Page 51 of Just a Little Daring

“You make no sense,” August said crossly, still anxious and determined to keep an eye on Sylvester and Aisling.

“That’s the way I like it,” Sy retorted, folding his arms. “But what about you? How did your little tête-à-tête with the viscount go? I take it he looks favourably upon you courting his beautiful daughter?”

August nodded, still a little bewildered by that fact. Vivien was an heiress, and a beauty unparalleled among the ton, no matter some people’s idiocy over her heritage. Everyone knew she’d had dozens of offers from men far wealthier than he and with impressive titles to boot. She had turned down a marquess if the rumours were to be believed. Not that August was about to ask her for that smacked of desperation.

“He did. He even seemed pleased.”

Almost… fatherly, actually, and hadn’t that been a surprise? August had been unprepared to be welcomed with such warmth, especially bearing in mind the muck he’d made of it and the weeks of misery his foolishness had caused Vivien, not to mention himself.

Silas, as he was to call his prospective father-in-law, had waved this away, however, and said all young men made cakes of themselves when they were in love, and it was only to be expected. He also gave some very sound advice about making his proposal a memorable one, the kind of thing his wife would enjoy telling their children in years to come.

His wife.

Mrs Vivien Lane-Fox.

August grinned.

“Oh, stop it,” Sylvester grumbled. “You’re making me queasy. Bad enough I’m being dragged back to town before everyone else without having to endure your incandescent joy all the way there.”

August snorted, not giving a damn if Sylvester cast up his accounts. He was too happy to care if he looked like a lovesick sap skull. If the cap fit and all that.

“Silas needed to return to town and that meant Lady Cavendish leaving and Miss Anson with her. I wasn’t about to kick my heels in Brighton when she was in London, was I? Apparently Gabriel Knight has some battle royale underway over the route of his new line and he needed the viscount to throw his weight about. Besides, if Miss Knight and her family are returning to town, that means Lady Aisling is going with her.”

Sylvester waved this away, but August did not believe his interest in Lady Aisling was either as shallow or as calculating as he made out. The only trouble was, he didn’t think Sylvester realised it himself, which might be a cause for concern.

22nd April 1841, The Strand, London.

August gave himself a mental shake and tried to remember to breathe. It wasn’t easy, truly. Not when the woman sitting at his side was so unspeakably lovely. She wore a deep purple carriage dress this morning with a matching bonnet, resplendent with matching feathers that fluttered in the breeze as they trotted at a good clip. August could not help but keep casting glances at her, unable to believe his good fortune.

They were just returning after a pleasant ride about Hyde Park. August had borrowed Bainbridge’s new Brougham and had decided he must invest in one. It was a far smoother ride and more stable than anything he’d driven before, and Viv would need something elegant. He could not have her feel she had come down in the world by marrying him. The carriage he’d left at home for his mother and sister’s use was certainly becoming bit outdated and as he rode everywhere, he’d not felt the need for such an investment.

A stab of unease assailed him as he considered the motley lot currently installed at his home. What was he to do about that? The house was his and ought to be Viv’s home, but it was his mother and sister’s home too. Of course, with the hefty dowry Viv brought to their marriage, they could well afford to buy another property, but the solution depressed him, rather. He’d always imagined bringing his family up there. It was a fine house, and he’d hoped to banish the memories of the past by turning it into a home, filled with children and love and happiness, and perhaps, just a little less drama than it had become used to in the past few decades.

“What’s wrong?”

August glanced at her as he turned into The Strand, but dared not take his eyes from the road for long. The Strand was a major thoroughfare in the city centre, and he needed his wits about him.

“Nothing,” he called back cheerfully, setting the matter aside for the moment. He needed to discuss this with Vivien, but not now. For one thing, he’d not yet proposed. He’d thought perhaps to take the opportunity this morning in Hyde Park, but as lovely as the setting was, it didn’t feel right. Certainly not memorable, as his soon to be father-in-law had counselled it ought to be.

As they drew up before Cavendish House, August frowned as he recognised a footman from Rother House. What the devil was he doing here in town? His heart plummeted as he realised there could only be one explanation.

“What’s she done now?” he demanded of the footman, leaping down and handing over the reins to one of the viscount’s men.

The footman thrust a sealed note towards him, shaking his head. “Mrs Lane-Fox told me to get this to you as soon as you could, but I’ve had the devil of a journey, sir. I ought to have been here yesterday only with one thing and t’other….”

August let the man’s words wash over him as he broke the seal and scanned the words with a sensation like ice water washing down his back.

“Hell and the devil!” he exclaimed, crumpling the paper up and stuffing it in his pocket. “I’ll wring her blasted neck for this.”

“Whatever is wrong?” Viv asked, leaning over the side of the carriage. August cursed himself for not having had the good manners to see her safely down first.

“I’m so sorry, love. I’ve got to dash. I’d best help you down. My sister is about to do something dreadful. Not for the first time, and almost certainly not the last.”

“How exciting,” Viv exclaimed, looking vastly entertained by this information.

August held out his hand to her, but Vivien shook her head. “You can’t think I’m going to miss out on the fun, August? Do be reasonable.”

August frowned. “Viv, love, I don’t think fun is the word you’re looking for. Anna is dead set upon causing a scandal, and the last thing I need is for you to get caught up in it.”