Lord Love a Duke (22 page)

“So if I have the right understanding, this
is all your fault, Juliet.”

Her face froze in a look of utter horror and
then resignation. “It is most assuredly, Papa. The Duke knew
nothing of this scheme and was wholly the victim.” Miranda took a
breath as if to make a statement but was silenced with a stern look
and subtle shake of the head from Juliet. Jonas wondered what that
was about and mentally filed it away to think on after the
resolution of this tense meeting.

“Because of your actions, you have now
forced the son of our most dear friends into a marriage which he
was not seeking. But I cannot allow you suffer the consequences of
your actions as I am inclined to do. It would have far-reaching
repercussions on both our families were I to allow Jonas the
reprieve and heap on you all the scorn and ridicule. His sister and
your brothers would also suffer, not to mention the tarnish on our
family names. No – you must drag this man into matrimony because of
your foolish prank.”

Juliet had never felt so low in her life.
Her father only voiced what she herself knew to be true, but it
hurt all the same. He had always been sure with discipline, but
fair with his judgments. She could not fault him in this instance,
either. As much as she would like to feel sorry for herself, she
knew she had no right. He was correct in his conclusions and the
bitter reality of her future stung with a vengeance. The weight of
her actions fell full force on her again, and she stumbled
slightly, her vision narrowing alarmingly. She wondered again if
she would submit to a faint when she felt a strong arm come around
her waist in support.

“You go too far, sir, in speaking thus to
Lady Juliet. It was a prank that went awry due to circumstances
beyond her control. I am not convinced all is lost, however. Our
families are friends. We have known each other many years and
supported each other in trials and triumphs. I propose this
situation to be one of the triumphs. I am surprised, but not at all
displeased. It would be my honor and privilege to take Lady Juliet
to wife. All that remains is your blessing.” The Duke spoke calmly
but forcefully, leaving no doubt as to the truthfulness of his
statements. He mentally cringed at the Marquis' inadvertent
reassertion of the very qualms his daughter voiced about their
union, and fervently hoped Juliet would not take heed of his
statements. He felt her grasp his hand that rested on her waist and
she squeezed it. He relaxed a pace, returning her supportive
gesture.

Everyone in the room shifted in their
stances and seats as they waited for the response from the Marquis.
He was concise. “You have my permission, Your Grace. My blessing I
will withhold until such time I see true commitment on both your
parts.” He rose and exited to his chamber while Lady Lansdowne and
the Duchess immediately jumped from their seats to swallow Juliet
in hugs and smother her with congratulations. Miranda ran over to
squeeze into the fray from behind and the group nearly tumbled onto
the nearby settle. Jonas stepped to the side to escape the feminine
melee and submit to whatever censure was sure to come from his
betrothed's brothers.

“I'm still not convinced last night was all
on the square. I've seen the way you watched Juliet of late. I
thought it was your way of trying to figure out what she and
Miranda were about; now I'm not so sure if you weren't lusting
after my sister,” growled Bristol, his teeth bared in a grim
semblance of a smile. Maj. Quinn added his agreement.

“I have seen the way Jonas watches Juliet
and would lay money he was lusting after her, but I trusted our
friend and knew he would conduct himself honorably and bring her no
harm. It seems we should have been watching Juliet with a more
jaundiced eye.”

“Oh, she watches him all the time, too,”
added Bristol. Jonas' head snapped and his eyes flashed with
interest at this observation. “I thought it was part of the plan to
somehow fool the remaining members of the LOO. Now I wonder if she
wasn't doing her own amount of lusting.” The Earl shivered
noticeably and his nose scrunched as if he smelled something foul.
“The whole idea of lust, my sister, and my friend just makes my
stomach lurch. Thank God I haven't broken my fast yet or I might be
tempted to flash the hash.” He shuddered again at the idea.

