For several minutes, Anthony remained silent, his eyes on the panoramic view in front of him. Laura swallowed, trying to dislodge the lump in her throat. She would not let him see her feelings. She had already made a vulgar display by demanding why he hadn’t come before. The indelicate subject of Annie’s birth was preferable to what Anthony intended to tell her.
“What does your mother suggest you do about Annie?” she asked.
“She wants me to make Annie my ward but the papers must be drawn up with the correct name of the father, or as father unknown,” Anthony said.
“If you do that, Annie will suffer when she is old enough to understand. But if you claim to be the father, Mary Jane might think poorly of you. She will believe you were disloyal to her mother.”
“My mother said that, too.”
“How many people know the truth about Annie’s birth?”
“Annie’s uncle knew. The poor man is dead. Mrs. Forsyth knows. Apart from my mother, I’ve only told you.”
“Don’t Gareth and Lord Nethercote know?”
“They suspect Annie is Edward’s daughter. I haven’t disabused them.”
Laura stared at Anthony. “That could work! Have the papers drawn with Edward as the father! When Annie grows up you must tell her that her parents were in love and secretly married. You would still be bringing her up but without the taint of illegitimacy. Society will accept her as your niece and the late duke’s granddaughter!”
“My mother can have no objection to that.”
Laura smiled brightly. “It is a capital idea! You will be able to make a suitable match. I hope you will not think it forward of me but I did notice there were several women eager to accept your suit if you would only exert yourself to offer for them!”
Anthony frowned and stood up. “We should go. I did not stop to think whether it was proper to come up here before speaking to Gareth.”
“Why should it be improper for you to stop and talk to me? You are an old friend of the family!”
Anthony looked even more grim.
“How did you know I was up here?” Laura asked.
“This was my favorite spot when I used to visit. I looked out of the carriage to see it and noticed a mare contentedly grazing beside the drive.”
“I let Scarlet roam about. She always comes as soon as I call her. Your Grace, shall I send a groom with a spare horse?”
“That will not be necessary. I will walk.”
Laura stood up. After calling to the mare, she started walking down the slope at a brisk pace.
“Laura! Lady Laura! Wait!”
Laura didn’t stop. She heard Anthony behind her.
“Don’t walk away from me, Laura!”
Laura spun around. “It is you who walked away,” she said, furiously stabbing her finger into his chest. “I have had enough of it! You had better go away and find that suitable wife!”
“Which suitable wife?”
“You said if you adopted Annie you wouldn’t be able to find a suitable wife! Now you can!”
“My mother said that. Not I.”
Laura planted her hands on her hips. “Your mother said that because you didn’t tell her about me.”
“I didn’t tell my mother because I didn’t know if you would have me. I couldn’t raise her hopes.”
“You expect me to believe that? You didn’t come for months.”
“I was giving you time to think. I didn’t want to take advantage of your feelings. I was trying to do the right thing.”
Laura narrowed her eyes. “Fine! Do the right thing! Walk away. I shall ask Gareth to write to Lord Aourville. I believe he will make a suitable husband.”
“You shall do no such thing!” Anthony roared and pulled Laura into his arms.
Laura struggled but Anthony held her closer. Furious, she made a tight fist and lashed out. She didn’t know where her punch landed but it had the desired result. With a muttered oath, Anthony loosened his hold. Laura stepped back and glared at him.
“You are the most infuriating person of my acquaintance! I have always been praised for my calm disposition but you annoy me so much!”
Anthony leaned against the trunk of a magnificent oak and folded his arms across his chest.
“Don’t you dare say a word.”
Anthony placed a finger on his lips.
“And stop laughing at me.”
“I’m not laughing at you.”
“You are. With your eyes.”
Anthony threw back his head and laughed. “You are adorable, my love!”
Laura felt her face heating up. My love. She tried to think of something suitably repressing. Before her confused brain could string two words, Anthony took her hands into his and looked into her eyes.
“I’m humbled, Laura, that you still love me. That you love me enough to be yourself. You are reserved with others. Auroville wants to offer for you because you have no opinions of your own. He finds it a most ladylike quality. You have never been reserved with me, have you, Laura?”
Laura shook her head. “Why did you not come? I wanted you to come,” she said, not hiding the tremor in her voice.
“I was a fool. I thought I was being noble and doing the right thing but I was being an ass. I wanted to give you time to decide. I wanted to give Gareth time to talk sense into you.”
“And then?”
“I met Auroville at a horse breeder’s. He asked me if I would oblige him by writing to Gareth. He wanted to know whether you had a serious suitor.”
“What did you tell him?” Laura asked, laughing and going into Anthony’s arms.
“I told him you were practically engaged.”
“It appears I have to thank Lord Auroville for your presence.”
“I would have come to my senses sooner or later. Being noble was proving to be deuced difficult.”
“Doing the right thing is often difficult but it is a most praiseworthy trait. You must unhand me, your Grace. This is improper. You cannot be alone with me without a chaperone,” Laura said, putting on a prim look.
Anthony cupped her face in his hands. “Your chaperone is here,” he said as Scarlet ambled into view. “I hope she will oblige by looking the other way.”
Scarlet did not disappoint. As Anthony lowered his head, not only did she look the other way, she also stepped behind a tree.
An eternity later, Anthony whispered, “Laura, love, look at me.”
Laura’s eyes fluttered open.
“I love you, Laura.”
Laura gazed into Anthony’s eyes. The love and tenderness reflected in them washed away all her hurts. He looked vulnerable. A little frightened. She would rather have him smiling.
“You mustn’t say such things, your Grace. It isn’t proper,” she said with a teasing glint in her eyes.
Anthony did not point out that her actions belied her words. Instead of leaving his arms, she was snuggling closer. “A gentleman may not profess his love to his betrothed?” he asked.
‘Your betrothed, your Grace? Do you mean Scarlet? Or someone else? It certainly isn’t me as I don’t recall being asked!”
“Minx.”
“Am I not to receive an offer?”
“I dare not make you an offer. You might refuse for the sake of being contrary.”
“On the contrary, I might accept.”
Anthony went down on one knee and said, “Lady Laura, make me the happiest man alive. Marry me.”
“Of course I will! Silly man! Do you want your valet to die of an apoplectic fit? Now you have grass and mud stains! Do get up, pray!”
“My valet will be most relieved to know I have secured your hand. He has been complaining that I have become most unreasonable since leaving London.”
Scarlet chose that moment to appear. She nuzzled Laura’s shoulder, sounding impatient.
“We must start back, Anthony. It will be dark soon. Everyone must be worried.”
The Duke of Wimberley smiled. Laura had used his given name without being aware of it.
He helped Laura mount her mare, not that she needed his help. To Scarlet’s disgust, Laura did not allow her to go faster than the male of the human species who walked beside them. And that male was surely the slowest of the human species. He stopped every few steps to kiss her mistress.