Page 73 of The Duke Meets His Match

And Susan got the impression Mama was talking about more than merely tea.

***

“I don’t know whether to knock you flat on your back or shake your hand,” Lord Thurlby said to George. “But as I’m not a violent man by nature, I’ll choose the second option.”

George and Susan had explained the events of the past week to everyone, and George had watched Susan’s parents’ eyes grow wide with incredulity as they’d listened. Afterward, George and Lord Thurlby had excused themselves from the ladies, and Foster had directed them to a quiet room in which they could further discuss the past week and George’s proposals—plural—to Susan.

“Thank you kindly, Lord Thurlby,” George said, relieved that as he had justfinished sharing the details of his own version of events, he wouldn’t have toremain still and take a blow to the face from his betrothed’s father.

They shook hands amiably, and Lord Thurlby also gave George a few slaps on the back of the hearty—not hostile—variety.

“None of this would have happened had our greedy monarch not tried tomanipulate me into marriage with a German princess for his own personal ends,” George said. “I would not have Susan at my side otherwise, so I must be grateful to him now—although I won’t be sharingthatparticular detail with him, for he will crow and congratulate himself on what a fine deed he did, and he will neverlet me forget it.”

Lord Thurlby chuckled and shook his head. “That is one of the reasons I prefer to stay quietly in the country. Perhaps it is selfish of me, but I am a blunt and simple man; the parsing of words was never my strength.”

“And yet,” George said, “your children, the ones with whom I am personally acquainted, are two of the most clever and well-educated persons I know. I would suspect they get much of their cleverness from their father, from what I’ve beenable to glean thus far.”

“Don’t let their mother hear that!” Lord Thurlby exclaimed with a chuckle. “Lady Thurlby may appear the effusive country matron, but she is a force to be reckoned with, as I know only too well.”

Lord Thurlby’s words recalled to mind Lady Thurlby’s intense study of her daughter and George when they’d first exited the carriage. “Duly noted,” George said.

“And thank you for the compliment regarding my children, by the way,”Lord Thurlby added. “We were blessed with eight healthy babes, and they’ve been a blessing ever since. A true blessing.” His face clouded slightly. “Still waiting to see how one or two of them fare as they forge their way into adulthood, but I have faith, and I did and always do my best by them.”

George fiddled with his quizzing glass and said nothing in reply; he rarely thought of his own parents, except in passing. Discussing Susan’s siblings with her father felt ... more personal than George had anticipated, as though he were imposing on something intimate.

“Your Grace?” Lord Thurlby said, pulling George from his thoughts. “A penny for them?”

“It’s nothing,” George said. “I barely remember my father, you see, and have no memories of my mother. I have no brothers or sisters. So, to hear you speak of your family in this manner, I have no context in which to frame your words. Forgive me.”

“Oh, my son—for on Monday, youshallbe my son,” Lord Thurlby said, “we must andwillstrive to help you feel a part of our expanding family. I can assure you that Lady Thurlby will make it her personal mission—”

“Oh, she needn’t, really—”

“She wouldn’t be the woman I married otherwise,” Lord Thurlby said.“We’re as varied as a family can be, as you will soon discover. In the meantime, let’s see to the demands of Monday, shall we?”

Monday, when he would marry his Susan. “Agreed,” George said. He would take one day at a time. If he could fall in love with last year’s harpy of a woman, he could undoubtedly learn to feel a part of her seemingly eclectic family too. He thought he would actually enjoy it.

***

“I wish you would have accepted Lady Walmsley’s invitation to supper,” Susan said as she watched George take his hat from Foster.

“Thank you, Foster,” George said as the butler nodded and then disappeared from sight. “Good man, that,” he said to Susan.

“Yes,” Susan said. “I believe he is secretly in love with Lady Walmsley.”

“You mean Aunt Margaret,” George said with a soft smile. “Do you really think so?”

“Yes,” Susan said. “I believe I’m beginning to see love everywhere I go.”

“Only here, now,” George corrected her. “If you’ll recall, there was very little love going around at Carlton House earlier today.”

“That’s true,” she conceded.

He bent close to her and kissed her gently ... and too briefly for Susan’s preference.

“It has been quite a day, and I want you to have time with your parents.If we are to travel to Lincolnshire sooner rather than later in the spring, as we discussed, then I have business to attend to. I hope you will have a quiet evening and an enjoyable day tomorrow. I shall collect you all for church on Sunday, if I may. And then Monday”—he kissed her again—“Monday, you shall become my duchess. My wife.”

“Mm,” Susan said, which, somewhere in the back of her mind was anagreement to his plan. Except—She drew back. “I won’t be seeing you tomorrow?”And then she cringed. Good heavens, she sounded like a delicate flower near towilting! “Forget I said that,” she muttered.

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