Jonas was somewhat abashed that others had
seen his observations of Juliet; he had considered himself most
circumspect. He was mollified by the thought that she might hold
him in some fascination as well. Bringing her about to affection
might be less difficult than he originally feared. He looked across
the room to Juliet and found her gaze fixed on him. She flushed at
being caught but did not avert her eyes. He smiled, dimples
blazing, as he began to have hope in the truth behind Bristol's
words. Juliet returned his smile, tentatively at first, then with a
genuineness that transformed her whole countenance from pale and
frightened to stunning and sure. Jonas felt his stomach drop at the
sight as he considered again how to define his feelings for this
woman, and how happily satisfied he was at their current
circumstances.

“See Marcus,” jibed the Earl of Bristol.
“They're doing it again. Hang me if they aren't lusting after each
other right now.” He made a retching noise and grabbed his stomach
in mock pain.

Although they were meeting in his study in
his home, the Duke of Dorset felt completely unnerved by the
unrelenting stare of the Marquis of Lansdowne. Jonas resisted the
urge to shift in his seat as his future father-in-law glared
heatedly at him from his position across the ducal desk.

“
Let me assure you once
again, my lord, that nothing,
absolutely nothing
untoward occurred last night in my chambers. All
was as Juliet described,” Jonas again offered in attempt to cool
the scorching heat that seemed to radiate from the Marquis's
eyes.

“I do not doubt the sincerity of my
daughter's explanation. One need only look at her face this morning
to see she was upset and displeased by the turn of events. I was
more concerned with your reaction, or perhaps your lack of
reaction, to the unfolding situation.” Lansdowne paused to pierce
Jonas with another searching stare before rising from his seat to
spread his hands menacingly on the desk between them. “Tell me,
Your Grace. How long have you been considering a pursuit of my
daughter?”

Jonas visibly started and jumped to his feet
defensively, tugging at his cravat that now seemed so tight he was
in danger of strangling. “I cannot fathom what you mean, my lord,
other than the fact that I know my duty and felt honor-bound to
remedy the untenable situation Juliet and I found ourselves in this
morning. I--”

“
Let me stop you right
there, Your Grace, before you dig yourself deeper into a pit from
which you cannot escape.” The Marquis turned from the desk and
walked over to the large windows that looked out over the drive and
gardens of Edgecliff. His back to the Duke, he continued to press
his point. “I am very protective of my little girl. No matter her
age, she will always be thus to me. She was correct in her
statements over the meal a few days past: I would have let her
choose a life of so-called spinsterhood before permitting her to
marry someone unworthy or unmatched to her. As such, I became quite
the stealthy observer of all gentlemen that sought her company.”
Lansdowne turned to again stare at Jonas for a brief but
uncomfortable length of time. “I have observed
you
, Your Grace.”

Jonas swallowed noisily, his mind racing and
tumbling over snippets of memories; of his watching Juliet as she
danced, their occasional interactions over a punch bowl or card
table, their shared waltzes, a few common turns on some terraces.
He had always thought himself above reproach in his behavior and
brotherly in his attentions, no matter how he had felt within
himself. It was one more reason why he so seldom attended formal
functions. It was both pleasure and torture to be near Juliet.
“Sir, I have always--”

The Marquis held up his
hand and interrupted. “Yes, Your Grace, you have always watched my
daughter, nearly as dutifully as I, to see no harm came to her
person. Truthfully, you have Miranda to blame for my taking notice
of you. Had she not been involved in a few minor . . .
incidents . . .
I would likely not have
taken measure that you failed to chaperone your own sister while
you quite studiously monitored her friend.” Juliet's father dropped
his hand and turned again to face the window. “Suffice to say, I
have known for quite some time now that your interest in my
daughter was no longer definable as the attentions of a friend's
brother. Your attentions, Your Grace, were less nobly
engaged.”

Jonas felt the wind rush out of him and
subsequently dropped unceremoniously back into his chair. He ran
his fingers through his hair with agitation and a bit of alarm that
these marriage settlement negotiations were starting so poorly that
they might end up even worse. He blew out a long breath and raised
his eyes to the Marquis only to find that the man had moved quietly
away from the window to stand at the corner of the desk.
Lansdowne's gaze again pierced him before his eyes slowly softened
and a smile began to twitch at the corners of his mouth.

