Page 56 of A Brilliant Match
“Go,” Rock replied.
* * *
As much asMiles was eager to rush right off to Dorothea’s house, he knew he needed to do things properly. And that involved first visiting Mary and his mother to apprise them of this startling development. He was glad to find Albert out of the house so they could have the intimacy of family for him to reveal the news. His mother burst into tears, and tears were streaming down his sister’s cheeks as she held her mother.
Mary looked up at him. “Oh, Miles. This is simply the best news.”
He stayed with them until they were all laughing and wiping tears, then left them with an encouragement to visit themodistewhile he set out for his next stops. Weston’s for a new coat, Hoby’s for boots, and Tattersall’s for a pair of horses he would be proud to drive. It was difficult to be patient in the time it took to send for these items and wait to receive them, but everything had to be perfect. Dorothea deserved as much. He then informed Limmer’s that he would be staying for a short while longer.
It was not until nearly a week later that Miles was ready. He climbed up into his new phaeton and directed his gleaming pair of black Thoroughbreds toward the cobblestone street leading to Grosvenor Square. Perched behind him was a small, wiry man by the name of Harry performing the role of tiger today as a trial period.
As Miles drew close to the house where Dorothea resided, he spotted a figure he knew all too well walking on the flagway. The last time he had seen the earl was when he had given him a glimpse inside the boxing club before he and Dorothea had parted ways.
“Poole,” he called out.
The earl stopped and looked, assessing his new turnout. His coat had begun to be too short in the arms. “It’s you, is it? I thought you had forgotten all about me.”
Miles heard the hurt behind the words, which he was very sure Evo would not wish him to pick up on, and he ignored it.
“Get in, if you will. I have something I wish to say to you.” Miles waited until he climbed in. Before he clicked the reins, he said, “Please accept my apologies for not visiting earlier. I’ve had my hands full.”
“I can see that.” Evo swiveled in his seat to look at Harry, then turned back to touch the wood, much in the way his sister had once done with Albert’s phaeton.
“Fine carriage you have here. And that is the most beautiful pair of Thoroughbreds I’ve seen in an age.”
“I was hoping you would say so, for they are mine.” Miles clicked the reins, and they started forward for the remaining short distance. “I have just had the fortune to learn I’ve received an unexpected inheritance.”
“Did you now?” Evo turned to stare at him, folding his arms. “Such a thing is rare. You must have quite the luck.”
“I will know just how lucky I am by the end of today,” he said, his eyes trained forward on his destination.
Evo stared at him curiously, but Miles did not elaborate. He merely said, “However, you are right. A sudden inheritance requires either an almost extraordinary stroke of luck or an extremely generous soul. I shall not go into the particulars, but I believe for me it was both.”
“I offer you my congratulations, then.” Evo looked truly pleased for him. “If anyone deserves such luck, it is you.”
“Thank you.” They came to Lord Poole’s house, and Miles pulled the carriage to a stop in front of it.
“Before you step out, I was hoping I might take your sister for a ride in my new carriage. Have I your approval to do so?” Miles asked, a smile lurking about his lips.
Evo looked confused. “You are asking if you may take Dorry out? Of course you may.” Then his eyes lit with understanding and he laughed. “Ah. Because you have at last a phaeton of your own.”
“Precisely.” Miles grinned at him.
“Well then,” Evo said, sounding more like his jaunty self. “You may take my sister out driving.Ifshe is willing to go.”
“Much obliged to you. Will you have the goodness to ask her if she would indeed be willing?”
Miles told Harry to go to the horses’ heads while he went indoors with Evo. His heart beat in anticipation as he climbed the steps. He couldn’t wait to see her.
“Lady Dorothea is not at home.”
He caught the tail end of the words as he entered the house. The butler added, with a glance at Miles, “She has gone riding with a gentleman in Hyde Park.”
Miles clamped his lips together. This was not how he’d pictured the scene. He thought her face would light up to see him, and he would help her into the carriage, and they would ride off together with…with some sort of a proposal that she would immediately accept. He hadn’t quite thought that part through.
He glanced at Evo, unsure what to do.
“Well then, you had better go and get her then, hadn’t you?” Evo prompted.
