Redhill. "Why is this man different?"
"Because the ivy beneath Lady Gwendolyn's window has been disturbed." And on that hideous note, the butler bowed himself out and closed the door behind him.
"Bloody hell," said Gwen's brother as he hunched over his desk glaring. He didn't offer Edward a seat. "Tell me why I shouldn't call you out right now."
Edward squared his shoulders. This was not how he'd intended this meeting to go. But when had anything involving Lady Gwen gone as he'd planned? Never. Best to proceed quickly.
"I intend to marry your sister. If you wish to call out her future husband, then that is your choice. However I can assure you that your sister is still innocent."
Lord Redhill's eyebrows rose. "Never that. First thing Gwen did when she was born was piss on the doctor. She's been guilty of some mischief every day of her life since then."
Edward opened his mouth to deny such a thing, but then shut it a moment later. Gwen was full of mischief. It was her most endearing and dangerous quality. So he sat in silence while his future brother-in-law glared at him. Edward became acutely aware of his less-than-fashionable clothing, the awkwardness of his height, even the burn in his eyes from weariness. But despite that, he maintained his composure and never once broke eye contact with Lord Redhill.
It was a very long wait. And in the silence Edward discovered a way to prove himself. All it took was a single question.
"How does your mother fare today?"
Lord Redhill jolted. "I beg your pardon?"
"Your mother. Is she better this morning? I, um, my mother has some lotion that she swears is the best for ankle sores. She is prone to them from new boots. It is her own mixture from honey and... I don't know what all. I could ask her to send some."
Lord Redhill did not respond, except to lean back in his chair and continue to stare at Edward. Obviously, he was thinking hard, but about what? In the end, he nodded slowly. "I am sure my mother would welcome such a thing."
"I shall write Mama this very afternoon."
Lord Redhill leaned forward and picked Edward's card off his very cluttered desk. He flipped it over and over in his fingers. "I did not realize that my mother's illness was common knowledge."
"It is not. I learned it from Lady Gwendolyn in confidence."
"In confidence," Lord Redhill echoed. "That is not something she would usually share with anyone."
"I am not the usual friend."
"Obviously not." Then the man pursed his lips. "A mere baronet. She is the daughter of an earl and can look quite higher than you."
Edward dipped his chin in acknowledgment. "I believe she has looked higher. But she found me."
"Does she want you?"
That was a question that could be answered many ways. The only gentlemanly response was a non-answer. "You shall have to ask her that."
Then before they could continue with the awkward discussion of Gwen's wants, Edward passed a different card forward. Lord Redhill took it, peering at the lettering in suspicion.
"That is the name of my solicitor," Edward said. "He has been directed to answer all your questions regarding my status. I believe I can support your sister as she deserves. Even more, I believe I can make her happy."
Her brother snorted in disbelief. "Happy? Gwen doesn't want happiness. She's a girl. She wants passion, excitement, and love."
"What she wants," returned Edward rather too sharply, "is for her mother to be better, her father to be moderate, and her brothers to be present. What she has found, however, is me. And I can make her happy."
"Bold words from someone I have just met." Lord Redhill leaned even further back in his chair, but Edward did not make the mistake of thinking the man relaxed. If anything, his eyes were more piercing than before. "Why did you not apply to my father? That is the usual way of things when asking for a lady's hand."
"I am not asking you for her hand. Only she can give me that. I am asking for your blessing."
Lord Redhill snorted.
"Because the ivy beneath Lady Gwendolyn's window has been disturbed." And on that hideous note, the butler bowed himself out and closed the door behind him.
"Bloody hell," said Gwen's brother as he hunched over his desk glaring. He didn't offer Edward a seat. "Tell me why I shouldn't call you out right now."
Edward squared his shoulders. This was not how he'd intended this meeting to go. But when had anything involving Lady Gwen gone as he'd planned? Never. Best to proceed quickly.
"I intend to marry your sister. If you wish to call out her future husband, then that is your choice. However I can assure you that your sister is still innocent."
Lord Redhill's eyebrows rose. "Never that. First thing Gwen did when she was born was piss on the doctor. She's been guilty of some mischief every day of her life since then."
Edward opened his mouth to deny such a thing, but then shut it a moment later. Gwen was full of mischief. It was her most endearing and dangerous quality. So he sat in silence while his future brother-in-law glared at him. Edward became acutely aware of his less-than-fashionable clothing, the awkwardness of his height, even the burn in his eyes from weariness. But despite that, he maintained his composure and never once broke eye contact with Lord Redhill.
It was a very long wait. And in the silence Edward discovered a way to prove himself. All it took was a single question.
"How does your mother fare today?"
Lord Redhill jolted. "I beg your pardon?"
"Your mother. Is she better this morning? I, um, my mother has some lotion that she swears is the best for ankle sores. She is prone to them from new boots. It is her own mixture from honey and... I don't know what all. I could ask her to send some."
Lord Redhill did not respond, except to lean back in his chair and continue to stare at Edward. Obviously, he was thinking hard, but about what? In the end, he nodded slowly. "I am sure my mother would welcome such a thing."
"I shall write Mama this very afternoon."
Lord Redhill leaned forward and picked Edward's card off his very cluttered desk. He flipped it over and over in his fingers. "I did not realize that my mother's illness was common knowledge."
"It is not. I learned it from Lady Gwendolyn in confidence."
"In confidence," Lord Redhill echoed. "That is not something she would usually share with anyone."
"I am not the usual friend."
"Obviously not." Then the man pursed his lips. "A mere baronet. She is the daughter of an earl and can look quite higher than you."
Edward dipped his chin in acknowledgment. "I believe she has looked higher. But she found me."
"Does she want you?"
That was a question that could be answered many ways. The only gentlemanly response was a non-answer. "You shall have to ask her that."
Then before they could continue with the awkward discussion of Gwen's wants, Edward passed a different card forward. Lord Redhill took it, peering at the lettering in suspicion.
"That is the name of my solicitor," Edward said. "He has been directed to answer all your questions regarding my status. I believe I can support your sister as she deserves. Even more, I believe I can make her happy."
Her brother snorted in disbelief. "Happy? Gwen doesn't want happiness. She's a girl. She wants passion, excitement, and love."
"What she wants," returned Edward rather too sharply, "is for her mother to be better, her father to be moderate, and her brothers to be present. What she has found, however, is me. And I can make her happy."
"Bold words from someone I have just met." Lord Redhill leaned even further back in his chair, but Edward did not make the mistake of thinking the man relaxed. If anything, his eyes were more piercing than before. "Why did you not apply to my father? That is the usual way of things when asking for a lady's hand."
"I am not asking you for her hand. Only she can give me that. I am asking for your blessing."
Lord Redhill snorted.
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