The Story of a Baron (The Sisters of the Aristocracy) (26 page)

Chapter 52

A Proposal

Lady Evangeline sat by herself drinking a cup of tea in the parlor of Rosemount House. Ever since she and Lord Sommers had finished reading
The Story of a Baron
, she felt at loose ends in the mornings. She hadn’t realized how much she had looked forward to the time she spent with the baron, even if it was to simply read a book. She wondered if another book might be of interest to the man and then chided herself. His repeated trips to Rosemount House were no doubt a chore for the baron; she rather doubted he would wish to continue the practice.

Harry Tennison, Earl of Everly, had left some time ago, shortly after asking that his carriage be brought around. Curious, Evangeline thought to ask if she might join him on his errand, intending to use the time to tell him she had accepted Lord Sommers’ offer of a ride in the park. But Harry’s attention was entirely on a book he had open and was apparently reading as he made his way to the vestibule.
Was that ‘The Story of a Baron’ I saw him holding open as he passed by?
Sighing audibly in the hopes he might hear her, Evangeline resigned herself to another early afternoon spent alone at Rosemount House.

She was about to pour herself another cup of tea when Jones cleared his throat. “Do I have a caller?” Evangeline asked, a hint of excitement in the voice even before the butler could announce anything. She was nearly to her feet, hoping some lady of the
ton
had remembered she was sequestered in her brother’s house for the Season and had taken pity on her by paying a call.

Jones held his hands together behind his back, his disapproval apparent. “Lord Sommers has asked if he might have a word,” he intoned, obviously still bothered by the impropriety of a gentleman calling on an unmarried woman without a companion or chaperone present. Having already reported Lord Sommers’ recent late-night appearance to the Earl of Torrington, he had decided that a visit by the baron was maybe not an unacceptable situation, but his own morals prevented him from feeling entirely comfortable with the visit.

Evangeline was sure her suddenly thundering heartbeats could be heard from across the room.

He is here.

Already.

She dared a glance at the mantel clock, surprised to see it was only two o’clock. “Well, do see him in, Jones,” she responded, just then realizing the baron was probably there to see her brother and not her. “He is here to see Lord Everly, I suppose,” she added as she nervously smoothed her skirts. Before last week, an eligible bachelor such as Jeffrey Althorpe was not a man she would expect to have calling on her, but one could always hope. His earlier missive had been such a surprise, she had immediately written a reply. “He only asked if your ladyship was in residence and apologizes for arriving earlier than his note indicated.”

The thundering heartbeats nearly deafened her to Jones’ last words – until she heard the part about an apology. Perhaps the earl had changed his mind and was withdrawing his offer of a ride in the park. Or perhaps he thought they could start reading another book. “Do send him in, then. I shouldn’t like to keep a baron waiting.”

The butler took a breath and looked as if he was about to argue.
Keep a baron waiting? But who else could you keep waiting?
he wondered. He must have seen the flush that colored Evangeline’s face. “Right away, my lady,” he replied, turning on his heels and leaving the parlor.

Evangeline took a deep breath in an attempt to compose herself. Now that they had finished reading
The Story of a Baron
, she thought she might only see him in passing or perhaps at a ball, should her brother ever escort her to one. Although the baron had made a promise to her, its condition was in her brother’s hands, and she rather doubted the matter had been broached, given her brother’s bahavior.

Lord Sommers was calling on her. Yes, he was one of her brother’s friends, and yes, he probably spent far too much time playing cards at White’s, and, yes, there was the hint from something her brother had said that Sommers had at one time employed a mistress, but at that moment, none of those things mattered.

Besides, if the man had a wife, he would no doubt spend more time at Sommers Place, his Mayfair mansion in Cavendish Square, and less time pretending to be a rake.

He isn’t really a rake
, Evangeline considered just then. He couldn’t be if he was a friend of her brother’s. Everly would never consort with a rake, although he might if said rake was an explorer or adventurer or a member of the Royal Society. Besides, in all the days they had sat together reading, he had only ever kissed her when she had asked to be kissed.

Well, there was that other time or two
, she considered, feeling a blush coloring her face, but she had welcomed his advances. Encouraged them, even.

