Hugh and Lord Farellshire exchanged wordless looks.
His Grace startled them by suddenly leaping out of bed and began pacing around the room.
“I tried to help her see that it is in factIwho isn’t worthy ofher. I told her she was far too kind, too good for me, and that while I may have saved her life today, she saved our family.”
Deflated once more, he sank onto a stray chair by the fireplace.
“I just can’t believe she didn’t say yes. After all, the whole point of asking Mr. Lockhart to deliver the necklace personally was so that at least one of Meredith’s closest friends would be here to share in our celebration.”
“I now see that I had made one too many assumptions.” He rubbed this temples, “I’m suddenly feeling quite dizzy.”
It took a second for Hugh to digest exactly what he was hearing.
Did His Grace propose?
Lord Farellshire shook his head.
“It’s all right, old boy. She’s clearly as taken with you as you are with her. But do you know what? I daresay I’m on her side in this regard.”
His Grace shot him a look.
“Come now, Tony. You have to see this matter from her point of view. Up until a few months ago, she most likely thought that she would spend the rest of her days at an orphanage.”
“But to her surprise, she has been released from such a life. Could we really blame her for wanting to spread her wings for a bit?”
His Grace remained silent, so Hugh decided to chime in.
“Your Grace, if I may, I do believe that Lord Farellshire raises a valid point. And if Her Grace were here—”
Just the mere mention of the late Duchess transformed His Grace’s body language.
“If Her Grace were here, I believe that she, too, would side with Miss Meyer in this regard.”
His Grace buried his face in his hands.
“How can you be so sure, Fletcher? If today has taught me anything, it is that I know even less about my parents, and this family, than I had initially thought.”
Admittedly, His Grace made a good point, but Hugh refused to relent.
“Today has been quite a shock to all of us, Your Grace. But if there is one thing I am certain about Her Grace, it was that she wished nothing more than for you and Lady Cecilia to be happy.”
“And it is highly likely that the best happiness you could hope for is to be found once both youandMiss Meyer are ready. I hope I do not sound impertinent, but I do believe this is yet another opportunity to prove your love for her, Your Grace.”
The two men sat in silence, waiting to see what His Grace would do next.
* * *
“Thank you, Ian.”
“No, no, that’s quite all right, Mere. You can keep it. I have dozens of the exact same kind at home.”
Meredith looked down at the handkerchief that Ian had so graciously allowed her to use. Not only did it look and feel like it was made from the finest silk, but it was monogrammed and had fancy embroidery around the edges, too!
“Thank you, Ian. I am so sorry, it’s just that today has been extremely difficult.”
He nodded empathetically. “Of course, Mere. Today’s events were disturbing, to say the least.”
Meredith shook her head. She wanted to tell Ian how, aside from theawfulevents caused by Lord Gillinghamshire, she had made what could possibly be the biggest mistake of her life and that this mistake was the reason for her tears.
