"As to that, Gwen will do as she wants with or without my blessing."
"You underestimate your value to her."
"And you have not answered my question. Why aren't you speaking with my father right now?"
"Because if I see him, I might very well punch him in the face." It was an honest answer, but a risky one as well. Fortunately, the gamble paid off. Lord Redhill burst out laughing.
"Well, I can see we are of the same mind on that at least." Then he released a loud sigh. "Very well, Sir Edward Murray."
Edward frowned. It sounded as if he were being dismissed, but he didn't quite understand if he'd accomplished his mission or not. "My lord?"
"I said, very well. That means I shall make inquiries as to your background and broach the subject with my sister. If everything is how it should be, then you have my blessing. Though damned if I can see how you did it."
"Did what, my lord?"
"Caught her eye. You're not her usual sort."
He shrugged. "I'm not anyone's usual sort."
They paused a moment, sharing a long moment of growing respect. And in the silence, the butler knocked twice before entering with a tea tray. Edward could tell from the smell that it was a strong brew and his hand actually twitched with the need for it. Matching wits with Gwen at night and her brother in the morning was difficult work. He needed all the strength he could find.
"Go on," muttered Lord Redhill. "He has brought us tea, so you might as well sit and drink it."
Not the most generous invitation, but Edward took it gratefully. He settled down into a chair and soon both he and Lord Redhill were sipping an excellent brew. They talked for a half hour more, the topics general, the conversation genial. Edward's estimation of Lord Redhill grew with every exchange and he could only pray that the man felt the same way about him. Naturally, the man gave no clue as to his real thoughts. That would be reserved for after the financial inquiries were satisfied, as was perfectly appropriate.
But by the time Edward stood to leave, he was well satisfied with his progress. Until the very last moment, that is. He was just reaching for the library door when Lord Redhill spoke.
"One more thing, Sir Edward."
Edward paused and looked back.
"I intend to have the ivy stripped from the walls this very day. Then I shall put bars on my sister's window and broken glass on the sill."
Edward felt his eyebrows raise. "That sounds somewhat excessive."
"One learns with my sister that she was a woman of extremes. It is important to keep up."
"Really?" Edward drawled. "I have not known her to be inconstant in her moods."
Lord Redhill snorted. "Then you obviously haven't known her very long or very well. She is often happy one day, angry the next. In love one week, filled with hatred the very next."
"Ah," Edward said slowly. "I see that Gwen was right about you."
Lord Redhill blinked. "I beg your pardon?"
"She said you don't see her. Not clearly. Not since she was about fourteen."
The man's mouth dropped open in surprise. He was obviously at a loss for a response.
"But even so, she loves you to distraction," Edward continued. "It would devastate her if you did not approve of me."
Lord Redhill pushed to his full height. Not quite as tall as Edward, but he had a width and a power to his frame that could not be denied. "Then you'd best make sure you do not cross me."
Edward took the warning with a bow. "Learning how not to cross you, your parents, or Gwen is going to be quite the challenge."
"Are you up to it, boy?"
"No," he said honestly. "So it is good that I only have to please Gwen. And I think she is the one who will make the rest of you fall in line."
"She might at that," Lord Redhill said dryly. "Oh listen. I believe that is her dainty tread I hear stomping down the hallway this very moment."
Edward spun around. It was fortunate that he was light on his feet. He jumped back from the door just as Gwen was throwing it wide. She looked fresh and beautiful this
"You underestimate your value to her."
"And you have not answered my question. Why aren't you speaking with my father right now?"
"Because if I see him, I might very well punch him in the face." It was an honest answer, but a risky one as well. Fortunately, the gamble paid off. Lord Redhill burst out laughing.
"Well, I can see we are of the same mind on that at least." Then he released a loud sigh. "Very well, Sir Edward Murray."
Edward frowned. It sounded as if he were being dismissed, but he didn't quite understand if he'd accomplished his mission or not. "My lord?"
"I said, very well. That means I shall make inquiries as to your background and broach the subject with my sister. If everything is how it should be, then you have my blessing. Though damned if I can see how you did it."
"Did what, my lord?"
"Caught her eye. You're not her usual sort."
He shrugged. "I'm not anyone's usual sort."
They paused a moment, sharing a long moment of growing respect. And in the silence, the butler knocked twice before entering with a tea tray. Edward could tell from the smell that it was a strong brew and his hand actually twitched with the need for it. Matching wits with Gwen at night and her brother in the morning was difficult work. He needed all the strength he could find.
"Go on," muttered Lord Redhill. "He has brought us tea, so you might as well sit and drink it."
Not the most generous invitation, but Edward took it gratefully. He settled down into a chair and soon both he and Lord Redhill were sipping an excellent brew. They talked for a half hour more, the topics general, the conversation genial. Edward's estimation of Lord Redhill grew with every exchange and he could only pray that the man felt the same way about him. Naturally, the man gave no clue as to his real thoughts. That would be reserved for after the financial inquiries were satisfied, as was perfectly appropriate.
But by the time Edward stood to leave, he was well satisfied with his progress. Until the very last moment, that is. He was just reaching for the library door when Lord Redhill spoke.
"One more thing, Sir Edward."
Edward paused and looked back.
"I intend to have the ivy stripped from the walls this very day. Then I shall put bars on my sister's window and broken glass on the sill."
Edward felt his eyebrows raise. "That sounds somewhat excessive."
"One learns with my sister that she was a woman of extremes. It is important to keep up."
"Really?" Edward drawled. "I have not known her to be inconstant in her moods."
Lord Redhill snorted. "Then you obviously haven't known her very long or very well. She is often happy one day, angry the next. In love one week, filled with hatred the very next."
"Ah," Edward said slowly. "I see that Gwen was right about you."
Lord Redhill blinked. "I beg your pardon?"
"She said you don't see her. Not clearly. Not since she was about fourteen."
The man's mouth dropped open in surprise. He was obviously at a loss for a response.
"But even so, she loves you to distraction," Edward continued. "It would devastate her if you did not approve of me."
Lord Redhill pushed to his full height. Not quite as tall as Edward, but he had a width and a power to his frame that could not be denied. "Then you'd best make sure you do not cross me."
Edward took the warning with a bow. "Learning how not to cross you, your parents, or Gwen is going to be quite the challenge."
"Are you up to it, boy?"
"No," he said honestly. "So it is good that I only have to please Gwen. And I think she is the one who will make the rest of you fall in line."
"She might at that," Lord Redhill said dryly. "Oh listen. I believe that is her dainty tread I hear stomping down the hallway this very moment."
Edward spun around. It was fortunate that he was light on his feet. He jumped back from the door just as Gwen was throwing it wide. She looked fresh and beautiful this
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