Page 76 of The Undesirable Duke
The deep, baritone voice of the Duke filled the air, and Lillian immediately rose to her feet. As their gazes met, Lillian’s heart raced in her chest. The sight of the Duke was truly a welcome one indeed.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Samuel was pleased with the way that Lady Lillian’s face lit up as he stepped into the drawing-room, but he still noticed the puffiness under her eyes. The young lady had been crying, and he wished to fix that immediately. He felt rather nervous as both Lord and Lady Welsford were present, as well as Lord Timothy, but it was a relief to him as well. He finally had the opportunity to say what was in his heart with everyone present.
“My sincerest apologies for the abrupt intrusion, my Lord and my Lady.”
“According to my knowledge, were you not supposed to be on your way back to Cornwall?” Lord Timothy inquired as he approached Samuel and shook his hand with a content smile on his face.
“I had planned to be, but there were too many things left unsaid, and I wished to rectify that.”
Samuel briefly glanced at Lady Lillian before he turned to Lord and Lady Welsford.
“Say what you wish to say, Your Grace,” Lord Welsford nodded.
Samuel smiled gratefully and stepped forward, clasping his hands together.
“For the longest time, I felt isolated, as if I never truly belonged anywhere. The untimely death of my parents certainly did not do me any favors either. I was alone at my home in Cornwall, and my life was bleak. Until I arrived back in London.” Samuel turned to gaze at Lady Lillian as her eyes sparkled, a hint of a smile on her lips. “Of course, I was here for an entirely different reason, but a young lady fell into my arms and I caught her, and I was, thereafter, unable to focus my attention on anything else. She occupied my thoughts, and I could not stop myself from ordering my carriage to drive past her home.”
“Your Grace-”
“I have not finished, my Lord,” Samuel interrupted. “I am certain that you are all aware that Lord Bertram was behind the rumors which threatened to permanently ruin my reputation, forcing me back to Cornwall. But I will not allow him to do whatever he wishes. As a matter of fact, I believe that I am the one with the upper hand, as I have now had a very long conversation with the Marquess, who, as a result, understands the error of his ways.”
“Your Grace spoke with Lord Bertram?” Lady Welsford inquired.
“Indeed. And I am quite happy to say that he has made a very public gesture of apology in this morning’s newspaper.”
Samuel handed the newspaper to Lord Welsford and pointed to the article. Lord and Lady Welsford quietly read the public apology written by Lord Bertram, and their eyes widened.
“He made a public apology, retracting everything which he had written previously?”
Lord Timothy gasped and approached his father, seeking to read the paper.
“Indeed,” Samuel nodded.
“How on earth did you manage that?” Lord Timothy asked.
“I was rather persuasive,” Samuel grinned and briefly looked at Lady Lillian.
Her smile warmed his heart, and he winked at her. Lady Lillian’s cheeks colored slightly, and she lowered her gaze.
“That is wonderful, Your Grace. I still do not understand why you are still here in London.”
“A few reasons. First of all, Lord Timothy invited me to spend Christmas with your family, and I felt that it would be most rude of me if I were to leave prematurely. Despite the rumors, Lord Timothy was still a very good friend to me and was confident in my innocence. As was Lady Lillian. She even offered to assist me in restoring my reputation, which I declined, not by any fault of your daughter. She is a wonderful young woman, and I would have gladly enlisted her assistance if it had not held the risk of bringing any harm to her. That was why I declined her offer. I did not wish for her to be harmed in any way.”
“That is very noble of you, Your Grace.”
“I had come to London looking for the man who was set on ruining me, but my journey here has set new things in my path. Things that I never expected, but I am most delighted to experience.” Lady Lillian’s quiet smile was enough to cause Samuel’s heart to pound wildly in his chest, as his love for Lady Lillian was far too magnificent to contain. “And lastly, I could not bear to leave London, as I would be denying myself something which I had never anticipated I would feel. And that is love.”
Lady Lillian’s eyes widened, and her lips parted.
“Love, Your Grace?” Lord Welsford inquired.
“Indeed, my Lord. The only emotion that has the strength to make heroes of men and change the world for the better. My Lord, my Lady, I am in love with your daughter, and I cannot ignore my feelings. I wish to ask your permission to court yourdaughter, as the thought of leaving, of being away from her, is truly unbearable to me.”
Lord Timothy smiled and stepped away from his parents. He approached Samuel and stared at him.
“I am certainly not the man of the house, but I see no problem with granting the Duke his request. What say you, Father?”