“Oh, Jonas, think! You must come to the only
conclusion available as to why, if I have known of your growing
attachment to my daughter, did I never do anything to interfere?”
He paused for a few meaningful seconds before continuing. “I am
delighted, my boy!” he almost shouted, slapping a hand down
forcefully on the desk.

Jonas jumped at the sound and slowly felt
his heart began to beat in a normal rhythm again before blurting
out the first thoughts that came to his mind. “You have an odd way
of showing your delight, my lord. So odd, that I would have sworn
you were instead displeased to the point of calling me out.”

The Marquis laughed out loud as he retook
his seat across the desk. “I have long planned how to torment
Juliet's suitors when they came to ask for her hand, and this
'compromise' quite nearly took all my fun away. I could not let her
go without making some sport at the end.” Lansdowne smiled for the
first time since arriving in the study, his eyes glittering with
triumph at his successful ruse. “Come, let us bang out the
settlements, then. You, of course, get the dowry, but I have a
stipulation that Juliet keeps her house and that you settle a tidy
sum on her in the event of your early demise. I shall also tell you
right now that you would do well by your wife-to-be if you change
your testament to similarly take care of any females you should
sire. She is quite the reformist when it comes to entailment and
property rights.”

The Duke's head was swimming from this
abrupt change in the manner and subject of their conversation, but
he felt the tension begin to leach from his body nonetheless. “At
this point, after the dread I was feeling during our earlier words,
I would agree to nearly anything offered, my lord. In fact, after
hearing Juliet's plans for her future just a few days past, I fired
off a note to instruct my man of affairs to realign Miranda's
future in a similar manner.” Jonas shifted in his seat. “As for
Juliet's dowry, I should like it to remain in her control. She may
use it to fund charitable projects or mend her manor house –
whatever she desires. I will of course take care of her daily
necessities; her dowry will be hers to use or save as she sees
fit.”

This news brought an even
bigger smile to Lansdowne's face. “My man is currently at Belle
R
ê
v
e
rie. I
shall have him draw up the settlements and bring it round for us
tomorrow. What of the wedding date? I know we left the ladies
embroiled in all matters matrimonial when we adjourned here, but
when and where had you thought to have the ceremony?”

“Sooner rather than later is preferable to
me,” began Jonas before he realized how his words must sound to the
father of his affianced. “I mean, for the sake of the rumors and
innuendo, I should think not waiting would be most preferable. I do
not think we should return to Town unless we are man and wife. I
feel I must tell you that Juliet was not persuaded of my sincerity
in offering for her. As such, she only consented to let me court
her this week, then she may decide if we will marry.”

“She will what?” thundered Lansdowne. “She
will marry you regardless!”

Jonas leaned across his desk with an earnest
expression on his face. “That was my promise to her, but rest
assured she will be in agreement by week's end.” He smiled wryly.
“Evidently I hid my affections quite well from your daughter as she
is not convinced I am a willing participant in this marriage. She
merely thinks me caught, and too honorable to do other than the
right thing under the circumstances. I have pledged to show her
otherwise this week.”

The Marquis processed this new information
swiftly. “Juliet had too many friends marry with ennui and
disaffection. Several were miserable before the ink dried in the
wedding register. Likely her mother and I indulged her idea of
individuality too convincingly as well. I've seen her studying you
this week, trying to make sense of your increased attentions. You
have caught her notice; I have seen her studying you covertly as
well. She will come around.”

“I admit I am unsure just what I feel for
Juliet, and I feel deuced awkward discussing it with you, my lord,
but I am completely committed to this – to her. I will be a
faithful and attentive husband, I swear to you.” Jonas made his
declaration uncomfortably, but sincerely, and was rewarded with a
broad smile from the Marquis before he chuckled slightly at the
Duke's discomfiture.