Page 72 of Wedded to the Scottish Duke

At once, he knew he must be speaking to Celia’s mother. She had the same red hair, though it was greying these days. She stood there awkwardly, wringing her hands, her jaw slackening a little as she stared at him.

“Lady Pembroke?” he said, moving toward her. “I must speak to yer husband.”

She was tongue-tied, repeatedly opening and closing her mouth. He knew she must have guessed which duke he was from the look of shock on her face.

“Please,” he added.

At a distance, he could hear raised voices in the house.

“I know it, Father. I have discovered it. I heard it from a trusted friend’s lips. She will not be able to hurt anyone like this again.”

“I know, Violet, I know,” a man’s soothing voice said. “Yet, little does that help Celia now.”

Not bothering to wait for the butler or Lady Pembroke to escort him through the house, Keith marched in the direction of the voices.

“Wait, you cannot go in there unless I announce you!” the butler cried out, trying to stop him, but Keith ignored him.

He walked on toward the door at the far end of the corridor and pushed it open.

Violet stood in the middle of the room, her hands on her hips. She spun around as he entered, her lips parted, but the most interesting sight in the room was the gentleman with her.

This had to be the Marquess of Pembroke. He stood clutching the back of a chair, looking rather in pain. He’d shed his tailcoat and must have repeatedly pulled at the cravat around his throat, for it now hung loose and uneven. The hair on his forehead was damp with sweat.

“Lord Pembroke?” Keith began, aware that behind him, Lady Pembroke had now entered the room. From the corner of his eye, he saw her gesture frantically toward him.

“Ah, I see.” The Marquess sighed and gripped the chair harder. “From the panicked way my wife is motioning toward you, you must be the Duke of Hardbridge?”

“Aye, I am.”

“You have read the same scandal sheet, I take it?” The Marquess released the chair and walked around it, picking up the sheet of paper that had been left nearby on a table.

“I have. Has Lady Celia seen it yet?” Keith asked, aware that there was one person obviously missing from this room. The most important one.

“She’s out walking,” Violet explained, wringing her hands. “I fear… I fear she may have read it by the time she returns.”

Keith grimaced. Something he had learned about his short time in London was that the ton were not afraid to pull their punches when it came to gossip. He could imagine some ladies pointing out with relish to Celia that her name was now scandalized, printed in ink for all to see.

“I have come to take responsibility.” Keith was aware of how wooden his words sounded, for he had rehearsed them the whole way here, but he had no choice. He was bound now,bound by the rules of Society. “I will not see yer daughter’s name disgraced in such a way. I come to ask for her hand in marriage.”

Lady Pembroke made a small squeaking sound behind him, though no one paid her any attention.

“Marriage?” Violet spluttered in astonishment. “You will really marry her?”

Despite her words, Keith kept his gaze fixed on the Marquess. Celia’s father was currently watching him intently, his gaze rather penetrating. Keith had a feeling that this man was less of a talker and more of a watcher—he liked to observe as much as he could before he made judgments.

“I cannot believe this,” Violet muttered again after a few seconds of silence. “To think this is all happening because of Lady Alicia.”

“What?” Keith snapped his head around.

What does she have to do with this?

“Another time, Violet.” Lord Pembroke raised his hand, a small gesture to show that this conversation would be resumed at a later time. “Your Grace, please, join me in my study. There is much to discuss.”

He moved to leave the room, and Keith fell into step behind him. Lady Pembroke tried her best to intercept them, though she failed. In contrast, Violet flung herself despairingly into a chair.

Keith rather wondered if Celia would have reacted with the same fear and panic.

What will she say to this?

---