Eleven Days to go.
“Have you heard from Monsale?” asked Naomi, popping her head around the door of her mother’s sitting room.
It was late morning and Naomi had held off for as long as she could. She was desperate to discover how things between Monsale and Miss Constance Harforde had gone the previous evening.
Kitty lifted her gaze from the note which sat open on her desk. She beckoned for her daughter to enter. Naomi, hands behind her back and fingers crossed, stepped into the room. Her eyes flitted to the paper, then back to her mother’s pensive face.
“I received this missive from Monsale House just over an hour ago. Apparently, Mister Harforde treated Monsale like he was a dirty interloper. Said some very unkind things about his father. Accused him of being a pirate. Needless to say, Constance is off the list.”
Doing her best to hide her delight at this news, Naomi adopted a thoughtful study to her demeanor. “Well, I suppose Mister Harforde was correct. James McNeal was a pirate. Isn’t that why his brother sailed to Bermuda? The duke was coming to take custody of the young Andrew, to save him from a life of villainy.”
Kitty sighed. “Naomi, we do not ever discuss the details of Monsale’s provenance, even at home. Why your father foolishly trusted you with that secret, I shall never understand.”
Because he saw the effect Monsale had on me the moment we met.
Lady Naomi Steele might have been but a girl, but the attraction was instantaneous. Unlike her mother, the Duke of Redditch wasn’t blind to his daughter’s infatuation with the orphaned Andrew McNeal. Her father had told her the truth of Monsale’s past as soon as she reached a marriageable age. She suspected his logic to be one of, the more you know about the devil, the less chance you have of eloping with him.
Kitty may well think she had the right of it when it came to the full extent of Monsale’s sordid past, but it was nothing to what her daughter knew of his more recent exploits. And while Harry had let more salacious details slip over the years, Naomi had also made a point of filling in as many of the gaps as she could herself.
Her father might have hoped his advice had deterred her from any thoughts of loving Monsale, but it had had quite the opposite effect. She was steadfast in her love for the leader of the rogues of the road. Determined that she would one day be his wife. That he would freely offer her his love.
And how well is that plan going?
The issue of the other ladies on her mother’s list was her main concern this morning. If she could overcome that obstacle, Monsale would be forced to reconsider his options.
“Such a pity about Constance. Oh, well. That leaves only two names on the list. Who is next and when is Monsale going to meet with her?”
And how soon can I strike her name off the list?
“Lady Miriam Shadbolt. Monsale is going to host the Shadbolt family at his home this evening,” replied Kitty.
The titter at hearing Miriam Shadbolt’s name, died instantly on Naomi’s lips. He had invited people to dine at Monsale House?
Monsale never has guests at his home. I have known him since I was a child, and I’ve never been allowed to set foot in the place. And now he has…
She hadn’t seen this coming.
Think. What do you know about Miriam Shadbolt, apart from her being a dullard?
Her smile crept back to her face. She knew plenty about the Shadbolt family. And had heard all the sordid rumors. Many of which she knew to be true.
“The Shadbolt family was an odd choice Mama. You know their reputation about the ton is almost as bad as Monsale’s.”
“Desperate times call for desperate measures. There are far fewer families in town at the moment than I had thought there were. And while the Shadbolt’s are known to be a little tight with their blunt, they are a perfectly acceptable ton family. And, you shouldn’t be making those sorts of remarks about Monsale,” tutted Kitty.
It took all of Naomi’s strength to hide her utter delight knowing Miriam Grasping Shadbolt was next on the list. She had no doubt that Monsale would find the money hungry family distasteful. He might well be the financial genius that Harry had whispered he was, but she knew Monsale wasn’t one for engaging in any sort of discussion about the crass subject of money.
What did have her concerned, however, was the haste at which he was moving in his search for a wife. Three days, and already he was almost halfway through the list. By the end of today, there was every chance that only one name would remain.
I have to make certain that lady number two is out of the running, then focus on the last one.
If she was going to bring Monsale to his knees, and have him pleading for her hand in marriage, she had better move fast.
“So, what are your plans for the day?” asked her mother.
“I am going to visit Alice and baby Jonathan this morning, then do a spot of shopping. After that, I might just come home and stay in for the rest of the day. There aren’t any entertainments or parties of note on offer tonight.”
Kitty folded up Monsale’s letter with a sigh. “Are you sure you don’t want to add your name to the list? I am certain Monsale would have no objection.”
Naomi shook her head. His having no objection was the root of the problem. She wasn’t going to be made to feel honored at being considered for the position of his wife.
He is going to fight for me. If he won’t, then we are destined never to wed.
Her parents had been happily married for many years. Like any other couple, they had their moments of disagreements, but there was passion, commitment, and love evident between them. And she wanted to see the same glint of desire shining in Monsale’s eyes whenever he looked at her, as she saw when her father cast his gaze lovingly over Kitty.
I want to be wanted. And for him to ache for my love.
“Thank you, Mama, but I am firmly set on my decision. I am not going on the list, and the sooner Monsale gets that through his thick skull the better.”
Kitty rose from her writing desk and came to embrace her. She pulled Naomi into a warm, motherly hug. “I don’t know what you think you are playing at my girl, but I must caution you, this is not a game. By the end of this week, Monsale will have chosen his bride. A wedding shall no doubt be conducted as swiftly after that as can be arranged. If you want to be the woman to whom he is standing next to in front of the priest, then be very careful about your next move.”
Pulling out of her mother’s arms, Naomi placed a tender kiss on Kitty’s cheek.
“Thank you, Mama. I think I have the measure of him. And if I don’t, then I only have myself to blame. I shall give your love to Alice and the baby.”