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Dallis waited in the parlor as Shaw escorted some of their last guests to the door. Teatime was over and as usual Rory didn’t show. She rested in her chair, attempting to keep a serene smile in place as Nanna’s oldest friend, Lady Farnsworth, still remained. Dallis's temper brimmed near the surface. The next time she came upon Lord Roderick Beckwith he would realize the full extent how finished she was with him. She'd decided this morning not to involve Nanna in her playful ploy. For which she was glad. If Nanna thought Rory would arrive, and he didn’t, she would either confront Lady Beckwith on the scandalous behavior of her son or force Dallis’s return to Scotland. When Dallis threatened Nanna the day before, she'd walked a thin line. If Nanna proved herself correct, there would be no recourse for Dallis.
She heard Shaw returning, and he was not alone. Dallis heard multiple footsteps nearing the parlor. She turned her head to the door and the new guests arriving surprised her. Not only did Rory come, but he brought his mother and sister with him. When their eyes met, he leaned against the doorjamb and raised his eyebrows in confidence. He'd outwitted her grandmother, it seemed, using his family as a decoy. Rory was a devious one, and she would need to keep on her toes. Dallis sent him a nod for a job well done. However, Rory wasn’t finished with his point, strolling to her grandmother’s side and presenting her with a jar of strawberries to prove it. Her nanna shot him a shrewd look, and then one over to Dallis. Dallis shrugged her innocence.
Kathleen sat near Dallis and his mother joined Lady Ratcliff and Lady Farnsworth on the sofa. Rory had seen the astonishment on Dallis’s face when they entered. His girl held no faith in his making an appearance. He'd deliberately waited until near the end of afternoon tea before making their arrival. Rory didn’t want to share Dallis with any other suitors or busy-bodies of the ton. He'd made a grand gesture when he handed her grandmother the strawberries. It was also a warning to her nanna that he meant to court Dallis and wouldn’t let anybody stand in his way. Her grandmother looked him over and, for only him to see, gave a nod of approval.
Rory then stood by the fireplace and watched Dallis and Kathleen chat animatedly. Soon they were in a fit of giggles, his sister explaining about an incident at a musical she'd attended this week. Then his mother called Kathleen over to the sofa to show off her new dress. He regretted his tone with her the previous evening and took Kathleen shopping this morning. Rory had a few extra coins left over from the fight and wanted to buy Kathleen a new dress rather than having her wear last year’s rags.
Which left him alone with Dallis for a moment.
He slid into the chair Kathleen had occupied. Crossing one leg over the other, with a lazy expression he regarded Dallis. Rory watched the blush grace her cheeks with his intense regard. Pure loveliness. He could gaze upon her all day long. Soon he would be able to. The profits from Sheffield’s investment should flow through any day now.
“You look lovely today, Lady Dallis.”
“Thank you, Lord Beckwith.”
“Would you like to take a walk around your grandmother’s garden?”
“No, sir, I think it would be best if we stay chaperoned.”
“Ah, dear, you are no fun. I hope you loosen up before we wed.”
“We will not wed until you properly court me, my lord.”
“Is that not what I am doing today, my lady?”
“Do you usually court young ladies with your mother and sister?”
“Only if I need ammunition to cross the threshold.”
Dallis laughed at his description of strategy. She had to give him credit for his sly thinking. The ladies turned at her laughter, which only made her blush even more. Then her grandmother urged Lady Farnsworth to leave, reminding her of a previous engagement. When Nanna’s friend left, she ordered Shaw to close the door on his way out.
“I am glad you have accompanied your son today, Lady Beckwith. You have saved me the trouble of calling on your kindness. It would appear your son has pressed his suit with my granddaughter in an unsavory manner. While Dallis has been more than a willing participant, it can no longer continue.”
“Rory? Is this true?” His mother turned toward him.
Rory nodded. So the grandmother decided to push the issue. Damn her. He wouldn’t be able to give Dallis the courtship he wanted to. Lady Ratcliff would force his hand now.
“I am sorry, dear,” Rory whispered to Dallis, hoping that she would forgive him.
“Nanna, stop.” Dallis understood his gaze and felt the same sorrow. He was attempting to correct his past mistakes by calling on her today. Rory meant to make their courtship fun, but her nanna set to ruin it.
“No, Dallis. Not after what I witnessed last night. Lady Beckwith, your son visited my granddaughter in the dead of night. Sneaking into her bedroom through her window and staying for far longer than necessary. Then I watched him sneak out her window again and escape into the night through my gardens. I kept quiet, because I did not want to wake the servants and cause an alarm and the ruination of Dallis. I am hoping to keep this a quiet, family manner.”
Lady Beckwith sat in shock at the allegations. Rory was never one to ruin a young lady. Why would he act this way toward Lady Dallis? Rory was the child that she always depended on, and now it seemed he'd created a mess to clean up. Not that Lady Dallis was a mess, far from it. She was a charming lady who would make a lovely daughter-in-law. However, this wasn’t how she planned for her son to wed. Granted, she schemed with Lady Ratcliff earlier in the season to set Rory and Dallis together. Now what they'd planned came to fruition, instead of satisfaction, she sat in embarrassment on how it came to be.
“Rory, do you have anything to say for yourself?” Lady Beckwith questioned him.
“Nothing, it would seem. Lady Ratcliff has proven that I am nothing but a scoundrel chasing under Lady Dallis’s skirt.”
