Page 14 of The Marquess’s Forbidden Bride

‘An outcome devoutly to be wished,’ Marsden agreed. ‘I’ll hardly dare stray from your side! Once the news breaks, other than my friends Rafe and Hart, you will be the only one in Society who knows me as I am, before my elevation in rank makes me suspicious of every offer of friendship.’

‘You mustn’t imagine everyone wishes to know you simply because of your new title and wealth. You were quite handsome and charming before that occurred, you know,’ she added, belatedly realising that offering such a naked avowal of her admiration might not be wise.

‘Ah, are you telling me I’m handsome and charming again? You’ll swell my head before the sycophants begin their efforts.’

Feeling a blush heat her face, she said primly, ‘There’s to be plain speaking, not flirtation between us, remember? I merely state the truth. Now, what for the future? I know after Sarah’s efforts, you’ve already received a number of invitations. When do you plan to begin going about under your new title?’

‘I want to inform Colonel Wexford first, which I’ll do tomorrow.’

‘He’ll be so pleased for you.’

‘I suppose. As neither of us will be serving in the army much longer, at least he won’t feel like I’m deserting my duty.’

‘And after he knows? It’s probably not wise to delay too long.’

‘Much as I’d like to, I won’t. After seeing the colonel, I will accompany my aunt to call on the Stratton family tomorrow. She intended to do so alone, armed with the legal documents establishing my claim, but as she can expect to meet with shock, if not outright hostility, I’ll not have her face them alone. Meanwhile, I’ve asked Englemere to quietly convey the news to the gentlemen who dined here tonight, with the caveat that they not discuss it publicly until he gives them leave. We want to give the Stratton family, and particularly the young man who has spent his whole life believing himself the heir, time to adjust. I must admit, I’d rather face another charge from Boney’s Old Guard than go to that interview tomorrow. But it must be done.’

Conscious of a strong feeling of disappointment, she said, ‘I suppose you’ll no longer have time or interest in touring gardens with me.’

He glanced at her sharply. ‘Then you are quite mistaken. I suspect I shall prize such diversion now more than ever!’

Relief and an almost giddy delight lightened her spirits. ‘It might calm you amidst the storm of all these changes. One can always escape one’s cares or worries in a garden! It’s the first place I go if something is troubling me—or after a ball, if Lord Aldersby has been particularly vexing.’

‘Then I hope it will have the same effect on me.’

‘Shall we visit Kew in the afternoon, two days from now? We’re not to attend any balls in the interim, and you will have gone through your difficult interview by them. You can let me know how things went and how we can help going forward.’

‘That is most gracious,’ he said, giving her hand a quick squeeze. ‘Thank you for being so understanding.’

‘Of course,’ she said faintly, feeling the heat of that small contact zing up her arm, tingle through her chest and swoop down to her belly. ‘I can meet you at Kew or wait for you here.’

‘Go unescorted to Kew? Certainly not! I shall call for you here.’

He’d barely given her that avowal when one of the gentlemen strode over. ‘Will you allow me to steal the lieutenant, Miss Wellingford? I have a few more questions for him.’

‘Of course. I mustn’t neglect your aunt, Lieutenant.’

With a bow, the gentleman walked off as Emma made her way to the sofa where Miss Carlbrooke and Sarah sat conversing. She did want to chat with his aunt and know better a lady formidable enough to challenge the current title holders to ensure those honours were bestowed on their rightful owner.

Though the meeting with the Strattons could not help but be uncomfortable, Emma hoped that it would end well. That the lieutenant and his new-found family could become friends, despite his displacing Lord George. And that Marsden, whom she found both admirable and attractive, would not let the transformation into Lord Richland change him too profoundly.

Sometime later, the last of the guests departed, Emma sadly having had no more opportunity to chat with the lieutenant—she must accustom herself to calling him Lord Richland. With Englemere retiring to his library to look over some Parliamentary papers, Sarah walked her up to her chamber.

Her sister seemed her usual serene self, Emma thought as they mounted the stairs. Perhaps she’d only been surprised when the lieutenant broke the news this afternoon, Emma’s sense of her being disturbed by it mistaken.

But then, there was that strange glance exchanged between Sarah and Englemere when Miss Carlbrooke asked whether Nicky would support her nephew’s claim. And Englemere’s rather cryptic response that he would ‘support what was right’.

If he were convinced by Miss Carlbrooke’s account, why had he not pledged the lieutenant his enthusiastic support?

As they entered her chamber, she was about to question Sarah about it when her sister said, ‘May I stay? There’s…something you should be aware of.’

‘I felt there was something amiss,’ Emma said. ‘Please, do tell me what’s going on.’

‘It may be nothing,’ Sarah said, taking a seat beside her. ‘But you seem to have developed a…liking for the lieutenant—I don’t blame you, he seems a very fine young man. But the fact that he is now Lord Richland…complicates things.’

‘Complicates? In what way?’

‘The whole story is just as convoluted as Lieutenant Marsden’s history,’ Sarah said with a sigh. ‘Given the unusual circumstances, I don’t think Aunt Felicia will be angry at my revealing what is really her story to tell.’