Chapter 32

Chapter Thirty-Two

S he called me her fiancé. Luke felt the thrill of the word like a bolt of lightning coursing through his body. And then he realised that his future mother-in-law had just seen him behaving in a most ungentlemanly manner.

Luke could only think of one more mortifying circumstance to have met his future mother in law, and as that involved behaviour that he would simply not engage with, he supposed this was about as embarrassing as it could get.

He tried to move away from Emily, but slipped in the puddle that had collected around them. She put out a hand to steady him, and he smiled at her.

“A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Viscountess Cotswalts.” Luke bowed, his cheeks flushing.

He could hear Emily and her sisters laughter, which did nothing to alleviate his embarrassment or his nerves. He tried to focus on the warmth of her hand in his, but that only reminded him that a moment ago he had been kissing her.

He straightened and took a steadying breath. He could at the very least affect dignity, even if this was quite possibly the least dignified he had ever been.

“I hope that I should not expect to grow accustomed to such ungallant behaviour, Your Grace.” Viscountess Cotswalts moved towards him.

“Oh, I think it is rather romantic.” Emily leaned against him and flashed a mischievous smile at her mother. “But do not worry mother, Luke cares rather a lot for propriety, despite my corrupting influence.”

Emily winked at him and Luke choked. He had not known he could turn such a deep shade of scarlet until that moment. You are a duke. Not some silly school boy, start acting like it.

“I will of course, seek an audience with your husband at his earliest convenience to gain his consent to marry your daughter.” Luke bowed to the Viscountess again.

“See that you do, Your Grace.” Lady Cotswalts expression was unreadable as she strode towards him.

Luke forced himself to meet her gaze. The woman was easily a foot shorter than him, and yet she made him feel impossibly small. Emily seemed to sense this and whispered, “she does that to everyone.”

Luke nodded. “As I said, Lady Cotswalts, it is a pleasure to meet you. I must beg your forgiveness for my state of dress. I was caught in the storm.”

“You are hardly the first young man to get caught in a storm in the name of love.” Lady Cotswalts smiled at him, and Luke felt a small part of his tension ease. “I assume it was love that drove you to such drastic action?”

“Yes. I love your daughter more than I can say.” Luke smiled at Emily, his heart soaring as she smiled back at him.

Lady Cotswalts nodded to herself, and then, to Luke’s surprise turned to Duchess Emberly. “I am pleased to see your plan paid off in the end, Rose. When Jane wrote to me this morning, she told me that Emily was heart broken.”

Luke frowned and he saw Emily gape. Duchess Emberly did not miss a beat, she did not colour at all. The only sign of her emotion was in a slight jerk of her hand. And I am marrying into this. He could not tell if he was afraid or impressed.

“But you asked us here to match Emily and Rodger. That was the whole point of this arrangement.” Luke canted his head towards the two Duchesses.

“As soon as you walked into the room, Duke Warren, I could see that you and Emily were perfect for each other, and this last fortnight has only proved it.” Duchess Emberly smiled at him. “Jane took a little longer to convince. Once she saw how well Lord Baine and Marie got on, and realised that Emily only had eyes for the Duke, well…”

“You scheming –” Emily began but Duchess Caden cut her off. “It is payback, sister-mine.”

“But you did not know that he would come back.” Natalie interjected.

“No, which is why I did not tell Emiily that he was the one I wished to match her with.” Duchess Emberly explained “Though I rather suspected he would return, once he had seen the sense. And if not, I had a mind to go and send Alexander to knock it into him.”

“I am glad it did not come to that.” Luke said unsure if the Duchess was joking or not. I expect Emberly would not have been so cordial if it had come to such a thing.

“Welcome to the madhouse.” Lady Cotswalts made a vague gesture that took in all of her daughters.

“Clearly yours is not the only brilliant mind in the family.” Luke muttered to Emily who was still shaking her head in disbelief at her sisters. “Or the only matchmaker.”

“Clearly not.” Emily’s voice broke as she shook her head, and when Luke turned to face her, he was startled to see there were tears in her eyes.

“What is wrong?” Luke asked, his heart speeding up, as he pulled her close to him.

She buried her face in his chest, pulling him close, even as his sodden clothes squelched. Her voice was so muffled, he could not make out her words.

“Emily, please, tell me what has upset you.” Luke murmured, stroking her hair as her sisters moved towards them.

“They know me. They always have.” Her words were louder as she peered up at him. “When they thought your brother was perfect for me… I…”

“Of course, we do.” Duchess Caden shook her head and put a hand on Emily’s shoulder.

“We are your sisters.” Rose added. “And anyone with eyes to see, could tell how you and Duke Warren feel about each other. Well, almost anyone. As I said, Jane was a little slower on the uptake and I am five guineas the richer for it.”

“I cannot believe the two of you did this.” Emily shook her head in wonder and moved into her sisters arms.

They hugged her, and Luke felt a burst of joy in his chest. She relaxed into the embrace. Now she will see just how loved she truly is. He knew what this would mean to her.

Luke looked on as the three of them began to cry. He fished in a pocket and procured a very sodden and decidedly useless handkerchief. He glanced at Natalie who shrugged. Lady Cotswalts placed a gentle hand on his arm.

“Let us get you into something dry. We do not want you catching your death before your wedding.” Lady Cotswalts led him from the room.

“I did not bring anything with me to change into.” Luke swallowed. I really should have planned this better, why does Emily always seem to bring out such madness in me?

“I shall see if Alexander or Peter has something you can borrow.” Natalie looked him up and down. “I suspect Alexander might be a better fit, though you may have to roll up the sleeves and trousers.”

“Excellent. See what you can sort out.” Lady Cotswalts gestured to a nearby servant. “What guest rooms are prepared?”

“The room his grace stayed in, the guest room by the Eastern Library. I can have one of the maids light a fire, your ladyship.” The servant curtseyed.

“Yes. Please see to it. And perhaps a towel or two.” Lady Cotswalts muttered.

“I shall see myself to my room, and await Emberly in my chambers.” Luke made to follow the servant, but Lady Cotswalts slipped an arm through his.

“Nonsense, dear boy.” She smiled at him. “I would like to get to know you. To hear of your plans for the wedding and my dearest Emily.”

“My plans?” Luke asked.

“Of course, I expect you will be married by special license. I suppose you could do the reading of the banns and all that, but I do not get the impression you or my daughter will have the patience for such things.” Lady Cotswalts stroked her chin thoughtfully.

Luke swallowed and glanced over his shoulder at Emily. She was still entangled in her sisters embrace, but her head was visible. She looked back at him, her eyes brimming with tears and a smile on her face.

“Help!” he mouthed.

She paused, looked at her sisters and then flashed him a wicked grin.

“Please?” He tried to look imploringly at her. I was not supposed to be the one trying to win over someone’s mother, I have no idea what I am doing.

“Penance.” She mouthed back.

He shook his head. I suppose I did say I would do anything.

He would spend the rest of his life proving that he would always choose Emily. And he let her mother lead him away, knowing that they would have all the time in the world to love one another.