“Roderick Allan Beckwith, you will apologize now.”
“Sorry, Mama. I am frustrated at this situation. May I please have a few private words with Dallis?” he asked Lady Ratcliff.
“I do not think that would be appropriate.”
“Well, either you let me talk to her alone, or else what you are hoping to achieve will not come to pass.”
“Humph. Lady Beckwith, will you and your daughter like to join me in the garden? There are some roses I would like to show you.”
The three ladies left the room, each one of them wearing looks of indecision as they headed toward the garden. Once they were alone, Rory made sure the door was locked. What he wanted to profess to Dallis, he didn’t want any disturbance.
Rory knelt at Dallis’s feet, gathering her hands in his. He brought them to his mouth and placed a kiss across her knuckles.
“Dallis, my love. I have not courted you properly throughout your season in London. In fact, I have not paid court to you at all. My behavior has been scandalous at best, and I have pretty much ruined your beautiful name, causing doubt on your virtue. All I can promise is that I will spend the rest of my life courting you every day as my wife. Will you do me the honor of becoming my bride?”
Tears flowed from Dallis’s eyes. This was not how she'd imagined the season would go. When she arrived in London with the intention of securing a groom, she never thought in her wildest dreams to fall in love with her soul mate. It no longer mattered how their courtship began, as long as she could be with Rory. If this was how they were to marry, at least she could carry in her heart that he wanted her. Perhaps, one day, he would love her truly. Oh, she knew Rory spouted his love for her and kept calling her his "love", but Dallis didn’t feel as if he meant the words. Sure, he lusted after her, that was more than obvious, but love? No, she didn’t think he understood the word. And even though Dallis loved Rory for the emotions he drew from her, she was not in love with him. They hardly knew the truth of each other’s characters.
“Dallis?” he asked.
“Yes, Rory, I would be honored to be your bride. And as your wife I will make it your duty to court me every day. There shall be no other approach for you.”
Rory laughed, drawing her into his arms, and kissing her gently on the lips. “You have made me the happiest man on earth.”
Dallis laughed. “Sorry about Nanna’s strong arm.”
“I am grateful for your nanna’s interference. Now I no longer have to wait to have you in my bed. How long will we have to wait?”
Her grandmother's voice startled them. “I expect you to get a special license and wed her within a week. There is talk floating around the ton about your hi-jinks regarding Dallis and I will not have her name slandered any longer. Do I make myself clear, boy?”
Somehow the wily woman unlocked the door and overheard his proposal. Rory would have to always keep one eye on that lady. His mother and Kathleen waited behind Lady Ratcliff in excitement.
“Does two weeks from today meet with your approval, Lady Ratcliff?”
“Yes, it does.”
His mother and Kathleen rushed to their side exclaiming how delighted they were to have Dallis join their family. He even received a hug from Lady Ratcliff with a further warning to make Dallis happy or else. The ladies pushed Rory away with their sudden discussions of wedding plans which covered dresses, food, guests, and the venue. Lady Ratcliff offered her home for the ceremony and reception. Everybody understood the reason why even though no words were spoken. A deep shame over his finances took away his thrill on becoming engaged to Dallis.
Rory couldn’t even provide for a bride. Let alone a lavish wedding.
His coffers were empty. Dallis would enter into a broke household after she spoke her vows. Rory knew that she was an heiress in her own right, but he wouldn’t take a coin from her. She could put her money in a trust for their children and only for them. No, he didn’t want this for her, nonetheless it was how things must be. Rory would break the news of his financial situation to Dallis after they wed and then hopefully in time with the investments with Sheffield, he could comfort her in the finest things.
Dallis wanted to stand next to Rory to be near him, but the ladies required her opinion on the wedding arrangements. She didn’t care for any of this talk. She only wanted the act over with so they could start their life together. Dallis looked over Kathleen’s shoulder at Rory who rested against the wall. She noticed the wistfulness on his face and wondered why. Did he feel forced to wed her? Was she mistaken in his intentions? Did he only wish to fool around with her, not to marry her? When Rory noticed her watching him, he attempted a poor excuse of a smile. It fell flat. Before long he urged his mother and Kathleen to leave. With a kiss to her cheek they left.
“Why, Nanna?”
“It was for the best, my dear. I needed to bring the boy up to scratch. Before long he would have you so ruined, nobody will even call on you. You are lucky Lord Holdenburg still calls. His reputation has kept all the other suitors still seeking your attention.”
“I will need to inform Lord Holdenburg of my impending nuptials.”
“Better yet, we shall invite him to the ceremony.”
“That would not be very gracious.”
“Posh, he is an old friend to the Beckwith family. He would expect nothing less.”
Dallis listened to her nanna rattle on about who else to invite and what they needed to accomplish over the next couple of weeks. She only replied with half a heart as she kept wondering why Rory appeared so dejected earlier. Dallis knew her parents wouldn’t be able to make the trip in time, and it didn’t matter to her. They never made time for her in the past, and would only consider this a nuisance. Perhaps she could convince Sheffield to walk her down the aisle? Sheffield had become a good friend when he paid court to her before he wed Sophia. Dallis would pay them a visit tomorrow and ask for his help. Part of her was thrilled to become Rory’s bride, but another part of her was left unsatisfied.
She couldn’t quite understand why, but hoped to before she walked down the aisle and shared her vows with him.