obvious that Gwendolyn herself was a better match for the marquess?
Their discussion served as a warning that she had better repair the damage she had done to Solway before it was too late.
She loved him. Why deny the obvious? It was time she found the courage to marry him.
Having made her momentous decision, Miranda now wanted to return home. But Gwenys appeared to be having a lovely time.It came as no surprise that the effervescent girl was surrounded by admirers.
Gwenys cheerfully held court, but Miranda saw that her niece’s eyes did not shine for any of the young men around her.
She was polite to all of them, of course. But none of them would ever hold her heart.
The night was nearing its end when there was a buzz around the room. Someone new had arrived.
At this late hour?
Could it be Solway? Miranda’s heart began to pound with anticipation.
“Laird Douglas Lanark,” Berry’s butler announced.
Miranda shook her head, certain she had heard wrong. How was it possible?
Gwenys leaped to her feet. “Douglas?”
Forgetting all the rules of etiquette ingrained in her over the years, she raced toward the man she loved and fell into his open arms.
Dear heaven.
These two.
