Page 60 of Presenting Miss Letitia (Once a Wallflower 1)

“Broken hearts? You have not lost your sense of romance, I see.”

Letty sighed. “I just don’t believe you really want to marry me,” she said, lowering her voice. “My uncle and your father are behind this. They’ve put their heads together.”

“Perhaps they have, but I’m well past my majority. They cannot tell me what to do if I don’t wish to do it. Not anymore, Letty.”

He sat beside her. “Don’t you want to marry me? When you came home without a beau, I hoped you might prefer me to one of those cynical, aimless London fellows who choose to do nothing but gamble and visit their tailor.” He eyed her. “You have been acting strangely. Not at all like yourself. Was there someone down south you came to care for?”

“I suppose my time in London has changed me,” Letty admitted. She was different, of course. No longer the eager, uncomplicated country girl who went to London.

“What did happen there? You’ve told me little, apart from being forced to return because you lost your chaperone to illness.”

“I could hardly remain in London after Lady Arietta died,” she said, horrified by the lies she’d been forced to tell. After a summons from Whitehall, Uncle Alford had left on the mail coach, returning later in the week shocked to learn of Lady Arietta’s alliance with the French. His lips were sealed. He declared he had been sworn to secrecy and kept rigidly to it although Aunt Edith did try to discover more from Letty when he was gone from the room.

“We’ll enjoy a good life together,” Geoffrey said, breaking into her thoughts. “You were restless before you left, and I didn’t think I had a chance. But you’re more settled now. We’ll work together, we both share a love of the land and horses. Both Mama and the squire would be delighted with the match. They are both fond of you.”

“Yes, and I’m fond of them. Aunt Edith is forever urging me to marry you.”

“Well? What prevents you? Can you tell me? It doesn’t matter if you don’t love me, Letty. That isn’t always a good basis for marriage.”

“You sound like my uncle,” she said.

“A man of considerable wisdom,” Geoffrey said with a smile.

His similarity to her uncle failed to fill her with confidence. Did Geoffrey love her? He hadn’t said the words. Surely one of them should feel love for the other? Letty suddenly feared she would cry. She could not go on like this. Was she to become a melancholy old maid? Better, surely to marry her best friend, instead. Although the idea of marriage to Geoffrey failed to make her heart beat fast, it began to seem right, because it gave her a sense of purpose. A future. She was interested in the same things as he was. Might she make him a good wife?

“I’ll give you your answer soon, Geoffrey.”

“I’ll call tomorrow. A reel is about to be announced, Mr. Yardley is on the dais and clearing his voice.” Geoffrey stood and offered her his arm. “Shall we join the set?”

Letty wished Jane was here, she was an excellent sounding board. But Jane was away visiting a sick relative. Unable to find a sympathetic ear, Letty spent a restless night trying to come to terms with her future. Geoffrey was a decent man, gentle with animals. That always said a lot. They had shared a warm friendship. But he did not feel any passion for her. She was as sure of this as she was of her own feelings. Did it matter? Would love grow after they’d tied the knot? She wished she could be sure of it. And she wished another man didn’t keep entering her dreams. But even if Brandon had asked for her hand, she would have been sorely conflicted, because of what marriage to him would mean. Waiting for him to return from perilous journeys undertaken for the Crown, always with the constant fear of him never coming home.

The next afternoon, Geoffrey called, having forgone his usual riding clothes for a neat coat and breeches, his fair hair slicked back. Aunt Edith welcomed him in with a warm smile, and even Uncle Alford emerged from his study to

greet him.

When they were afforded some privacy with her aunt’s promise of afternoon tea taking her from the room, and her uncle retiring to write his sermon, Geoffrey relaxed in a chair and smiled at her. “Your uncle has given his blessing. What have you decided, Letty?”

Was it unreasonable to want him to be more romantic? She might have been considering a new curricle.

“Yes, Geoffrey, I will marry you.”

He smiled and came to kiss her.

Brandon stepped off the gangplank onto the wharf. London skies were a familiar gray, the air humid with the promise of rain. While Hove fussed over the luggage, Brandon hailed a hackney.

It was good to be back in England. Paris had proved to be a triumph with the comtesse released from prison. He hadn’t enjoyed the ensuing soirees and dinners which followed, longing inexplicably for home, his thoughts often returning to Letty. What was happening in her world? He had not expected that short period they’d spent together to hold such sway over him. While admitting it would be unfair to her to marry her, he’d bought a ring from a Paris jeweler. Even after he removed the small velvet box from his pocket and flipped open the lid to gaze at the twinkling diamond, he was still unsure.

“It’s a fine ring,” Hove observed. “Am I to be told the lady’s name?”

“Not yet, Hove.” Brandon was not prepared to tempt fate.

As the carriage took him and Hove to Mayfair, he realized that although glad to be in London, this city held no particular joy for him either. This peculiar restlessness had even dampened the pleasure of receiving notice of the Regent’s intention to honor him with an award for services rendered during the capture of French traitors. Descrier, Elford, and Pierse had been found guilty and hanged, and the matter at an end.

This evening, the Willard’s were holding a dinner. Tomorrow, at Carlton House, Brandon would be among those the Regent awarded. A party was to follow to which his parents were invited.

Brandon had received a fulsome letter from his father expressing his surprise and joy to learn that his son, over the last five years, had performed exemplary service for king and country. Apparently, all was forgiven. But he still hoped, with increased enthusiasm, Brandon would marry the colonel’s daughter.

Brandon buried his cynicism. If he ever had a son, there would be no restrictions placed on his love, whatever the boy amounted to.

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