Page 90 of The Duke Says I Do
The ruffian clearly reached the same conclusion and didn’t much like it. “No harm was done.” His arrogant air was less convincing than it had been when he’d pointed a pistol at Granville.
“No thanks to you,” Sheriff said.
“And no thanks to you,” Phipps said to the nightwatchman with audible disgust.
A carriage rolled past, followed by another, signal that London’s entertainments finally ended for the evening. Soon the square would be bustling with traffic.
Granville didn’t want to get involved in a hundred recountings of the night’s events to people arriving home and agog to hear the news. He was getting married in a few hours. He’d rather think about that than the last half hour’s tribulations.
He picked up Jupiter’s lead. “I’ll leave everything in your capable hands, Sheriff.”
When he glanced across the crowd, he saw Hobbs on the fringes of the gathering. His valet’s nod told him that Portia was safely back at home.
His mind already shifting to the joys awaiting in the morning, Granville climbed the steps, Jupiter at his side.
Chapter 23
Portia and her maid, Betty, stood on the pavement outside the tall, white house that Kate and Leighton used in London. Around them, Grosvenor Square was quiet. It was too late for the tradesmen to be out doing deliveries to the grand houses and too early for the ton to be awake and active.
Unless this particular member of the ton was born into the diligent middle classes and still ran the factories that her father left her. Not to mention the presence of a baby in the house. Master Richard Anstey, Viscount Lemaire, was two months old now and the thriving center of his doting parents’ lives.
When the footman opened the gleaming black door, Kate rushed up behind him. Richard was in her arms, and she wore a floral dimity gown in a becoming shade of pink. “Frederick, please look after Lady Portia’s maid.”
“Yes, my lady,” the footman said with a bow.
Betty and the valise she carried disappeared into the depths of the house. The girl didn’t know the reason behind this visit. Portia had packed her own bag before she’d called Betty this morning. In fact, she’d packed by candlelight somewhere around three. She was too excited to sleep a wink, not to mention on edge after that dreadful scene with Jim Jones and Alaric.
Once they were alone, Kate turned to Portia with unconcealed curiosity. “I received your mysterious note. Do come in and tell me what this is all about. Don’t say that you’ve fallen out with your father. That will make three sisters out of three.”
Portia couldn’t help laughing at her friend’s impatience. “And good morning to you, Kate.”
Kate gave a dismissive exhalation. “I have no time for silly civilities. I’ve been on tenterhooks since I got your message. Come straight through to the morning room.”
Portia let Kate whisk her away to a sunny room, where a tea tray awaited. Kate shut the door, closing the three of them inside. She set Richard in a cradle near the open French doors and turned back to Portia. “If you’ve had a fight with your temperamental papa, you’re in a remarkably good humor about it.”
Portia took Kate’s hands and spoke the words for the first time, words that she never thought she’d say. “Kate, dear, dear Kate, I’m to be married today.”
Kate’s jaw dropped with such theatrical astonishment that Portia laughed again. “It’s mad, isn’t it?”
Kate regarded her as if she’d flown in on Pegasus. “I don’t know. That depends who you’re marrying.”
Portia’s hold on her friend’s hands tightened. “Why, Granville, of course. You knew there was something going on from the first. Don’t pretend you’re caught unawares.”
Except it turned out that Katewascaught unawares. Her brown eyes widened as round as pennies. “Granville? The most boring man in Britain?”
Portia had the grace to blush. “I was wrong about him. He’s the most wonderful person in the world.”
“I need to sit down to take all this in.” Looking poleaxed, Kate drew Portia across to a couch. “You love him?”
“I do.” It was also glorious to make that avowal. To someone other than Alaric. Although it was glorious making avowals to him, too.
Kate looked less bewildered, as she subjected Portia to a thorough inspection. “I can see it.”
“He loves me back.”
“Why wouldn’t he? You’re adorable.” Kate pressed her hands, but a frown drew her dark eyebrows together. “It’s just that he’s so correct and so aware of his consequence. While you’re all heart and independence and determination.”
Portia pulled her hands from Kate’s. She knew that most people would react with skepticism to news of her wedding. Or at least the people who weren’t too busy speculating on how inappropriate it was for Portia to marry her sister’s cast-off suitor.
