Page 79 of The Duke of Kisses
Chapter 14
The five-day journey south started tense and gradually became relaxed, for which Fanny was extremely grateful. She wished the scene in Pickering had never happened, but didn’t blame David at all. She’d put herself in his position and knew that if someone had hit him, she’d want to hurt that person too.
Love, she decided, was an all-encompassing and fiercely primal emotion.
As the coach pulled into the drive at Stour’s Edge, Fanny looked over at David. “I’m glad you decided to come straight here instead of going home first.”
They’d all but cast propriety to the wind during the trip, though Barker had tried to play the role of overprotective chaperone. After a few days, she’d surrendered and had taken to riding in David’s coach by herself so that Fanny and David were alone—at least during the day. She’d insisted on sleeping in Fanny’s room at night, but Fanny had been able to sneak away on two separate nights. If Barker was aware of her leaving, she had decided not to say so.
The coach rumbled to a stop in front of the house, and the footman rushed to open the door. He helped Fanny down, and her legs both protested the movement and appreciated the ability to stretch.
When David descended, Fanny took his arm, and they walked together into the house, the door held open by the butler, Munro. “I’ve sent a footman to summon Her Grace,” he said. “Would you care to wait in the library?”
“Yes, thank you,” Fanny said, guiding David into the massive room adorned with elaborately carved wood and an impressive collection of books the likes of which Fanny had never seen before coming to Stour’s Edge. She took her arm from David’s.
“This is quite a library,” he said, wandering toward a bookshelf.
“It’s where I came to learn about birds after meeting you. I’ve grouped all the ornithology texts over in that corner.” She gestured toward the cozy nook where she’d also moved her favorite chair.
“You’re home!” Ivy swept into the room and immediately embraced Fanny in a tight hug—as tight as her rather large belly would allow. She apologized for prodding Fanny with it. “I’m so much bigger than I was with Leah. West is convinced this one’s a boy.” She frowned at Fanny. “What happened to your face?”
Fanny lifted a hand to her cheek. It had bruised where her father had struck her, but the discoloration had faded to a faint yellow. It was, however, still noticeable. “Oh, it’s nothing.”
Ivy didn’t look convinced as she glanced over her shoulder at her husband, who’d followed her into the library.
He welcomed Fanny, then his gaze traveled to David, who’d moved to stand just behind her. “You’ve brought a guest, I see.”
David reached forward to shake West’s hand, then bowed to Ivy. “I’ve come to ask your permission to marry Fanny.”
“Mypermission?” Ivy asked.
David looked toward West. “And yours. It seemed most appropriate.”
Ivy frowned then looked to Fanny. “What happened with Mother and Father?”
Fanny looked at her sister sadly. “It was an absolute disaster.”
“Let us sit,” West said. “Or at least let your sister sit.” He guided everyone toward the seating area near the fireplace, where smoldering embers provided a minimum of heat.
Ivy took a place on the settee and indicated that Fanny should join her. “Tell me everything. How was the wedding?”
West sat on the other side of Ivy on the settee while David took a chair near Fanny.
“The wedding was fine,” Fanny said. “Mercy was beautiful. John seems very happy.”
Ivy smiled. She didn’t harbor any ill feelings toward her brothers. “That’s nice to hear. How was Jacob?”
“Odd, if you must know. He was…nice.”
Ivy blinked. “He was always nice to me when we were younger, but I was older than him, so I think he felt he had to be. I’m glad to hear he’s finally treating you better.”
“Compared to Mother and Father, he was positively charming.”
Ivy adjusted her skirt around her belly. “How was it a disaster?”
“After the wedding, David came to the church to meet Mother and Father.”
“I’d hoped to gain their blessing, but they weren’t amenable.” His face darkened to a scowl, and she reached over to briefly clasp his hand.
