“Please, stand,” Daddy said, motioning to him.
“I care for Lady Catherine a great deal, your lordship. She’s been a great friend to me over the years and an even better partner in recent times. I wished to tell you, but—”
“I wouldn’t let him.” Aunt Cat stepped into his side. “I refused to allow him to reveal the true nature of our relationship. The secrecy is entirely my fault.” She looked over at me with a warmth in her gaze and a smile playing with her lips. “And Gabriella covered for me. She knew I had a gentleman friend, but she didn’t know it was Arthur. I take full responsibility for everything that has happened as a result of my decisions.” She took Arthur’s hand. “But I shan’t give him up, Henry. I love him, and I won’t be without him. I shall move out if that’s what it takes—”
“Catherine—”
“I’m not bluffing. I mean it. Alpaca is at the hotel and we’ll go there and—”
“Shut up!” Aunt Elizabeth said. “Goodness, Catherine, you do prattle on.”
“Oh, don’t you start with me.”
“I’ll do as I please.”
“Why? Because you’re a dowager duchess? Why don’t you come over here and I’ll show you what I think about that?”
“Perhaps a time out is needed.” Miles jumped up and rested his hands on Aunt Elizabeth’s shoulders, taking control of the situation. “This has been very emotional, and clearly it’s been laid to rest. The rest of this conversation is for Arthur, Lady Catherine, and Lord Bath. Yes?”
Oh.
That was hot.
Everyone murmured an agreement.
“Yes, let’s take a few. Mother, why don’t you retire to your bedroom? It’s been a long day,” Alex said, guiding Aunt Elizabeth away. “Arthur, if you have a moment to take Ma to her room, I’m sure she’d appreciate some tea. Thank you.”
That was the end of that.
“Adelaide, if you’re staying, I would like to discuss something with you.” Alex looked to her.
She glanced at me. “Of course. I can arrange a taxi home later.”
I waved a hand. “You can stay here. Extra rooms have been made up. I’ll let Eva know.”
“Oh, then, yes.” She stood up and tucked her shirt back into her jeans. “Now?”
“Yes, let’s.” Alexander poured two gin and tonics, handed her one, and led her out of the library.
Was that wedding bells I could hear?
Probably not, but you know.
“Gabriella, I need a moment.” Aunt Cat touched my elbow.
“Of course, Aunt Cat. Let’s go outside. Some fresh air will do you well.” I let Miles know I was going, but I didn’t need to.
Because my father was making a beeline to him.
Oh, help me, Jesus.
***
MILES
“Miles, my boy.” The Duke of Bath approached me with a fresh drink in his hand. “As my daughter appears to have agreed to an intermission of the Hastings Family Show, can I get you a drink?”
That was a scarily accurate depiction of tonight.
“I would appreciate that, Lord Bath, thank you.”
“Please, call me Henry.”
That wasn’t going to happen.
He poured me a whiskey to match his and took me off to the side. “Gabriella tells me the two of you have decided to pursue a relationship.”
“Yes, sir, we have.” I shifted. “I know I’m not the kind of man you wanted for your daughter, but—”
“Are you a criminal?”
“I—no.”
“Are you a serial cheater?”
“I’ve never cheated on anyone in my life, sir.”
“Are you evading the government?”
“I don’t think I could if I tried, much to my chagrin in tax season.”
He chuckled. “Then what’s the issue?”
“I’m aware you wanted her to marry into the gentry. An Earl, a Duke, even a Viscount or Baron, and I will never be that—”
“Miles.” He stopped me. “Do you intend make my daughter as happy as you possibly can?”
“I do, sir.”
“Do you intend to give your all to a relationship with her?”
“I do, sir, yes.”
“Do you see a real, earnest future with my daughter?”
“Yes, sir. I do.”
“Then, dear boy.” He touched my shoulder and turned us away from away, leading me into the hallway. “I do not care if you are a gardener or the future King of England. I do not care if you come with an estate the size of our own or a cottage. I do care very much about the person who will love my daughter, do you understand?”
I nodded. “Yes, sir.”
“Do you love my daughter?”
I didn’t have to think about it as I looked up at him. “I love her very much. It’s quite irritating.”
His face slowly broke into a smile that was remarkably like hers. “Then there’s no issue, is there? As long as you love her, the rest is just noise.”
“My grandpa said the same thing.”
“A wise man, your grandpa.” He smiled knowingly. “I should like for him to come for dinner, if you think he would be amenable to that.”
“I think he would.” I returned the smile. “Thank you, sir.”
“Of course.” He looked through the library doors, and I followed his gaze.
Gabi was laughing with her aunt Cat as they walked back through the doors. She was smiling and it was all so honest and I—
“Miles, one more thing, if I may?”
“Of course.” I dipped my head as he stepped closer to me.
“If, one day, the notion of marriage should cross your mind,” he said slowly. “And you should find yourself wishing to propose to Gabriella—”
“Sir, I—”
He laid a hand on my shoulder. “You do not need to ask my permission. You have my blessing.”
I inhaled sharply. “That’s a way in the future.”
“I’m sure.” He smiled, stepping back. “But you remind me an awful lot of my wife. She didn’t want to marry into the aristocracy either, you know? She took a lot of convincing.” He sipped his drink. “Yet she looked at me the same way you look at my daughter. It’s funny how that works, isn’t it?”
I looked at Gabriella who was now laughing with Alex and Adelaide who’d re-joined the conversation. “No, not really.”
Henry dipped his chin and chuckled. “You might just be right.”
EPILOGUE – GABRIELLA
TWO MONTHS LATER
“I can’t believe you’re stealing my best friend.” I pouted and looked at Alexander.
“Oh, it’s for six weeks. Don’t be daft. She’ll come home.” He pulled me into a hug. “Like she can stay away.”
Mm. I wasn’t entirely sure.
“You’re not to corrupt her, you hear me?”
“I’ve come all the way down here for the formal opening of your garden and this is how you’re talking to me?” he teased me. “Miles, can you not get her under control?”