“What is this nonsense, Chelmsford? What are you about?” His face alternated between brilliant red and pale white.
“You have done nothing in destroying that copy. The original is locked safely away. But rest assured I can and will have that letter printed on handbills and send one to every household in Mayfair if you do not stop your quest to blackmail Miss Perriton into marrying you.”
“He what?” Daedalus lunged toward the man only to be jerked back by Chelmsford.
“I’ll kill him.” Cordelia shoved a hand beneath her shawl, and Daedalus feared she might be reaching for a pistol hidden there.
“Not if I kill him first.” He shrugged off his brother’s restraining hand and moved closer to Cordelia.
Chelmsford lifted a commanding palm and silence fell. Breadmore had stepped to one of the sets of doors leading out of the room but was blocked by Lady Camilla’s footmen.
“The line of people who would like to kill Breadmore is a long one. My brother and I are at its head. However, if I were to kill you that would leave the dukedom to Lord Whitcombe and he is far too brave and wise to ever be a duke.
“It is my understanding that Breadmore was working with Ravenwood to gather evidence to prove that Miss Perriton, of all people, is the authoress of theAn Insatiable Lady Books. I believe it was your intention to use this so-called proof to induce the lady to marry you.”
Cordelia moved in front of her brothers, talking furiously to each of them as they glared at the earl with murder in their eyes. Daedalus was beginning to enjoy this.
“I cannot kill you, Breadmore, but Icanrender you socially and financially dead with but a few words in the proper ears. Which I shall do should you dare to utter even one disparaging word about Miss Perriton in any fashion. You will find it especially difficult to spread your scurrilous lies as I understand Lady Camilla intends to announce at tonight’s gathering thatsheisAn Insatiable Lady.”
There were gasps all around, none louder than Cordelia’s. “My hat is off to you, Lady Camilla. Your books are quite…scintillating.”
Daedalus had never seen Lady Camilla so pleased with herself, and he struggled to keep from laughing. Breadmore looked ready to succumb to apoplexy.
“One last thing,” Chelmsford said. “As we have now proven Miss Perriton to have an unblemished reputation, it is my intention to fund whatever charitable work she cares to take on, with one very simple caveat which it pains me to ask of her. I realize my brother’s business may be a hindrance to her endeavors, but I’m certain everyone in this room, as well as myself, will do all we can to support her work if she will but marry him.”
“Chelmsford!” Daedalus shouted.
“I understand he did propose.” The room erupted into noisy conversation and Breadmore was finally allowed to slink out under the escort of two footmen. “But the fool forgot to tell you that he is madly in love with you and may well perish of a broken heart without you. Please put all of us out of our misery and agree to be his bride. I certainly don’t want to take him in if he’s going to mope about the place like some sort of Byronic hero.”
Chelmsford shoved Daedalus in Cordelia’s direction. Alice ran across the room, kissed Daedalus on the cheek, and went to stand with the duke and a beaming Lady Camilla. Cordelia stood with her hands pressed to her mouth, her dark eyes bright as stars in a night sky. The oldest of her brothers elbowed her forward.
“I’m sorry,” Daedalus said softly as he stood before her. “He had no right to embarrass you like that.”
“Do you?” she asked. “Are you?”
He frowned in confusion then realized what she was asking. “Of course, I love you. I’m mad about you. Ox has already started shopping for hair shirts for me. Cordelia, wecanbe who we are entirely and still be together. We have friends and family who love us. We have work we love that gives us purpose. We love each other, don’t we?” She nodded vigorously. “Then what else do we need? We’ll work it out. Chelmsford is richer than Croesus. He can build you an entire village of cottages for your ladies. You can write your books and make an old lady very happy to claim them, and perhaps one day you can claim them for yourself. If you would just—"
“Oh, for pity’s sake, Whitcombe, do stop talking and let the lady answer.” Captain Atherton said. “The buffet’s getting cold.”
“And I have an appointment later with someone who demands I arrive on time,” Chelmsford said, with a quick look at his pocket watch.
“Well, Cordelia,” Daedalus said, his heart in his throat. “Youwillhave to deal with Chelmsford as a brother-in-law, but—Umpf!” He staggered back as Cordelia threw herself into his arms and kissed him long, slow, and hard. She leaned back for a moment and gazed into his eyes. “You need some lessons in proposing, sir, but I will marry you. Now hush and kiss me.”
And he did.
THE END
EPILOGUE
ONE YEAR LATER
Hawthorne Park Outside London
Cordelia awoke to the dulcet tones of her husband in the corridor outside their bedchambers cursing like a Covent Garden lady on a Sunday morning. Which could mean only one thing. She glanced at her bedside table and then his, where his spectacles lay atop a stack of books. A loud crash, followed by the solicitous tones of the upstairs maid, Flossie, indicated another vase or urn had just met its untimely demise.
She scooted into a seated position and propped several pillows at her back in preparation for the possible arrival of her breakfast. Possible, as the crash she heard might have been said breakfast hitting the floor. She truly had to find a way to dissuade Daedalus from bringing her breakfast tray up himself, a task he had taken on these last few months since the birth or their son. She peered over her side of the bed into the cradle where Perseus Alistair Lionel Whitcombe lay sleeping, completely oblivious to his father’s noisy announcement that breakfast would soon be served. He had already availed himself of her breast, so his breakfast was a sweet memory to be dreamed upon until he next grew hungry.
The door to their bedchamber opened and Daedalus, laden tray in his hands, backed into the room as quietly as was possible for him. He first glanced in the direction of the cradle. Cordelia smiled and shook her head. “Slept through the entire thing,” she said softly. “What did you break this time?”
