Christopher caught sight of the Duke of Dunton’s hands. They balled into fists at his side as if he was ready to start pounding on Robert. Lord Gibbs Carter looked much the same though his wife held him back, her hands curling around one of his elbows to keep him still.
“A friendly welcome indeed,” Christopher muttered. He could have sworn Lady Helena smiled out of the corner of his eye, but he feared it was all in his imagination. Eager to get on with the matter at hand, he pushed his brother in the back, urging him forward. “Speak before they demand a duel.”
“Yes, yes, well…” Robert stood straight, flattened his hair, and tried to pull the creases out of his tailcoat.
God’s wounds, stand still man!
Christopher sighed at his brother’s nervousness, but it was not to be helped. He would not stand still.
“Forgive me, Your Grace, for coming unannounced,” Robert began, looking between Lady Julia and the Duke of Dunton.
“I think you have more to apologize for than just your arrival here.”
“Yes, you are right.”
“Bright?” the Duke said sharply. Christopher frowned, waiting for someone to say something, but silence followed this awkward moment. Not knowing who else to appeal to for an explanation, he looked at Lady Helena who stepped to the side, around her sister.
“My father is hard of hearing, Lord Robert,” she explained, lifting her voice a little. “Please, speak clearly.”
“Yes, yes of course,” Robert said in a rush, flattening the edges of his tailcoat again.
Christopher nodded in thanks to her, but she looked away so sharply, he was not convinced she had seen it.
She dislikes me so much, she won’t even look me in the eye.
“Why are you here, Lord Robert?” the Duke demanded, his voice booming across the room.
“I… you see, I had something to say to you, Your Grace.” Robert glanced at Julia, who shifted, her hands clasping and unclasping together.
Something in Lady Julia’s manner shook Christopher. It was plain she looked at his brother with adoration.
She loves him. As he loves her. Well, we can hardly choose who our heart latches onto, can we?
“Speak up man, stop stuttering!” Lord Gibbs ordered across the room.
Christopher’s temper snapped, and he stepped to his brother’s side, deciding it was time to take over.
“My brother has something very particular to ask you, Your Grace.” As Christopher stopped at his brother’s side, Robert moved his elbow and knocked a vase off a pedestal. Christopher barely managed to catch it in time and return it to its place. There was a collective sigh in the room. “Regarding your daughter, Lady Julia.”
“Yes, I do.” Robert managed to knock the vase over a second time.
Christopher reached for it again but knocked it into the air, scarcely catching it as it somersaulted before it could hit the floor.
“This is getting worse,” Lady Helena observed from across the room. Christopher shot her a glare, hardly needing it pointing out.
“Robert, move.” Christopher nudged his brother’s shoulder, so he inched to the side, far away from the table before Christopher replaced the vase to its position. “My brother is here to offer marriage to your daughter, Your Grace,” he spoke hurriedly, determined to get the words out at last.
“Marriage!?” Lord Gibbs stuttered, his shoulders twitching backward. “A Moore marry a Carter?”
“That was what I was saying, yes,” Christopher continued drily. The Duke of Dunton didn’t react in such an outrageous manner. His brother was the one who ranted whilst his arms loosened from their folded position, and he stared at Robert.
“It’s a pretense to honor, is it not, brother?” Lord Gibbs asked, pushing the Duke of Dunton’s shoulder in expectation of an answer. “You mark my words, he offers marriage to her, but he will probably refuse to turn up to the altar on the day of the wedding.”
“I would never do that to her.” Robert’s voice was strong, despite how much he twitched and fidgeted.
“Stand still, for God’s sake,” Christopher whispered, walking around him in the hope of speaking without being heard by the rest of the room. Robert attempted to stay still though it only lasted a moment or two.
“I offer to marry Lady Julia, not just because of what happened last night, but because I wish to marry her, Your Grace. I am in love with your daughter.”
