Page 71 of The Duke Meets His Match

The door of Lady Walmsley’s house was open, and a couple of unfamiliar people were at the bottom of the stairs with Lady Walmsley, Foster close behind, and appeared to be headed straight for his carriage. “We’re under attack, it would seem,” George said.

Susan peered around him. “It’s Mama and Papa!” she cried. She began to scramble around him to get to the carriage door.

“Wait a moment, my dear,” George said, setting his hand on her shoulder to gently hold her back. “Perhaps I may assist you with your hair first and put your bonnet back on.”

“Oh, yes, of course,” she replied, turning a shade of pink that George wanted to kiss into full bloom. Instead, he quickly smoothed a few wild curls and pinned her little bonnet into place, right before Bentley opened the carriage door and the group arrived.

George exited first, donning his hat and bracing himself for the introductions to come, and then offered his hand to Susan to assist her from the carriage.

She took his hand in hers before doing so. “George,” she said in a tone much calmer than he’d expected, considering her state just a moment before,“please allow me to present my father, the Viscount Thurlby, and my mother, the Viscountess Thurlby.” Her father, a tall, lanky fellow with astute eyes, bowedformally, and her mother, a lovely woman of middle years, curtsied deeply. “Papa,Mama, this ismy betrothed, the Duke of Aylesham.”

Her words now held new meaning for George and gave him a hope he’d never imagined before.

He offered a congenial bow to each of them. “I’m sure you have many questions,” he said, “which I am only too happy to answer.”

“Well then,” Lady Walmsley said, clapping her hands together, “we shall have Mrs. Drake prepare a most excellent tea for us all. Foster—”

“I shall see that Mrs. Drake is informed,” Foster replied. He retreated inside the house.

“Your parents have only just arrived,” Lady Walmsley said as the rest of them headed back to the house. “I informed them that you and Aylesham were at a garden party at Carlton House with the Prince Regent and it would be a while before you returned. We were just about to settle in the parlor and get acquaintedwhen we noticed the carriage through the window.”

“What was it like, Susan?” her mother asked, linking her arm with Susan’s. “Carlton House! And the Prince Regent too. How exciting!”

“A bit more exciting than we’d planned,” Susan said, shooting a wry look at George.

“Indeed?” Lady Thurlby studied her daughter’s face and then studied George. “I should like to hear all about it.”

“And you shall,” Susan said. “There is much to tell. Oh, but I amso gladyou and Papa are here!”

“If you are amenable, Lord Thurlby, I would like to have a private word with you,” George said. “Whenever it’s convenient.”

Before responding, Lord Thurlby, whose intense look hadn’t lessened, glanced at his daughter. Susan smiled and nodded at him. His face lightened, much to George’s relief. “I believe that can be arranged,” Lord Thurlby said.

“Thank you,” George said.

They all gathered in Lady Walmsley’s parlor, with George seated quietly next to Susan on the small settee as he allowed her and her parents and Lady Walmsley to converse. Susan was interested in hearing about her siblings back home in Lincolnshire, especially Rebecca.

“Her leg is healing quite well thus far,” Lady Thurlby told her. “No complications that the doctor can see, thank goodness. She misses you and sends her love, of course. I think she would be bored to tears by now were it not for that young man who found her and brought her home to us.”

“I remember him,” Susan said.

“I believe he feels a bit responsible for her well-being since he was the one who found her,” Lord Thurlby said. “Decent fellow, I must say.”

“He drops by regularly to check on her,” Lady Thurlby added. “They converse a bit, and he reads to her. I do think she’d rather be here in London with you, Susan, but we must take what life hands us on occasion.”

“Ah, here’s tea,” Lady Walmsley said as a maid entered the room with a large tray. Foster followed her.

“Anything more I can do for your guests, Lady Walmsley?” he asked.

Lady Walmsley glanced at each of her guests to get their reactions. “I think not, Foster. As long as Lord and Lady Thurlby’s rooms are sufficiently prepared, we are fine.”

He bowed and left the room.

Lady Walmsley began pouring tea for everyone.

“Do tell us about Carlton House, Susan,” Lady Thurlby said. “Milk only, thank you, Lady Walmsley. We have read somewhat of the details leading up to today in the few letters you have sent us this past fortnight, and I am exceedingly curious to know everything that has happened since.”

“Perhaps not every detail, Alice,” Lord Thurlby said. “Or I suspect we’ll be here until dawn. Although I will say I was exceedingly surprised to learn that my clever and sensible daughter had gotten herself betrothed after being in London less than a week.”

---