Page 16 of The Meaning of Love
“Now, she’s going to blab it all over that our meeting again wasso romantic—regardless of whether it was or not! We will no longer be dubbed ‘the perfect match’ but ‘the most romantic perfect match’!”
“Ah, I see.”
“No, you don’t!” She swatted his arm. “What you haven’t yet seen is that we’re going to be expected to live up to that ideal!”
Julian tried to smother a chuckle and failed.
He looked at her and found her narrowing her eyes at him. His smile growing wider, he faced forward and mildly said, “I’m not averse to dancing to their tune.” He chanced another glance her way. “As I have to marry, why not marry you in the most romantic perfect match?”
The sound she made was rudely dismissive.
He couldn’t stop smiling. The more he thought of his words, the more the sentiment rang true. He’d come to London to find the right wife, and it seemed Fate and Gordon had conspired to hand him just that.
As he turned his bored horses out of the avenue and finally allowed the poor beasts to come up to a trot, Melissa asked, “Have you told your family yet?”
“I saw my brothers this morning, and I’ve sent a letter to my mother, who’s at Carsington.” Dryly, he added, “I’m sure I can leave it to her to inform the wider family.”
Melissa stirred and sat straighter. “How many brothers do you have?”
“Two. Felix is the closest in age, only a year younger, and Damian is the youngest of the brood at twenty-three.”
“Sisters?”
“Constance and Eleanor, between Felix and Damian in age, and both married. Constance is in Scotland—she’s Lady Maclachlan—and Eleanor is Lady Dalrymple and lives in Northumberland.”
“I vaguely remember Eleanor.”
“I’ve met Christopher and Amanda—do you have any other siblings?”
“No, but I have cousins galore on both sides.”
“How are Jamie, George, and Lottie?”
“The last I heard, they were thriving. Jamie has started at Oxford, and George is in his last year at Eton. Lottie, I believe, is due to come to London soon, so you might see her shortly.”
“I’ll look forward to it.” He glanced at Melissa. “I enjoyed their company back in Little Moseley.”
“I have to admit those three are my favorite cousins. I warn you, their younger sister, Emma, looks angelic, but is a spoilt brat.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.” He guided his pair out of the Grosvenor Gate; they’d completed a full circuit of the avenue.
Soon, he was drawing rein outside North House. Kieran jumped to the pavement and raced to proudly hold the bays’ heads. Julian smiled, stepped down, and tossed him the reins, then turned and gave Melissa his hand.
He gripped her fingers, helped her down, and kept hold of her hand as he escorted her up the steps to the door.
She shot him a warning glance.
Undeterred, after halting on the porch, he grinned and raised her fingers to his lips and kissed her knuckles.
Her lips compressed, and with her free hand, she tugged the bell chain.
He lowered her hand and, running his thumb over the spot his lips had touched, confirmed, “Eight o’clock?”
She nodded. “We’ll need to leave about that time.”
He released her as the butler opened the door.
She inclined her head. “Until then, my lord.”
