Page 23 of Miss Prim and the Duke of Wylde
“But what about you having to be married by mid-August?” Thomas asked.
“My plan to find a suitable lady with whom to enter into a marriage of convenience still stands, but due to this development, has had to be postponed.”
Thomas frowned, but it was Harry who asked, “How long will you need to allow the engagement with Miss Cynster to stand?”
“Meg has proved to be a blessedly straightforward and sensible lady. We’ve discussed our predicament, and allowing for the issues arising due to both our families’ status in the ton, we’ve accepted that we’ll have to allow the engagement to stand—and more, to do everything within our power to make it appear entirely genuine—until early June. Then she’ll call it off on the grounds we’ve decided we don’t suit, and I’ll be free to offer for my amenable bride.”
“Early June,” Thomas said. “That’s cutting it fine.”
Drago feigned hurt. “Do you doubt me, Thomas?” Drago grinned. “Never fear. Two months is more than long enough for me to get suitably leg-shackled.”
Thomas grinned and dipped his head. “I suppose that’s true.”
“But that’s for later. For now”—Drago raised his glass—“I invite you to wish me well and swear on all you hold holy that you will keep all you know under your hats.”
“I’ll drink to that,” Thomas said, raising his glass to Drago.
“Lord, yes.” George, too, drank deeply. “Can you imagine such a piece of gossip getting out?”
“Well, it won’t via me,” Harry said and drank.
Drago paused, then more quietly said, “All three of you know that I would trust you with my life. And as it happens, other than myself and Meg, you three are the only ones who know the truth of our faux engagement.”
He let the words hang in the quiet of the library and sipped and watched as the implication slowly sank in.
He was relieved when George, expression hardening, nodded, as did Harry.
“So if it ever becomes known, it would have come from one of us,” Harry said. “But it won’t.”
“No, indeed,” George agreed.
“I believe,” Thomas said, “that this is the sort of secret that, collectively, we will take to our graves.”
The others chorused, “Hear, hear!” and all raised their glasses and drank.
* * *
After seeing his friends out,Drago inquired of a footman if his brother had come in. On being informed that Mr. Denton had returned to the house and was in his apartments, Drago sent a message up asking Denton to join him in the library.
When his brother arrived, curious as to why he’d been summoned, Drago told him his news, sticking to much the same tale with which he’d regaled their mother.
Although Denton knew that Drago needed to marry by Drago’s birthday in mid-August and that Drago intended to comply with the terms of their father’s will, Denton hadn’t known of Drago’s appeal to their aunt Edith nor of Edith’s scheme for Alison Melwin to become the next Duchess of Wylde.
Consequently, Denton had no reason to doubt that Drago’s engagement to Meg Cynster was real. However…
“Meg Cynster.” Denton repeated the name, shook his head in bemusement, and looked at Drago, sitting in the armchair opposite. “I would never have thought you’d offer for Meg.”
Drago hid a frown. “She mentioned she’d met you several times.”
“Well, we’re much the same age, so when we were younger, during the summer, we were all encouraged to spend time together at various parties—you know how it goes.”
Drago nodded. Before he could inquire as to what about Meg Cynster was causing Denton’s amused surprise, Denton asked, “Are you going to inform Uncle Warley?”
Drago showed his surprise. “I hadn’t thought to do so specifically. Mama is inviting all the relatives to gather tomorrow for our grand announcement. I assume Warley will come and learn the news there.”
Denton shrugged. “I suppose that will do.” When he saw Drago looking puzzled, Denton explained, “Warley’s the secondary heir after me, and we are speaking of a dukedom, after all.”
Drago smiled. “Trust me, Warley won’t care—or rather, he’ll be only too delighted to know I’m finally getting around to doing the deed.”
