Page 35 of Unmask Me My Love

“No, but I am related to Miss d’Aventure.” Her father sent her a smile that lit up his face. His pride in her was so obvious her heart hurt in her chest. “As father of the bride-to-be.”

“What?” The single word was all but a whisper, as though Lady Chalgrove’s stays had been too tightly laced.

“Miss d’Aventure is my daughter, madame. A fact that the entire ton will be aware of hereafter. I acknowledge that she is my offspring, and as such the Duke of Brixham is delighted to welcome her into his family.”

“That makes it absolutely official, my love,” Hal whispered to her. “My father will not dare renege on the betrothal now it has become common knowledge.”

“Or will as soon as Lady Chalgrove spreads it about.” Gabriella sighed. “She will make it seem that you are marrying far below your station, mon amour. Do you mind very much what the ton says about us?”

“I have never cared before this, sweetheart.” Hal grinned down at her. “Why would it bother me now?”

“But this is outrageous, Duke.” Lady Chalgrove had apparently regained the power of speech. “You never once even intimated you had a daughter.” She stared at Gabriella, her dislike emanating like waves of an icy fog. “Would you have kept her a secret until after you married?”

“As her mother kept the secret from me for eighteen years, I may be forgiven by the ton for being ignorant of my responsibility. That, however, has now been remedied.” He drew Maman out from behind Hal, where she’d been standing unobtrusively, and turned to her. “My dear, may I present to you Lady Chalgrove, an acquaintance of mine, and the woman who was our daughter’s employer for a time.”

Lady Chalgrove’s mouth dropped open, her face varying from stark white to fiery red. Finally, she drew in a breath, her face falling into harsh lines. “You are Gabriella’s mother?”

“Yes, my lady.” Maman’s voice was even, although the look she gave Lady Chalgrove would have sent Gabriella scurrying out of the room had it been leveled at her. She knew that look oh, so well, and the consequences that followed it were never pleasant.

“And my wife, Lady Chalgrove.” Papa’s smile was just as menacing as Maman’s voice. “May I present the Duchess of Rother?”

That Lady Chalgrove did not fall down in a faint did the woman credit as far as Gabriella was concerned. She would give the devil her due. But she could not pretend that she didn’t delight in the look of horror on the woman’s face.

Her former employer looked from Papa to Maman to Gabriella, and finally to Hal, who grinned broadly. “Surprise, my lady.”

Lady Chalgrove’s chest heaved as she tried to pull enough breath into her body. It was never pleasant having the wind knocked out of your sails. At last, the lady threw back her shoulders, sent scathing looks to all of them, then turned on her heel and stalked toward the ballroom entryway.

“I suppose the cat is out of the bag now, Duke.” Hal’s grin had widened.

“It would seem so.” Papa nodded toward Lady Chalgrove, who had stopped to join a cluster of ladies talking near the doorway. She leaned toward them, shot a malevolent look toward the four of them then bent her head and began speaking animatedly.

“Under these circumstances, Duke, I think it would be prudent for my marriage to Gabriella to proceed without delay.” Hal took her arm again, more possessively than before. “That way Gabriella will have the protection of both your name and mine.”

Papa raised an eyebrow at Hal. “I seriously doubt the lady will seek to have Gabriella physically harmed. Her spite will go no further than putting about something to besmirch her name or mine. That I will take care of first thing tomorrow.” Papa chuckled. “What Lady Chalgrove may not have realized—nor you either, Halford—is that when I married Veronique, I gained guardianship over Gabriella. And as her guardian, I have the legal right to fight for her if anyone tries to sully her or her family’s good name.” Papa’s gaze came to rest once more on Hal. “A valiant effort, Halford, but the wedding will proceed at the appointed time, now in two weeks.”

He took Maman’s arm and led her to the dance floor.

Gabriella laughed softly at the forlorn look on Hal’s face. “Do not fret, mon cher. The time will pass quickly.”

Hal gave her a rueful smirk and shook his head. “If you were a gambling lady, my dear, I wouldn’t take that bet for any sum.” He took her arm and steered her toward the dance floor as well. “The next two weeks are going to be everlasting.”

Something about the glint in his eyes, however, told Gabriella that Hal was going to try his best to find a way to make their marriage occur sooner rather than later.

Chapter 14

A week after Lady Ulley’s ball, Hal stood at the Duke of Rother’s door once more, bouquet of flowers in hand, and plied the brass lion-head door knocker. The past seven days had been frustrating beyond belief, despite his formal betrothal to Gabriella. Of course, his frustration stemmed from their betrothal and the fact they were still being watched like hawks.

Because Rother still wouldn’t allow their wedding to be moved up, Hal had had to resort to one subterfuge after another to have any time alone with his beloved. Instead of being able to take her in his arms—and into his bed—whenever he wished, he was relegated to merely wooing the woman he would’ve married in a heart’s beat if only her father would get off his high horse and let him. It wasn’t even as if Rother was paying complete attention to Gabriella. He and the duchess spent an inordinate amount of time together, though they were putting off their wedding trip in order to chaperone Gabriella until her wedding.

Hal had to admit, it was only the Rothers’ perpetual presence that had kept him from pressing Gabriella to run away with him and use the special license he’d already obtained. Or at the least spirit her away somewhere to anticipate their wedding night. Likely that was the real reason the duke had remained in London.

The door opened, and Hal was admitted and shown to the family drawing room, where Gabriella was sitting talking animatedly with her parents. She jumped up and ran to him, throwing her arms around him and pulling his head down for a sweet kiss. When she stepped back, her mother looked fondly at him and her father glared as though he’d like to run him through with a saber. Well, that was to be expected when the man had only just found Gabriella. But that didn’t make it any easier.

“Good afternoon, Duke, Duchess.” He bowed quickly then addressed himself to Gabriella, who had slipped her arms around his waist. Now the torture would begin. Every time he’d touched her in the days since they’d become betrothed, the fire she lit in his nether regions threatened to consume him completely. Did she know the agonies she caused him? He gazed down at her. Something in the saucy smile she sent him told him she did—and delighted in it. “Good afternoon, my love.”

“Good afternoon, mon cher.” Gabriella squeezed him, and Hal had to bite back a groan as his cock made its presence known with a vengeance. The last thing he wanted was for the duke to see how strongly his daughter affected him. Especially not today. “Come sit beside me on the chaise.”

“First, my dear, these are for you.” He handed her the bouquet of primroses and larkspur, the best blooms from his father’s garden.