Accidental Fiancee (7 page)

He was not finished with her. “We are not safe yet. I am afraid your hesitation to accept my betrothal ring will cause other serious questions in the minds of my sisters. Maybe not Maggie, but in Elizabeth’s, most definitely. I am afraid this calls for one of those drastic measures we discussed back at the inn.”

She looked at him questioningly. What was he up to now? “I do not understand you, my lord. What drastic measures?”

“First,
Grace,
no one is going to believe we have fallen in love if you do not stop ‘my lord’ing me at every turn. You must call me Weston at the very least. Even if you pretend embarrassment at odd moments, as you are starting the habit of calling me that, it will be easier to convince others. Next, when those women return to this room, they will need to see some kind of physical indication that our whirlwind romance is real.”

She looked at him skeptically. “What kind of physical indication are you referring to,
Weston?
” She said the last quite sarcastically.

“I think you know, love, but if you want me to say it, I will. They will need to see the embrace the Marchmonts have been claiming that
they
encountered.”

“The Marchmonts did not see us embracing.”

“No, they did not, but that is their tale.” He smiled at her impishly. She wished those dimples were not so distracting. “Let me see, how shall we best set the scene? You are overwrought, thinking you made me believe you did not want my betrothal ring. I think holding you in my arms would seem comforting, would it not?”

“You are teasing me!” she exclaimed in horror. “You wretched man! You are
trying
to drive me mad. Oh, I could box your ears for scaring me so.”

He pulled her into the window embrasure. “I
was
teasing a bit, only because your eyes change so amazingly when you are angry with me. But what I said is true. Lydia saw you were upset, and we must take advantage of that. If my sister Maggie hears one disparaging remark about our engagement after this, she will know how to handle it.”

“After what—?” she asked, but at that moment they heard voices nearing the drawing room door, and events happened so quickly after that she could almost swear they were happening to someone else.

Lord Weston pulled her against him with one arm around her waist, and with his other hand raised her face to his.

As the ladies got closer to the drawing room, she remained still, looking into his eyes, questions in her own. He leaned down to say softly, “You see, it is not so hard. Your beloved is whispering exceptionally charming sweet nothings into your ear.” Her expression did not change. “Oh, very well,” he said, frustrated. “Perhaps the sweet nothings are only moderately charming. But still, it would not come amiss if you took a deep breath, then sighed.”

Grace could not help it. She laid her forehead against his chest, breaking contact with his wicked dark stare, her shoulders shaking in silent laughter.

“Minx,” he whispered, his head still bent over her as the door opened to the returning women. He stepped back from her slightly and she turned a flushed countenance to them, truly amazed how he had masterfully created the look of a tender moment.

“Good gracious, Brandon, what
are
you about? Mrs. Burstow, I must apologize for my brother. I think we had best take our leave now and finalize details at a later date.”

Aunt Aggie was visibly stunned. “I do not believe he was taking advantage of her, Lady Elizabeth. Grace would never allow...”

“Yes, yes, of course. I was not insinuating your niece was indecorous. Margaret, we will await Brandon in the foyer.”

Grace scowled at him and whispered, “You wretch! I will soon have a reputation as bad as yours.” But he ushered her out of the drawing room with an arm still around her waist.

“I thank you for your hospitality, Mrs. Burstow,” Lady Wright said to her aunt. “You will call on me for tea, say, Thursday of this week, so we may discuss things further?”

“I will check to see what we have planned for that day, certainly,” Aunt Aggie told her. Grace smiled to herself as Aunt Aggie stood up to Lord Weston’s sister. She imagined the two in a power struggle as the details were ironed out and she had no doubt as to who would be the victor. Aunt Aggie was indomitable!

Lord Weston was next to bid her aunt and Lydia goodbye. As he turned to kiss Grace’s own hand, he made the mistake of looking directly into her eyes. She decided turnabout was fair play, and she sighed in a most lovelorn manner while saying, “Goodbye,
Weston.
”

“Thought that girl was pretty sensible,” Lady Elizabeth muttered. “Look what you have done to her.”

