Page 32 of A Gentleman's Kiss
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Dominick arrived home in a vibrant mood. He dashed up the front steps and through the door.
“Good afternoon, my lord,” the butler said when he walked through.
“Indeed it is Jacobs, indeed it is.” Dominick sent a wide smile in the man’s direction.
After his afternoon with Lillian the previous day, he’d been up all night thinking about how he would explain the situation to his parents. He’d gone to get a special license to wed, and then met his father, The Duke of Cambridge, at Brooks Brother’s Gentlemen’s Club for breakfast. He wanted to make it known he intended to marry Lillian. At first he did not get the response he desired.
Worse.
His father had given his word to the Duchess of Suffolk that he would speak with Dominick regarding a marriage with Lady Tamara.
Dominick explained to his father he did not have any intention of marrying Lady Tamara and he in fact planned to marry Lillian. His father, being just as stubborn as Dominick, forbid it, threatening to cut him out.
After a heated argument, Dominick was sure he wouldn’t win, his father conceded to his happiness, saying he’d thought Dominick had intentions toward Lillian when he brought her to the play. Since Dominick had not courted Lady Tamara, nor offered a marriage proposal, and the duke never made any promises other than to speak with him about it, his father considered it fair that he pursue his interest in Lillian. However, Dominick needed to speak with the Duke of Suffolk first and gain permission from Lillian’s guardian. His father would take care of smoothing his mother’s ire at the situation.
Dominick did not think it would be a problem at all.
“My lord, a young lady left you this,” Jacobs said.
Dominick snatched the small note away and took it with him into the library. He needed to plan what he would say to Suffolk.
After pouring himself a drink, he opened the note. His drink stayed on the table untouched, as he ran outside to the stables. He hurried to saddle his horse, and then leaped astride.
Dominick raced toward Whitmore House. The teardrops smearing the ink of Lillian’s note making him feel all the more urgent. When he arrived he sprung from the saddle with the horse barely coming to a stop. As he dashed up the steps, he practically collided with the Duke of Suffolk himself in the process of leaving.
“I beg your pardon, Your Grace,” Dominick said. He was mortified that he nearly ran over his future in-law. It wasn’t a good start to get the man’s attention.
“What’s the rush?” the duke asked, not bothering with formalities.
“If I could have a word with you, Sir? It will only be a moment.” Dominick’s gaze begged for a positive answer.
“Certainly.”
Dominick followed Suffolk into his office, and sat in the chair opposite him.
“Your Grace, I fear a blunder is imminent.”
“Continue,” the duke said lighting a cigar and offering him one. Dominick shook his head.
“You see, I have only just spoken to my father, who informed me Her Grace, the Duchess of Suffolk, has asked him to speak with me regarding a match with Lady Tamara.”
The duke nodded, his face showing nothing.
“While, I think your daughter is a lovely woman, and shall make the best of wives for a man, I have chosen another.” Dominick found it hard to continue.
The duke looked confused as he puffed on his cigar. “There is hardly need to apologize personally, Wessex. You have yet to begin courting Tamara, and the schemes of the Duchess are merely schemes. What I don’t understand is why you have personally come here to tell me this?”
Dominick realized how odd it was for him to come to the man’s house and apologize for something that hadn’t even happened. He best get on with his true reason for being there.
“You see, Sir, I have chosen Miss Whitmore. I wish to marry her.” Dominick braced for a reaction.
He knew it a great insult to have not chosen a man’s daughter, and even greater to have chosen another in his family.
“Lillian?” the duke asked, his brow furrowed.
“Yes. Lillian. I came here today to ask your permission for her hand.”
