Edward worked hard to loosen the way his hands had balled into fists. Lord Finch hadn’t even said his daughter’s name. He was only concerned with the damage his daughter’s scandal could do to his family name.
“I believe we must work quickly to evade further scandal and wrongful whispers.” Lord Finch nodded at Edward, clearly eager for him now to reply.
“I quite agree.” Edward sat forward in his chair. “That is why I have made a decision. On marriage.” His eyes flicked to Lady Julia.
She looked ready to argue, her lips parting. Edward stood to his feet, knowing if this was to work, then he had to speak to Lady Julia alone as soon as possible, so that she could know the whole truth and he could plead for her help. “I humbly ask your blessing for a union with your daughter, My Lord. I am aware that I have hardly covered myself in glory after last night, but I wish you to know I have the highest respect for your daughter. I would never wrong her.”
He kept his eyes on Lady Julia, wanting her to know the truth.
Had you not kissed me in such a way, I would not have kissed you, My Lady, no matter how good that kiss was.
“As it is, I cannot undo the past, but I can make a repair for the future.” He watched as Lady Julia’s mouth hung open, her eyes staring at him unblinkingly. He returned his gaze to the Earl, needing her father’s blessing before it went any further. “I ask for your daughter’s hand in marriage, and I humbly beg your blessing for it.”
Lord Finch smiled at once, clasping his hands together.
“Then you have it!” he declared. “How wonderful this is.” He crossed the space toward Edward and took his hand, shaking it vigorously. Edward winced at the vice-like grip. “My daughter is to be a duchess, what a great day this is.”
Great!? He was horrified a minute ago!
Edward found his opinion of Lord Finch becoming worse by the second, until he grew distracted. Behind Lord Finch, Lady Julia was standing to her feet.
“No,” she murmured.
“Julia, please,” her mother pleaded at her side.
“No, Mama.” Lady Julia shook her head at her mother, before returning her focus to Edward. “I cannot marry the Duke. He has not asked me; he has only asked my father. What is more, I do not wish to.”
“Julia, enough of this!” Lord Finch panicked, stepping toward his daughter in such a threatening manner that Edward found his spine straightening, not liking the situation at all. To his surprise, Lady Julia did not cower under her father’s glare. She stood tall and lifted her chin higher.
“You cannot bind my tongue forever, Father. I have said no. I will not marry the Duke.”
“One minute.” Edward leapt forward. Now was the time to talk to her, before this conversation could go any further. “May I speak to your daughter alone, My Lord?”
“Alone?” Lady Finch squeaked, but Lord Finch waved a hand in her direction
“They have already been alone, Susannah, what does it matter now?”
“Thank you.” Edward reached for Lady Julia’s hand. “A turn in the garden perhaps?”
“Another?” she scoffed. “You have my hand.” She glanced down, clearly startled by how quickly he had taken it. “Release it.”
“I will in one second. If you would excuse us.” He smiled to Lord and Lady Finch, trying to make it seem like all was well as he pulled Lady Julia toward the door that led outside. “Courting couples, you know what we’re like, bickering is soon resolved.”
“Just so.” Lord Finch nodded approvingly, as Edward encouraged Lady Julia out of the door.
* * *
“Have you taken leave of your senses?” Julia was enraged as the Duke closed the door. He glowered at her once, before glancing back through the window and offering a happy wave at her parents. “You’re a good actor, Your Grace, I’ll give you that.”
“I’ll have to be, if my plan is to work. Hopefully, you will pick up a few tips too.”
“What on earth does that mean?” Julia was too angry to think straight or to make much sense of the Duke’s words. Before she could demand any more explanation, the Duke took her arm and led her across the garden. “I do not like this habit of yours of taking my hand without permission!”
“Very well, you can reprimand me for it later, but I must speak to you alone, and at the moment, you are making that quite difficult.” He looped her arm through his and dragged her away, past trees that were shedding their leaves like raindrops. Each yellow leaf glistened in the sun, before forming a carpet beneath their feet. “We must go further, until we are hidden from view.”
She relented trying to fight the Duke and let him lead her down to the bottom of the garden. Once they were hidden by a bank of beech trees, shedding so many leaves that she could barely see the grass beneath them, she pushed away from him.
“Release me!” she demanded.