He watched as she physically blanched. Prepared for her next thought, he hurried to say, “Yes, yes, I know you are of age, but asking his consent is required for our betrothal to be valid. Your neighbors will know soon enough.”
He knew her conscience was once again pricking her. She looked back and forth to her companions. “Father must know the truth. He certainly knows he never met you before.”
“It is up to you, my dear,” he stated categorically. He leaned forward, face-to-face with her. “You must think seriously before you make the decision to tell him. What will your father do if your Essex suitor goes to him, waving the announcement in the newspaper? Will he be able to convince your young man that we are in love? Will you want him to?” He noticed Grace beginning to twist her hands in agitation. He took them into his. He did not wish to upset her, but she must accept this.
“Listen to me. If you decide to tell your father the entire story, he has no choice but to truly make us marry. I insulted you in public, and his honor and mine require that we wed. If you decide we do not suit a month from now, and end our engagement, I would have to accept it. Your father would not. He would still demand that you marry me.”
“This is a nightmare. My lord, I...I...cannot.”
Lydia broke the tension with her question. “You insulted her? When? How?” He saw the righteous indignation take over her expression, and laughed.
Grace looked at him as if she would like to land him a facer. “Lydia, it makes no difference,” she said. “Leave it be.”
“I was caught gazing into her eyes and I kissed her hands tenderly. It was at the inn. Did Grace not tell you? Actually, I also kissed her lips, but no one saw that, so it cannot be part of the reason.” He grinned, winking at her.
“Of course I did not tell her.” Her color once again heightened.
Now he was surprised. “What in the world do you expect her to do when she sees us kiss in London? It would certainly not do to have her be surprised or shocked.” He shook his head in exasperation. “No one will believe us to be in love at this rate.”
Lydia was amazed. “He kissed you, Grace? Then there should be no farce, you must marry!”
Grace’s ire rose. Taking matters into her practical hands, she said, “This has gone far enough. Lydia, I told you the Marchmonts saw us in a compromising position. The exact nature of the incident makes no difference.” She turned fiery green eyes on him and said, “If you make one sound, say one more word, I will box your ears. I vow I will.”
He held up both hands in mock surrender.
“As far as kissing in London, Lydia will see us together and will not be shocked by an occasional kiss on the hand, or you standing up with me for more than two dances, which is all Society would expect from an engaged couple.”
He made a negligent gesture. “We are almost to Town—let us not arrive in fisticuffs. I think, however, we must come to a final decision.” He turned serious once again. “Grace, are we to go ahead with our plans for a betrothal that will be broken once Lydia has made her match?”
“My lord, my father...”
“As I said before, I will write to your father posthaste. Did you not say that he rarely comes to London?” At her nod, he continued, “I will create an excuse for not calling on him before speaking to you, and I will promise him a visit to arrange all of the settlements.”
He held up his hand to stop her from interrupting him. “I know you do not wish it to go so far, but as I told you from the beginning, I am honor bound to do so.”
“Do you think I am happy about that? I may have ruined your life as well as mine. I do not take that as lightly as you do, my lord.”
He must make her see it was in the best interest of all three of them. “We are doing everything in the proper way to protect us all. You will be betrothed to me, and either you will find reason to break it off later in the Season, or you and I will be married by the end of it. I assure you, I must take every precaution to be an honorable gentleman and to keep your reputation intact, as well as mine. If I did not write to your father or put a notice in the Times, no one would believe us.”
He did not even wish to think about what might happen should Lord Langdon think the engagement anything other than honorable and appropriate.
He went on, “Grace, you cannot dismiss the signs of affections that will be required. With my reputation, if I am to have fallen in love, the only way Society will believe it is if they see it. There must be some such contact.” He waited, trying to be prepared for whatever spirited reaction she would show him.
That she would be rational had never occurred to him!
“My lord, as we both know, to be thought in each other’s pocket is very bad ton, and I suppose you would hate that even if you were in love.” He was becoming quite reconciled to the fact that she would always surprise him. “Couples do not kiss each other in public. So we will show the required amount of affection, when necessary, and we will act like rational adults the remainder of the time.” She turned to look out the window and began to hum to herself. Maybe it gave her some sort of peace in the middle of a brangle. Whatever the reason, it was a clear indication that the conversation was at an end.
As they were now on the outskirts of London, he let it drop, while Lydia pointed out some sights in excitement. Grace was naive, but beautiful and intelligent, and if she thought for one minute he was going to change his personality, she had a few surprises of her own in store!
When they reached their town home in Berkeley Square, Grace asked that she and Lydia be allowed to greet their aunt alone.
“What? Ashamed of me already?” Brandon asked.
She turned and smiled when she saw the amusement in his eyes.
“I would like to explain our betrothal to my aunt without your presence complicating matters.”
She thought he would understand, and she was right. As he handed her down after leading Lydia to the doorstep, he whispered into her ear, “Prepared to face the dragons, love?”
“To tell the truth, I do not think I am at all prepared, my lord. But I did think you might be a little more put out than you appear to be. I admit to being quite exhausted already, and the charade has only just begun.”
“On the contrary, my dear, I believe this will be one of the least tedious Seasons I have attended in a long time!” He kissed her hand and then returned to the carriage, saying, “I will give you a day or two to gather yourselves, and use the excuse of your need to be properly outfitted, but I do not know how long I can keep my sisters tethered. I will put the announcement in the papers tomorrow and will write to your father first thing in the morning. If you need me in the meantime, just send a message to my house in Grosvenor Square.”
He stepped away from the carriage once again and walked back to Grace. He leaned down close and whispered, “Try to keep from rescuing any other poor unsuspecting souls until you hear from me.” He then entered the carriage, tapped the ceiling with his cane, and he was gone before she could say a word.
Upon entering her home, Grace found their ancient London butler waiting patiently for her to enter as the trunks were brought in by the footmen. “Welcome to London, my lady,” Jamison said in his stateliest manner. “Lady Lydia has already joined your aunt in the drawing room. If you will permit me to take your cloak and hat, you may join them there while I send for the tea tray.”
“Jamison, you always know just what the situation