Grace heard him try to repress his laughter by turning it into a cough. She spun back toward the drawing room, hiding the smug expression on her face.

Chapter Seven

B
randon was still smiling when he pulled up to 21 Cavendish Square. However, this meeting was very important, so he attempted to turn his thoughts from Grace as he was shown into the library of Lord Langdon. With its large leather chairs and book-lined walls, it had quickly become a sort of safe haven to him. He and his lordship had many business and personal conversations here and he had come to respect the man more than he could have imagined.

Only a few moments passed before the door opened and Lord Langdon came in. “Brandon, I am so glad you have come!” He clasped his guest’s hand in both of his, real joy showing on his lined face.

“I am glad to be here, my lord,” he said as his host motioned him to a chair before a large desk.

Knowing Brandon’s self-imposed ban on alcohol, he asked, “As it is too early for coffee, would you like a glass of spring water?” At Brandon’s nod he filled a glass and took it to him. Since Brandon’s relationship with Lord Langdon began, he always made him comfortable by stocking it. “Shall we make this a toast? I have heard you are to be congratulated.”

“Indeed, my lord. I
am
sorry I did not get to inform you of it myself. I can only hope that you heard it first in the
Gazette?
”

“Afraid not, lad,” he said with a grin. “But I own to being quite happy to have it verified by the announcement in the paper.”

“I can only imagine what you must have thought.”

“I hope you know me better than that, Brandon. I admit to surprise, but I never doubted you would come to me when you were able.”

“Thank you, sir.” His response was heartfelt. Knowing how his father would have reacted, he truly appreciated the trust and respect of one wholly unrelated to him.

“I thought you might have brought her with you when you asked to come today.”

“I had hoped to, my lord, but I am informed I must give the ladies time to update their wardrobes before they are ready to make calls. Truth to tell, I know Grace would not have minded, but she is here with her sister and aunt, and I find I am quite de trop for the nonce.”

Lord Langdon laughed. “The newspaper said your affianced was Lord Pennington’s daughter. I was not aware he had a daughter.”

“Actually, he has two, but I am not surprised you were unaware of them. He has eschewed London for many years now. I was introduced to...” His words tapered off. Suddenly, Brandon’s conscience was pricked by the lie. He felt an inordinate amount of remorse in lying to Lord Langdon. Was this what Grace felt? He had seen nothing in this world that proved an existence of God. Yet his reluctance remained.

“Yes, my boy?”

“I was introduced to the daughters very recently.”

“I surmised
that
much or I suspect I would have heard of your interest in Lady Grace before this.” Brandon almost flinched. His actions were so scrutinized by a society that lived to criticize one another. For so many years, he had not cared; indeed, he had actually tried shocking the
ton.
But he did care now that those same gabsters could seriously hurt his relationship with this man.

Could he tell him the truth? He wanted to, very badly. His respect for this gentleman was leaps and bounds above what he felt for any other of his acquaintances, and he would have gladly sought his advice.

But his fear of disapproval and condemnation, ingrained from a childhood with an overbearing parent, made him hold his peace. The relationship he and his friend Dennis had formed with Lord Langdon had certainly grown into mutual trust, probably even more on his part. But should his lordship find out how Brandon had gotten into this entanglement, would he lose that trust and thereby the voice this man had in Parliament? He was afraid to risk it. And, after all, he had denied Grace the option to tell her own father.

But he would no longer outright lie to him.

“You are correct, sir. Neither she nor her sister is well known in London, though they are very well connected through the earl and their aunt, Mrs. Burstow.”

“I believe I knew her husband in my younger days, but I do not recall his wife.”

“I don’t think they spent much time in Town. They traveled quite a bit, but Mr. Burstow has been dead for many years, I believe.”

“You have convinced me she comes from an impeccable lineage, but I hope you know that would never be my primary interest in the lady you chose to wed.”