Evangeline had barely finished this last thought when she realized Lord Sommers was regarding her from the threshold. She struggled to withhold a gasp, for he was quite imposing, dressed for a ride in a smart, perfectly tailored scarlet jacket and buckskin breeches that hugged his muscular thighs. His black Hessians were polished to a high shine, and he held a riding crop in one black kid-gloved hand. She supposed she should have wondered why he hadn’t given it to the butler when he gave up his hat, but it seemed to give him an air of superiority. A shiver shot through her when she imagined him wielding it. What awful deed might she commit that would have him threatening her with it? Her cheeks blushed a bright pink when she realized what she was imagining.

Blinking in an effort to pull her thoughts from those better left in a bedchamber, Evangeline forced herself to concentrate on Lord Sommers’ other attributes.

Bowing deeply before saying a word of greeting, Jeffrey’s eyes seemed to caress her. “Lady Evangeline, please do pardon my interruption,” he said, his voice almost a plea.

Evangeline, her lips slightly parted from her surprise at his appearance, afforded him a deep curtsy. Even before she had returned to a standing position, Jeffrey had moved into the room and reached for her hand, lifting it to his lips so that he could bestow a kiss on her bare knuckles. His lips didn’t just brush over her skin as she expected they might, but rather took purchase and kissed her as he did the times he had kissed her lips. A tremor shook her body, the shock of his touch so unexpected and so pleasurable, she had to suppress another gasp. “Of course, Lord Sommers. You are most welcome at Rosemount whenever you should wish to call,” she managed to get out, keeping a small smile in place. She felt almost giddy that Jeffrey would kiss the back of her hand as he had done. Indeed, he hadn’t yet let go of her hand. And, at the moment, she didn’t really care if she ever took it back. As far as she was concerned, he could keep it.

Jeffrey seemed relieved to hear her response, his expression otherwise one of indecision. “My lady, I ...” He glanced back at the open door, wondering if the butler hovered somewhere beyond. “I know this may seem ... untoward,” he struggled to get out, “But I was wondering if we might go for a ride in the park a bit earlier than I indicated in my note. I realize it’s not the fashionable hour, but by that time this afternoon, I am rather hoping I will have completed courting you and have an affirmative response to my request for your hand in marriage. So that I might find myself on the morrow at Doctor’s Commons in pursuit of a special license so that we might marry in a few days.” The words came tumbling out, with no hint of embarrassment or self-doubt or regard for propriety.

Lady Evangeline stared at Jeffrey Althorpe for a moment, blinking before a brilliant smile appeared. “You’re not being the least bit untoward, Lord Sommers,” she replied with a slight shake of her head.
Marriage?
Lord Sommers truly intended to ask for her hand! Just as he had promised. Which meant he must have spoken with her brother.

“Jeffrey,” he stated, his hand moving to hold hers more tightly. “Remember, you should call me
Jeffrey
,” he added, taking a step closer to her.

“And you should call me Evangeline. Or Eva, if you prefer,” she countered, realizing her heart had settled into a rhythm that, although still entirely too fast, was at least quiet enough that she could hear her own words.

“Eva,” Sommers breathed, his lips suddenly hovering over hers.

Evangeline closed her eyes as his lips settled over hers, as the hand that held the riding crop moved to the back of her shoulder to pull her body just a bit closer. She took a step forward so that her entire body collided with the front of his.

Her free hand reached up to rest on his shoulder and then moved to the back of his neck as his lips opened against hers. She allowed her lips to follow suit, aware that the tip of his tongue was brushing over her teeth.

At some point, a moan or a mewl escaped her, which only encouraged Jeffrey to deepen the kiss. The hand that held hers released it and came to rest on the back of her waist, pulling her body harder against his. The hardening bulge behind the fall of his breeches pressed into her soft belly through the fabric of her gown. He rather wished there was less fabric separating them. Far less. None, in fact, but there would be more appropriate places for what he wanted to be doing with her just then.

Evangeline thrilled at the realization that she had caused his arousal, not for a moment frightened by what could happen next. Jeffrey was going to ask for her hand!

“Eva,” he whispered, his lips pulling away from hers so they could leave soft kisses along her jawline. Jeffrey wrapped one arm around Evangeline and used his free hand to keep her body pressed against his. “Eva,” he whispered again, loving the sound of her shortened name. He would call her that when they shared a marriage bed, he thought. And in the breakfast parlor, when they shared their morning meal.

