But there was always the chance he was wrong. And just in case he was, it made sense to try this before they did any of the more complicated things Thomas had in mind for them.
He kept his eye on his cousin as they ate breakfast. She looked calm and happy. That was good. It would make her more receptive when Thomas arrived.
Duncan focused his attention on his toast, feeling as though he couldn’t look Valeria or his mother directly in the eye. They would know, if he did. They would see that he was keeping something to himself.
He went tense the moment the butler walked into the room. “I beg your pardon, Lady Earlington,” he said. “There’s a gentleman here to see Lady Valeria.”
“To see Lady Valeria?” Duncan’s mother frowned. “Who is it?”
“Lord Woodsford, My Lady.”
Valeria went white. “What?” she gasped. “He’shere? But I thought—”
She turned to Duncan. “You said things were taken care of,” she said. “You said that we wouldn’t need to see each other anymore.”
“Yes, you did say that, Duncan,” his mother said. “What’s the meaning of this?”
Duncan held up his hands. “All right,” he said. “I did tell him he could call on you today.”
“You didwhat?” Valeria said.
“Valeria, just listen. He’s heartbroken. Well, of course he is! He was so excited to be courting you, and even though he respects your decision, it isn’t the one he would have made.”
“But if he respects my decision so much, why is he here?” Valeria asked. Duncan couldn’t tell if she was angry or tearful.
“He just wants to see you one last time,” Duncan said. “To speak to you one last time. I know you wanted to put the whole business behind you, but you won’t mind talking to him once more, will you?”
He expected Valeria to continue protesting. After all, this was exactly what she hadn’t wanted. So he was surprised when she took a deep breath and nodded.
“All right,” she said, getting to her feet. “I’ll see him.”
“You can stay where you are,” Duncan said, leaping to his feet. “I’m sure he wouldn’t mind some breakfast.”
But Valeria shook her head. “No,” she said. “Not over a meal. He won’t be staying that long. I’ll speak to him in the foyer. And I’d like you to stay there with us, Duncan.”
Duncan thought that was fair. It had been he who had helped to contrive this little meeting, so he ought to stay and make sure that it went well. “Very well,” he said, and led the way toward the door out into the foyer.
“Wait a moment,” his mother said.
Duncan paused.
“Valeria,” his mother said. “Are you certain this is what you want? Because you really don’t have to go out there. Duncan can send him away.”
But Valeria shook her head. “No,” she said. “Duncan is right. I should never have asked him to take care of this matter for me. I should have had the courage to do it myself. I may not trust Lord Woodsford, but I don’t despise him. He deserves to be treated with the respect he has shown me.”
Duncan was filled with admiration for his cousin. After everything she had been through, she was still so kind, so good-natured. He wished there was a way this could be made easier for her.
But this is the right thing for her in the end—or at least, it will be, he reminded himself.Once her arrangement with Thomas is renewed, she will be happy, the way she was that day we ate our picnic together out on the Manor grounds.
That was all he wanted for his cousin. More of that kind of happiness. And he truly believed that Thomas could give her that.
They walked out into the foyer together.
Thomas was standing just a short distance inside the door, but when he saw them, he came striding over. He looked anxious, and just a bit overeager, and Duncan wished he could tell his friend to relax. That wasn’t going to make this go any more smoothly.
And, indeed, when Valeria spoke, there was tension in her voice. “Good morning, Lord Woodsford.”
“Lady Valeria.” He hesitated. “Do you think—is there somewhere we might go and sit down?”