“Of course not. I beg your pardon. Things happened so quickly once we knew of the Marchmonts’ tales. I find I must temper my comments based upon whom I am speaking to.”

Lord Langdon put his glass down on the table next to his chair. “I certainly hope that is not the case with me, Brandon. You may always be completely honest with me.”

“I do know that, sir, and I do not take it for granted in any way.”

Brandon had met Lord Landon a few years previously in quite unusual circumstances; being much younger in age, he had not run in his lordship’s circles. Once Brandon began the path that labeled him trouble, he had never felt the need nor the inclination to take his seat in the House. As he grew older, he’d regretted that fact, especially since once the actual need for him to do so arose, he knew none would take him seriously.

When he and David, Lord Hendricks, his closest friend, discovered their passion to right one of Society’s greatest wrongs, they’d assumed they would be doing it alone. Their progress had been slow. They’d wished to remain anonymous for many reasons, but that method garnered little support for their endeavors.

When David was killed in a carriage accident, Brandon had almost given up the fight. But David’s younger brother, Dennis, would not let him. So Brandon and the new Lord Hendricks continued the work.

It was only a short time later that they were approached by Lord Langdon with his offer to help. The first reaction of both men had been shock. They had done everything they could to keep their efforts from becoming known. But his lordship was able to assure them that his discovery had come to him by small bits and pieces because of his desire to champion the same cause.

Lord Langdon had offered his support where they had no ear, in Parliament. None of them wanted an outcry of major proportions; it would only send the miscreants Brandon and Dennis wanted punished scurrying into hiding.

But there was much need for stricter guidelines
and
punishment for the offenses they had witnessed, and such action could only be done legislatively. Lord Langdon volunteered to be their mouthpiece. His only concern had been Brandon, for he had heard nothing good about him.

Langdon promised he would help them only if Lord Weston’s scandals ceased. He would not risk his own reputation by aligning himself with one whose antics leaned more toward rake than those of a gentleman.

Brandon’s first reaction had been to do the complete opposite, just as he would have done with his father. But Dennis convinced him they needed an ally like Lord Langdon to make any serious inroads, and so began the unusual friendship.

Over the years, their relationship became one of mutual respect. Brandon sometimes wondered, if he had been more mature, whether he and his father might have come to the same understanding. But it always came back to him that he had been a disappointment to his parent from childhood. And it had made both their lives miserable.

Brandon became determined he would not disappoint Lord Langdon.

“You are very introspective today, my boy. Is something bothering you?”

“No, not bothered, just a little preoccupied.”

“Too preoccupied to tell me about your affianced?”

“No, of course not. I do apologize. She is an exceptional woman, my lord.”

“Of that I have no doubt.”

Brandon chuckled. “You have many doubts, I daresay, but are too kind to say so.” He settled back in his chair and pictured Grace in his mind. “She is very beautiful, but most unconscious of it. To own the truth, I have almost come to disregard her beauty, as she does. She has so many more important qualities that for the first time I find appearance quite low on my list of priorities!” He shook his head in disbelief at his own words.

“She is as intelligent as she is beautiful, and her sense of the ridiculous often catches me off guard. It is rare to find a female with a gift for sarcasm. She gives me no quarter, I assure you.” He looked up from his glass. “I believe you will like her very much.”

“Beautiful, intelligent and sarcastic? She sounds delightful.” Langdon laughed, then paused. “I have sometimes been...afraid for you, Brandon. Afraid you would not wait for your perfect partner. That you might settle for mediocrity in order to beget an heir. You have oft times been most cynical when it comes to women and marriage. You will not credit it, but I have prayed about just this event for some time now. I am most happy to know you have found your equal, the person meant to go through life at your side.”

Great guns! Was that how he sounded? Perhaps he had laid it on a bit thick. He had not meant to. But Lord Langdon had the right of it. Grace was his equal. He would enjoy this Season with her and be proud to introduce her as his betrothed. But when the time came for her to end their relationship, he would not repine. He stopped his thoughts there. He would need time to process Lord Langdon’s reference to prayer.

