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Was the port taking greater effect, or had the room just gone askew?
Was he to have both Hampton’s help and the Lord Chancellor’s blessing?
Scott continued, “My responsibility, however, must always be to the ward.” He raised those bushy brows. “I am not completely without reservation. Miss Lenora is still very young, and she hasn’t yet enjoyed a Season. A waiting period would be prudent.”
Just then, Amelia and Lenora entered the room arm in arm. She was looking more like herself, he noted with some relief.
She sported a wry half-smile as she gazed in bemused admiration at the golden, ostrich-feathered turban worn by one of his mother’s close confidants.
He imagined her thinking, Nettie would like that.
Her gaze shifted, meeting his. She blushed and looked away. Her pinked cheeks only made her even more becoming.
How had he ever seen her as merely a duty?
Perhaps he’d been the one acting. But acting, she’d told him, requires the truth. Truth was, she was his ward. But she was also something more—a beautiful, kind young lady who had recently turned his world upside-down by resting her head against his chest.
Scott chuckled. “I can see I was correct.”
Asquith did not attempt denial. Not only could he not truthfully disavow, but the desire to do so was absent.
“You are indeed,” Asquith confirmed instead. “Although nothing”—almost nothing—“untoward has ever happened.”
Scott inclined his head. “My good man, that much is obvious. A man who goes through the expense and inconvenience to rent rooms is not a reckless man.”
“Are you saying I may ask Lenora for her hand?”
“I will approve, but with qualification. Appearances count. My permission is conditioned on this—you must wait until after the Season begins. And you must promise me there won’t be a whiff of scandal over Christmas. Your patience, together with your past actions, will convince the ton your union is a true love-match.”
“I understand,” Asquith replied.
His surge of joy was considerably tempered by the Chancellor’s request for a prolonged separation—approximately two months. Then again, he had no prior plans to visit Ravenswood over Christmas. Two months wasn’t so much to ask.
And he agreed with Scott. An announcement after her Almack’s debut would be much more acceptable.
“My wards,” he said, “are looking forward to spending December with Lord and Lady Redver, and I plan to be at Asquith Park.”
“Ah, very good. We’ll attend the necessary paperwork come the new year. Remember, not a whiff,” Scott repeated before melting into the crowd.
Asquith wasn’t likely to forget. He transferred his gaze back to Lenora.
Lenora could be his. And he didn’t have to give up the dream of Asquith Park Stud.
He’d just been granted everything he wanted. Everything she wanted. He should have felt profound relief.
He did not.
Her sentiments, he feared, had undergone a drastic change.
He watched her survey the room. Her gaze passed over him without a sign of recognition, as if to confirm his fears.
When she left the room on Amelia’s arm, it was all he could do not to chase her down.
***
A week later, Asquith angled his way through scores of Bond Street loungers, heading for the stationer Houghton & Gunn. Once again, Lenora hadn’t shown up for their stable meeting, increasing his frustration.
Why blackmail him and then fail to appear for two weeks in a row?
