The Duke of Bonham had proposed. But perhaps she’d given herself to Tom Smith? Thomas was not sure why she would bother with that fellow. He’d come up with a stupid idea to helpher. He had failed again and again. He’d failed himself as well. If any part of this escapade had been meant to prove he was worth more than his title, that had been a failure as well.
That was why he’d given up on Mr Smith. He’d come today, in his full ducal glory, to claim his bride but it had meant nothing to her.
As she’d refused him, she’d talked about the bother a union would cause for her, and getting gravy on her sleeves, which wouldn’t have mattered to him at all. She hadn’t mentioned love at all. Not even once.
Of course, neither had he.
He winced. Bonham might be a duke, but when the mood was on him to play the role, he could be a puffed-up idiot. He’d arrogantly assumed that, like any other woman, she’d be honoured by an offer from him and had put no thought into it at all.
‘God’s teeth!’ He slammed his fist into the seat cushion, which did nothing to reduce his own mortification. If he’d been a woman, he’d have refused a proposal like the one he’d just made.
And it hadn’t been just any woman he’d been offering for. Louisa Skeffington hadn’t spoken much when they were in London. But when she had, she’d refused to be dazzled by his title and had always spoken to him honestly. Hadn’t he always complained about people who would not show their true faces to a duke? There was nothing more honest than a woman turning down the chance to be a duchess.
Louisa was perfect. Just what he’d said he’d always wanted. She’d been under his nose for years and he’d ignored her. Now, when he was finally ready to show some sense, he’d made a hash of things. He couldn’t blame her for rejecting him. But she’d asked him for one last favour. It was his final chance and he must not disappoint her again.
The carriage pulled into the courtyard of The Spotted Hog. A groom opened the carriage door, put down the step and stood ready as Thomas climbed to the ground. A footman rushed ahead to open the inn door for him. As Thomas entered the inn he saw Percy waiting for him in the public room.
His friend looked past him as he entered. ‘Where is Louisa? I thought you would bring her back with you. Didn’t the old man allow you into the house, Bonham?’
Thomas sat down, unsure of how to continue. It would be easiest to avoid mentioning the proposal, since that was the most embarrassing part of the trip. The rest of it hadn’t been that bad.
‘The butler let me into the house without argument. He was afraid to stop me. Your grandfather did not realise that I had already been there.’
Percy looked confused. ‘You mean he did not know you were Smith?’
Thomas shook his head. ‘He thought I was there to advocate for my cousin. So that’s what I did.’
Percy laughed. ‘The old idiot.’ He squinted at his friend, assessing him. ‘Although you do act differently, you know, Bonham. You can be a bit of a pompous ass sometimes when you’ve got the signet on.’
Thomas sighed. ‘Sometimes I wonder why we are friends, Percival.’
Percy winced at the use of his full name. ‘So do I.’ Then, he grew serious. ‘I assume the old man would not budge on the matter of Louisa’s money.’
‘Not even for the pompous Duke of Bonham,’ Thomas said gloomily.
‘And what of my sister? I thought you said you would be bringing her back with you.’
‘She would not leave without her money.’
At this, Percy looked grave. Thomas was surprised to feel a slight chill that was quite different from their earlier friendly banter. Something inside of him twisted and tightened in the way it used to when he’d been castigated by his father over some minor fault and was about to get a stern talking to.
Today, with Percy, he had a horrible feeling that the mistake was not a small one and the blame rested firmly on his shoulders.
‘You have money,’ Percy pointed out. ‘More than enough to help her.’
‘I offered to give it to her,’ Thomas replied. ‘She reminded me that it would not be proper for her to take it.’
‘I had thought that you’d found a way around her objections,’ Percy said pointedly.
‘Just what do you mean by that?’ Thomas said.
‘I think you know.’ The words were not just cold, they were icily calm.
‘Let us say that I do not,’ Thomas countered. There was no sense in confessing to something that Percy was only guessing at. ‘Tell me what is bothering you.’
‘You came back late the other night, with your cravat in a mess and your buttons half undone. I assumed there would be good news the next morning. If not, then certainly today. Since you have said nothing, it is my right as her older brother to ask about your intentions towards my sister,’ Percy said, laying his hands flat upon the table.
‘I promised to help her get her money back from your grandfather,’ Thomas replied. ‘This time the plan is hers. I am only helping. We will implement it tomorrow morning.’
