“I suppose it is quite grand and beautiful,” she remarked, deciding to engage him in harmless chatter in the hope he might calm down. He was still angry with her.
Not that she blamed him.
He sighed and glanced at her. “It isn’t so much a house as a palace. It is disconcerting to rattle around on one’s own in a place of that size. But since we are now betrothed, I—”
“Fakebetrothed. The arrangement is only temporary.”
“But it cannot look fake to anyone. For your own protection, we must beconvincinglybetrothed. So it should not raise disapproving eyebrows if you now move into my home.”
“Why would you want me anywhere near you?”
“Because I dare not leave my blushing bride-to-be on her own to run amok. Need I remind you that the next time Frampton catches you anywhere near his property, he will shoot you dead?”
“I do not need that gentle reminder.”
“Good. Our living arrangements will be respectable, of course. Who is your chaperone? You must have brought one along with you.”
“I did, but only because I would not have been given a room at any inn of good repute if they knew I was traveling alone. My maiden aunt, Hermia Newton, came with me.”
“She will join you here, of course. There’s plenty of space to accommodate you both. I have so many bedchambers, I can give each of you an entire wing and still have bedrooms left over for other guests.”
“Is it that enormous a house?”
He nodded. “But I think I need to rename it. Gull Hall simply does not suit.”
After several minutes, the massive chimney stacks of his home came into view. Florence tried to slip her hand out of his, but he insisted on keeping firm hold of her.
Did he think she was going to run away?
And did his plan to bring her here not have a dangerous flaw? Why move her into his home that was so conveniently, and temptingly, located next door to Frampton? Well, she supposed it was the easiest way for him to keep track of her movements. By the angry look of him, he intended to trail after her like a bloodhound on the scent.
Obviously, he did not trust her to end this assignment. “Trajan…oh, may I call you that? Or should I call you Weymouth now?”
He nodded. “I haven’t quite wrapped my head around becoming the Duke of Weymouth yet. Not sure I am ready to be referred to as Weymouth. Nor am I Lord Aubrey anymore. Trajan will do nicely. Yes, I would like it if you called me by my given name. You earned that privilege after our intimate kiss.”
She cleared her throat. Yes, it was quite a kiss.
“Just how many chimney stacks does Gull Hall have?”
“At least a dozen. Do you see what I mean, Florence?” He pointed toward his imposing manor. “Who can heat a house of this size in the winter? Calling this sixty-room monstrosity Gull Hall conjures the image of a cozy retreat near the water where nesting birds abound, not a residence fit for a king and his royal entourage.”
“Does your family have any plans to join you here?”
“Not this year. Probably never,” he said, suddenly turning pensive. “I might write to my mother and ask her to visit while you are here with me. I think she is in London, although she might be with my sister, Persephone, and her husband, the Marquess of Rathburne. He’s also fairly new to his title, and was known as the Earl of Hawley untillast year. But now he is the marquess and will need Persephone’s support more than ever because he’s a little dim in the brains department. Do not comment on my sister’s name or mine. Our parents were obviously drunk when they named us.”
“Trajan and Persephone? I rather like both. They are distinctive and distinguished. Would Persephone and her husband consider visiting you?”
He grunted. “No, they are comfortably settled in Somerset and busily working on producing heirs. Rathburne’s a bit of a dolt. As I said, he’s a little light in the brains department. But Persephone is quick-witted enough for both of them. I hope their offspring inherit her brains. Surprisingly, theirs seems to have turned into a happy marriage.”
“A good match? I think that is lovely. If I were inclined to marry, this is what I would want. A love match.” Florence was sincerely pleased for his sister and told him so. “However, do not trouble your mother. She’s just suffered the loss of your father and deserves the right to grieve him without distraction.”
“I don’t know. Getting her out of London and away from all those memories of him…”
“No, they might bring her comfort. It is her choice to make. She’ll know when she is ready.”
He raked a hand through his hair. “Yes, you are probably right. I’m not good at this sort of thing. Persephone is far better at offering comfort, and will probably have my mother stay with her and Rathburne for the next few months.”
“That is a good idea. Besides, I won’t be here more than a few days. I cannot imagine it taking longer to complete my mission.”
