Page 42 of Her Summer Duke

Chapter Sixteen

Behind them, Lord Percy and Lord Montpelier had stepped into the room, just in time to hear these pronouncements. Lucy had been watching from the corner. She stepped forward.

“But Lady Margaret, do not you still have some form of love in your heart for the Duke of Saltonbury. Examine your conscience. He has waited patiently eight long years and the Captain, though honourable, well he…”

Lady Mantrell shook her head, confused, and spoke over Lucy.

“You mean that you are the Ensign she met at the Masquerade Ball? That one meeting is nothing compared to the steadfast heart of a man for eight years. And sir, you are an Ensign!” She sniffed.

“No Lady Mantrell, he was never an Ensign – that was a Masquerade. In truth, then he was Captain Halstone. But now he is something more, he is the…”

Lady Mantrell shook her head, her expression of confusion growing rapidly more so. She took hold of Lady Margaret’s arm.

“You danced one dance with this man, and now you believe that you are in love? Ha! What kind of love can that be? We planned your wedding to Saltonbury for eight years, it is to be a grand spectacle.”

Adam glared at the women, half annoyed, half amused.

“I am no longer the Captain, my Lady, as Lady Margaret has just tried to tell you. It seems that you did not hear my words clearly. I have asked Lady Margaret to be my Duchess – for I am, as of this last few days, and the untimely death of my brother, the Duke of Milbrook. My love is true.”

Lady Mantrell spluttered, her eyes looking a little glazed.

“Duke…?”

“Yes, the Duke of Milbrook.”

Lady Phoebe stepped forward and took Lady Margaret’s hand.

“Margaret, I am so happy for you! And please, let us share happiness, for I have come to realise that I do love Lord Montpelier. We will be bringing our wedding date forward.”

Lady Margaret clasped her cousin’s hands and positively radiated joy. In the background, Lord Montpelier looked at Lady Phoebe, his expression showing clearly how smitten he was with the young woman. Lord Percy, beside him, scowled, his face thunderous. Adam wondered exactly why Harrington looked so put out.

Lady Mantrell had been thinking, and now she spoke again.

This, Adam suspected, was the moment that he had been dreading, for she was looking pointedly at his sombre mourning clothes.

“Your Grace… surely, if you have just succeeded to the title, through the unfortunate death of your brother, then you are, as your clothing suggests, in mourning. How can you speak of marriage now?”

Adam braced himself, and favoured her with his best smile.

“My Lady, unconventional as it is, I have asked, and Lady Margaret has agreed, that we should marry as soon as possible, regardless of mourning. For I would far rather deal with the temporary disapprobation of society, than spend a full year apart from my love. We intend the wedding to be small, and quiet, most likely at Milbrook Park, within two weeks, once my brother has been properly laid to rest. I will obtain the license, and by the time our mourning is over, the ton will have forgotten about the exact timing of our marriage.”

Lady Mantrell seemed struck speechless, but Lady Huntington was horrified. “You will be the talk of the town, Lady Margaret. They do not forget so easily as His Grace seems to think. Do not do this. It is very unbecoming.”

Lady Peabody pushed forward and hugged Lady Margaret.

“Do not be ridiculous, Lady Huntington, it will all turn out well, I am sure. I am so happy for you, Lady Margaret!” She kissed Margaret’s cheeks, and turned to face Lady Mantrell. “Oh Lady Mantrell, do not you see how wonderful this is? The girl is in love, really in love! And the lowly Ensign has turned out to be a Duke. Oh, how positively romantic!”

“I do not see how wonderful it can be. He may be a Duke now, but he was a sailor. The word sticks to my tongue.”

Lady Peabody kept smiling.

“Lady Margaret will marry her Duke – just not the one that we all expected her to marry, and Lady Phoebe will marry Lord Montpelier. This is so thrilling!”

She clapped her hands. Lady Mantrell was obviously struggling to retain her composure. She glared at Adam, as if he had arranged everything simply to spite her. He felt some sympathy for the woman, given the very unusual nature of the circumstances, and the determined nature of her ward.

Lady Mantrell turned to Margaret.

“But all of our wedding plans! And you want a quiet wedding, completely out of sight of society! You are cruel, Lady Margaret, after all that I have done for you!”