“Jeffrey,” she whispered back, her hand sliding through the waves of his silken brown hair. She was sure she felt a shiver pass through him as his lips moved to her earlobe. In a moment, his teeth were teasing the soft flesh, sending shivers through Evangeline, much like the ones his caresses along her bare skin had caused the one night when she had asked for a kiss.

The hand behind her waist moved up and around so it rested on the side of one breast, the thumb caressing her suddenly hardening nipple. Evangeline couldn’t stifle the small shriek that erupted from her throat.

Jeffrey’s lips moved to cover hers, kissing her as he repeated the stroke over her nipple. “Marry me, Eva,” he whispered, his lips moving to cover hers before she could reply.

Evangeline nodded against his lips. When he finally pulled away to take a breath, she said simply, “Yes.” She was aware of the hand next to her breast moving to somewhere inside his coat, so that he had to pull his body away from hers for a moment. Then her left hand was held in his and a ring was sliding onto her finger.

“It’s not the real one, of course,” he murmured, his forehead coming to rest on hers. “But I’ll have one far better by tomorrow,” he promised, his whisper urgent.

Evangeline dared a glance at her left hand, stunned when she realized his opal signet ring was wrapped around her middle finger.

“You have made me a very happy man, Eva,” he whispered, his lips saying the words against hers.

“And you have made me a very happy woman, Jeffrey,” she replied with a sigh. “Perhaps ... perhaps we could just skip the ride and continue this instead?” she wondered, her words coming out in little breaths. Had she taken a moment to consider what she had just said, she might have gasped at how much like Geraldine she was behaving at this very moment.She might even have begged forgiveness for her impropriety. But the look on Jeffrey’s face suggested he would be most disappointed if she did such a thing.

“As my lady wishes,” he replied with an enthusiastic nod. “Although, I do believe I need to sit down. You have left me quite unable to stand of my own volition.”

Eva giggled, leading him to a large wing chair. Even as he sat down, he pulled her atop him, settling her so her bottom rested on one of his thighs and her head settled against his shoulder. “My brother said nothing,” she whispered, suddenly irate that Everly didn’t share the good news of her impending betrothal to Lord Sommers before he left the house.

Jeffrey let out a snort. “That’s because I haven’t yet asked his permission to court you,” he replied, his arms wrapping around her body so his hands were clasped together as they rested on her hip.

“Oh?” Evangeline replied quietly, wondering if she should be disappointed that he hadn’t followed protocol. “I do not think he’ll object,” she murmured, reaching out with her lips to kiss his jaw.

“He had better not, or the Earl of Torrington will have his hide,” Jeffrey stated, his own lips moving to cover hers for a quick kiss.

Evangeline straightened on his lap, eliciting a slight gasp from Jeffrey as her hip pressed harder against his hardened manhood. “What does my godfather have to do with this?” she wondered, her brows furrowing together.

Jeffrey had to suppress a chuckle. “Your brother may be blind to love, my lady, but Grandby is not. He’s a rather convincing matchmaker when he puts his mind to it.”

Evangeline regarded Jeffrey for a moment. “You didn’t ask for my hand because he ordered you to do so, did you?” she asked, suddenly doubtful of the baron’s intentions.

Jeffrey tilted his head to one side. “No,” he replied carefully. “Although, I will admit I am asking a bit sooner than I expected to be allowed to, only because he said he would see to your brother on my behalf.”

His future baroness seemed satisfied with his answer, for she settled her head back onto his shoulder. “Would it be alright if we had a small, quiet wedding?” she whispered, her lashes resting on the tops of her cheekbones as if she might take a nap in a moment or two.

A chuckled erupted from Jeffrey just then. “I would prefer it, but I want you to have the wedding of your dreams,” he murmured sleepily.

“Mmm,” she purred, her eyes still closed.

In a moment, her even breathing indicated to Jeffrey that she had fallen asleep in his arms. He gave a sigh of his own as he closed his eyes and concentrated on the scent of honeysuckle that wafted around her honey blonde bun and ringlets.

Not only had Lady Evangeline given him the kind of response he could only fantasize about and write in a book, she had been everything Jeffrey had hoped for the woman he would one day marry. Even if that day was just a few days hence.

Had he followed Grandby’s instructions to the letter, he would be taking the lady for a ride in the park later that afternoon, perhaps choosing to detour on foot through the lesser-used walking paths among the trees.