“Brandon, how does she feel about the work we are doing?”

He hesitated. “Actually, I have not as yet discussed it with her.”

“May I ask why?”

“It is twofold, I suppose. The first is that our courtship truly has happened quite quickly. We still have much to learn about each other. And I suppose I did not yet feel that I should share that information without first talking to you and Dennis.”

“Do you have some reason to fear her response?”

“No, sir, not a bit of it. In a short time I have come to trust her implicitly. But I would not put her in the way of danger for anything.”

He had not lied to Lord Langdon. He simply had neglected to mention that despite those feelings of trust, there was no need to involve her should this arrangement result in the separation they intended.

He was brought back to the present by Lord Langdon’s question. “Do you expect physical danger to become a part of our work?”

“It is more a feeling than an expectation. The more changes we make, I think the opportunities for our detection increase. As we are dealing with the most unscrupulous sort of men, I never rule out the chance of trouble.”

“That is wise, Brandon. Your instincts are well honed.”

The two men shared a moment of easy silence.

“Shall I meet your paragon soon?”

“By all means, my lord—when it may be managed. As I mentioned, her aunt and my sisters have too much control over our actions for my liking. Add to that the come-out of Grace’s sister, and you will see why I have been tossed aside to make way for the planning. I know Lady Grace is as unhappy about it as I, but for now we seem to be pawns in the overall strategy of this chess match. I do not take a backseat easily, but I have found Grace bears much of the brunt of my growling, so I have ceased for the moment.”

“I have a hard time picturing that,” Lord Langdon said with a laugh. “I should like to be a fly on the wall.”

“Have no fear, I will give my sisters their heads for only a short time before I rein them back in. I have no patience for all of this posturing.”

“Now
that
is the Brandon Roth I am accustomed to!”

* * *

Grace was having serious misgivings since meeting Lord Weston’s sisters the day before. She actually
saw
the faces of two of the people who would be hurt when they ended the betrothal. She needed to think. So much had happened in the preceding week that she was overwhelmed.

She had let his sense of humor get the better of her when his sisters took their leave the day before, but she’d regretted it almost as soon as the door closed behind them.

How could she keep up this pretense? Her aunt was so very happy for her. She had all but said that she’d been afraid Grace would never meet anyone. Grace did not mind that; she had come to that conclusion years ago herself. But making her aunt unhappy by ending the engagement would break her own heart. And though she did not claim to know him well enough to read his thoughts, Lord Weston seemed to indicate that a broken betrothal would interfere in matters more important than his reputation.

Father, I am so torn. Either I will be yoked to a man who does not believe in You, or I will be a jilt, someone who does not keep her word. I know You never would have had me choose this path in the first place, and now the consequences seem so dire. Please show me how I can make it right.

She spent the rest of the day tied in knots. Tomorrow would begin Lydia’s Season. They would join their aunt in morning calls and host a small, intimate card party in the evening. In the meantime, Grace needed to make a decision about whether to go further down this road or not. But she could not deny that the idea of Lord Weston’s disappointment was paramount to her. She did not know why, but that alone carried the same weight as each of her other concerns.

In the end, it was Lydia who made the decision for her. She came to Grace after dinner, before their guests arrived for the evening.

“Grace?”

“Yes, darling?”

“I have been looking forward to a Season for so long, but now I am ever so scared I shall be shy and stupid.”

“Lydia, you are never stupid.” Grace’s rejoinder was emphatic. “And you will no longer be shy once you have made a few friends. You are so sweet and selfless that you will have many friends very, very soon. You met some lovely young girls today, did you not?”

“Oh, Grace, I do not know how I would bear all of this without you. I know you did not wish to come to London, but as long as I can look around a room and see you, I know I will feel quite safe.” She kissed Grace’s flushed cheek. “Thank you for everything you have done for me.”

For Lydia, Grace would continue what they had started.