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“I see you still have not mastered diplomacy.” Colebourne sauntered inside the parlor. He sat down in his favorite chair by the window.
Lucas scowled. “Your interference is not needed, Father.”
Colebourne sighed. “I agree.”
Lucas swung his gaze to his father. “You agree? Have you fallen ill again or is this another twist to your manipulations?”
Colebourne smiled at his son with a patience he had used on the boy when Lucas was younger and always getting into mischief. Since then, Lucas had grown into a gentleman to make a father proud. However, through the years, the boy had lost his sense of mischief and turned into a stuffed-shirt proper gentleman who allowed the rules of society to dictate his life. Those same rules kept him from declaring his love for the lady who had stomped from the parlor in a huff.
Colebourne had hoped Lucas would come to his senses concerning the lass. Instead, he made his relationship with Abigail worse off than before the holidays. During Colebourne’s recovery, the two had come to a truce of sorts, but it appeared as if his son had broken the delicate connection this afternoon.
“No. I am perfectly fit. I have decided to stop interfering with you and Abigail because I now see the error of my ways. It would be a mistake on my part to force a match between you and Abigail.”
“Finally.”
Colebourne continued, watching his son with skepticism. “Yes. It was wrong of me to force you into another union not of your choosing. After your betrothal to Selina ended, I should have stopped. You should have the same option of choosing your own bride as I had when I chose your mother. A lady who fits in with your standing in society and who will not embarrass you with her lowly beginnings. A lady who will listen to your word and not argue her stand. It is not fair of me to saddle you with a bride who doesn’t share your values or outlook on life.”
Colebourne paused, expecting Lucas to make an objection. When Lucas didn’t, he continued. “Nor is it fair to Abigail. She deserves a gentleman who loves her for the lovely soul she is. I only hope you make a wise choice and it will not cause any sort of disruption in our family.”
Lucas had started pacing during his father’s speech. While his father sounded sincere, he didn’t quite believe a word he spoke. His father could spin a yard as well as the most polished politician. However, his father displayed not a hint of deviousness. He appeared to speak the truth and Lucas took him at his word. Only the comments of him not playing matchmaker, the other comments his father spoke were false.
“Thank you for not interfering with my decision to not pursue Abigail as a bride. I am glad that you finally see reason, no matter how mistaken you are in my objections.”
Colebourne’s brows drew together in confusion. “How so?”
Lucas started pacing again as he made his points valid. “First of all, Abigail is the finest of all the ladies in England. I would only hold honor if she were to become my bride. Second, she has more grace and beauty than those vultures who call themselves my peers. Abigail puts them to shame. Also, I hold her opinion on all matters with respect. She makes valid points with her arguments, unlike those other silly debutantes who, heaven forbid, have a thought of their own.”
Lucas stopped before his father and glared at him. “And for my last objection, I love her for the lovely soul she is. No other gentleman is as worthy of her as I am.”
Colebourne clapped his hands together. “Excellent. What is your course of action to persuade her to forgive your ill attempts at acting a gentleman? You must hurry and profess your love soon. We leave for London in two weeks, and she plans on accepting the post with Lord Ross.”
Lucas stared at his father in disbelief. “I am not asking Abigail to marry me, nor am I professing my love. Whatever gave you that assumption?”
“Why, you. Only a few seconds ago, you professed your love and how wonderful of a wife Abigail would be for you.”
Lucas turned away, running his hands through his hair. His father had done it again. He had provoked him into confessing his affections for Abigail by pretending indifference to Lucas’s choice for a bride. The conniving old man. He didn’t know who was more exasperating today. Abigail or his father.
“You are mistaken once again. I only stated how I viewed Abigail. It by no means was my declaration of undying love or of a proposal to come. Also, what is your intention in providing Abigail with false information on Lord Ross’s character?”
“I provided no false information. I have corresponded with Lord Ross myself and find him to be an honorable fellow worthy of gaining Abigail as a governess,” Colebourne stated.
“On what standards?” Lucas questioned.
Colebourne folded his hands in his lap. “On the fact of his devotion to his daughters. He cares for their welfare by providing them with the care worthy of his love by hiring Abigail. Lord Ross provided me with his promise of allowing Abigail time off whenever someone needs her. He understands her connection to our family and supports keeping the ties bonded.”
Lucas scoffed. “A regular commendable gentleman he is.”
“Yes, I believe he is. Who knows, maybe he will fall in love with our Abigail,” Colebourne baited his son.
Lucas snarled. “Never.”
Colebourne shrugged. “An act out of our control. Only fate will decide.”
Lucas shook his head. “Fate? Now, I know you have recovered. You are still as maddening as ever.”
“It is much better to be mad than an arrogant arse who with each passing day proves he is unworthy of a certain lady’s love.”
Lucas didn’t even bother to reply to his father’s taunts and stormed out of the parlor. As much as he wanted to deny his love for Abigail, his father spoke the truth. But it was the depth of his love that stopped him from pursuing her. If he would, then she would endure a lifetime of whispers behind her back, shunned at every event they attended, shamed just because she had been born to a servant. No matter how much her mother and his family loved her, it wouldn’t erase her humble beginnings. He would endure a lifetime of never experiencing their love for Abigail to never suffer from another person’s slander.
Not even understanding how his rejection hurt her more deeply than any act by another person.
~~~~~
“YOUR GRACE?”
“Yes, Oakes.”
The butler frowned at the duke. “Per your instructions, I had the guests diverted to Lord Sinclair’s home. I have a message from Lady Forrester.”
Colebourne held out his hand for the missive. “Excellent. Now we must keep Lucas and Abigail away from the road by any means necessary.”
Oakes nodded. “Also, I informed the servants of the plot. They wish for me to convey their desire to assist you in any way they are capable of.”
Colebourne laughed. “The most devoted of servants. Tell the lot I will appreciate any assistance given. But they must do so without Lucas or Abigail becoming suspicious.”
“I will relay the message. Is there anything else you require?”
“Yes, inform Mrs. Oakes that I shall dine in my bedchamber this evening.” He winked at Oakes.
Oakes smiled. “Very well, Your Grace.” He bowed and left the duke alone to read his letter and finish plotting his latest match.
Colebourne opened Susanna’s message.
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THEODORE,
What a marvelous decision to route the guests to Charlie & Jasper’s home. We will settle in here until you send word for us to arrive. I hope during this delay, Lucas and Abigail will set their stubbornness to the side and admit how much they care for one another. I know how much you want them to find their happily ever after together.
If they still haven’t connected once we arrive, then I, along with the rest of the family, will attempt the impossible. And if we cannot, then we must accept what is not meant to be. We owe it to Lucas and Abigail to respect their wishes. However, that time has yet to happen.
All is fair in love and war, my cohort.
The madness of our matchmaking will prevail.
Your faithful co-conspirator,
Susanna
Colebourne chuckled. “I can always count on your lovely sister,” he spoke to the image sitting across from him.
Olivia shook her head at his ploys. But the mischievous grin lighting her face spoke of her approval. His son would call him mad for speaking to his mother as if she were present. But over the years, he had sought comfort from their imaginary visits. Their secret conversations kept him sane while raising Lucas and his wards.
“I promise you, Livvy, I will succeed and make a match between Lucas and Abigail.”
“I know you will, my love.” Olivia’s whisper floated away with her memory.