Page 87 of Lavender’s Lost Duke

“Who is it?” came her mother’s stiff voice.

“It’s Lavender. I’ve brought someone with me I’d like you to meet.” She was shaking, but Thomas held her ungloved hand still. How had she forgotten her gloves in the carriage? Her mother would be mortified.

Before she knew how to handle the situation, the door swung open to reveal her mother. Her deep blue eyes were fixed on Thomas. “Your Grace, what an honor to have you in our home. Have you come to check in on my husband?”

Thomas looked at Lavender. “I believe you have not seen your daughter for months,” he prompted her attention toward Lavender.

“Of course,” Lavender’s mother replied, looking her over. “Heavens, child! Where are your gloves?” She turned back to Thomas. “I assure you she is not usually so untamed as this.”

“Mother,” Lavender interjected. “I–”

“I’ll fetch you a shawl. There’s no need for His Grace to feel pity over your state.” She turned back toward the room. “My daughter suffered an accident years ago. Please forgive her forgetting to hide the scars. It’s such an unfortunate situation.”

Lavender followed after her. “I’m not ashamed of my arm, mother, and neither is Thomas.”

Her mother froze mid-step with her back to them both. “Excuse me?”

Thomas cleared his throat. “I adore her arm, her chin, the way her hazel eyes flicker gold in the moonlight. I love every piece of your daughter.”

Her mother spun around with her mouth agape. “You . . . but . . . what I mean to say is . . . but you are a duke. And a wanted criminal.”

“I am.”

“You were traveling Europe when Rose came out for her Season. It was simply bad timing, Your Grace. I guess I can be thankful her name did not become entangled with yours now that you are wanted by the crown.”

Lavender could have melted from the heat of her embarrassment like a candle thrown into a bonfire. Did her mother hear anything Thomas had said? He’d told her he loved Lavender, and still, she was thinking of her sister who was happily married with children of her own. Of course she wasn’t as good as Rose. Lavender had never aspired to that. She’d been content in the background. A nagging in the back of her mind told her that a duke of the realm would be better suited to her eldest sister than she.

Her father coughed, and Lavender moved toward him. “I’m going to say hello to father.” She took quick steps toward his bedside, trying in vain to leave her mother’s words behind her.

His face was pale, his cheeks thinner than when she’d left home. He had his eyes closed when she approached.

Lavender set her hand atop one of his. “I’ve come home, father. I have some good news.”

His eyes fluttered open and then closed, then they snapped open again—more alert. “Lavender, is that you?”

She nodded, blinking back tears. She didn’t know why she was crying. Perhaps it had to do with the fact that her father actually saw her, unlike her mother’s greeting. It wasn’t much to cling to since Thomas was not immediately at her side. “How are you feeling?”

Her father pushed himself to a sitting position. “Fine, I’m fine. Is everything alright? We’ve had your letters, of course. What has happened to bring you home?”

Lavender looked over her shoulder to where Thomas and her mother were having what looked like an argument, where Thomas looked livid, and her mother confused. “I’ve brought someone to meet you.” She made a motion with her hand to have Thomas come to her side.

“Your Grace,” her father said with a dip of his head. “It’s good to see you again.” Her father’s eyes narrowed as he looked Thomas over. “You look different from last Season.”

“So do you, my lord,” Thomas said with a half-smile.

Lavender’s father laughed. “Yes, but you look better. What can I do for you? I’m afraid I’m not much of an active participant at the House of Lords this year, but I could write some letters to people of influence.”

“I’m not here on business, Lord Gardner, though I intend to pick your brain on another occasion. I have some big plans moving forward, and you might be just the person to connect me with the right people.”

“What big plans are these?” Lavender’s father asked.

“Mostly, I want to increase the literacy rate of the lower classes. But today, I’d like to speak of something even more important.” Thomas glanced at Lavender and held out his hand for her to take. He intertwined their fingers. “I was wondering if you would allow me to marry your daughter?”

Lavender’s mother gasped. “What? What is this? How can this be?”

Lavender’s father shook his head a little. “I’ve been reading the papers, Your Grace. I do not know if I can agree to this arrangement. Not that I am in a position to deny you.”

“You are her father; you have every right to deny me. I am gratified at your hesitance on your daughter’s part. The papers do paint a bleak picture of me indeed. However, yesterday had some large developments. I am happy to explain.”