conversation away from his family. “So how fares your da? Still living in that goose pie of a house in Edinburgh?”
“Aye, that he is. Still calls it that, too. In fact it is known across town now as Auld Ramsay’s Goose Pie.”
“Och, no. You canna be serious. It was meant as a jest when I called it that.”
“Aye, Douglas, but you know my da. Says ’tis the best name he’s heard yet to describe it. So the name just stuck.”
The three men chatted quietly over the next quarter hour, filling the time with commonplace topics, the weather, hunting, even card play. At precisely the stroke of eight, the ladies came into the room to join them.
From the moment they arrived, resplendent in silks and lace, Douglas forgot all about the duke and their discussion earlier that day. As soon as he saw them, as soon as he saw her, he was captivated.
Elizabeth wore her hair up, with thick glossy curls gracing her neck, a neck adorned by a single strand of pearls the same creamy color as her skin. Her gown, cut low over her breasts, was a smoky blue satin edged in golden lace that glimmered beneath the candlelight whenever she moved. She was exquisite, a vision, indeed, like an apparition who could tempt a man with just the arch of her brow or a single crook of her finger. And all the while he was standing there watching her, marveling at her, yes, even desiring her, it never even occurred to Douglas, not once, that this same bewitching woman was his wife.
“Supper is now served, your grace,” said a footman who’d just come into the room. Douglas had been so intent on Elizabeth, he hadn’t noticed the man’s arrival.
“Indeed,” said the duchess, “then we shall all move on into the dining room.”
The duke, however, called Douglas back, motioning for the duchess to go on with the others. “We’ll join you in just a moment, pet.”
When they were alone, Sudeleigh turned to face Douglas. The expression on his face was grave, purposeful. He’d apparently reached his decision in the matter of this marriage.
“Your grace.”
“A question, if you please, sir, before I make my answer to your proposal.”
Douglas inclined his head. “Aye.”
“Why did you conceal from me the fact that you were of the Scottish nobility? Mr. Ramsay made mention of your estate, Dunakin. That would make you the Earl of Dunakin?”
“The title was forfeit with the land. I hid nothing, your grace. You simply saw what you wanted to see. A poor, uneducated bloody Scot who had seized the opportunity to wed a duke’s daughter.”
The duke’s face colored only slightly at having been overheard earlier that day.
“Few farmers can tell the difference between a Ming vase and a Japanese imitation,” he said. “Apparently few dukes can either.” Sudeleigh smirked at himself. “I don’t suppose you’ve told my daughter the truth of your identity.”
“Like her father, your grace, Lady Elizabeth saw only what she wanted to see. I saw no reason to tell her otherwise.”
The duke stared at him for a long moment. Finally he said, “Mr. MacKinnon, as I’m sure you must be aware, if I were to seek the annulment of your marriage to mydaughter, it would produce a scandal of unfathomable proportion in London.”
“I cannot see that anyone would care.”
“I would care a great deal, as it could have an effect on my position at Court. Obviously I am reluctant to arouse such a stew of gossip, but at the same time, I am also a father who loves his daughter, and thus does not wish her to live a life of unhappiness.”
Douglas merely nodded.
“I’m sure you are aware that my daughter has a tendency to be . . .” He hesitated, searching for the right words. “A bit headstrong.”
Douglas saw no reason to affirm the obvious.
“She was our first, and I have been too indulgent with her, I admit. She has never had to learn what it is to face the consequences of her deeds. I come to think, however, after this most recent affair,
“Aye, that he is. Still calls it that, too. In fact it is known across town now as Auld Ramsay’s Goose Pie.”
“Och, no. You canna be serious. It was meant as a jest when I called it that.”
“Aye, Douglas, but you know my da. Says ’tis the best name he’s heard yet to describe it. So the name just stuck.”
The three men chatted quietly over the next quarter hour, filling the time with commonplace topics, the weather, hunting, even card play. At precisely the stroke of eight, the ladies came into the room to join them.
From the moment they arrived, resplendent in silks and lace, Douglas forgot all about the duke and their discussion earlier that day. As soon as he saw them, as soon as he saw her, he was captivated.
Elizabeth wore her hair up, with thick glossy curls gracing her neck, a neck adorned by a single strand of pearls the same creamy color as her skin. Her gown, cut low over her breasts, was a smoky blue satin edged in golden lace that glimmered beneath the candlelight whenever she moved. She was exquisite, a vision, indeed, like an apparition who could tempt a man with just the arch of her brow or a single crook of her finger. And all the while he was standing there watching her, marveling at her, yes, even desiring her, it never even occurred to Douglas, not once, that this same bewitching woman was his wife.
“Supper is now served, your grace,” said a footman who’d just come into the room. Douglas had been so intent on Elizabeth, he hadn’t noticed the man’s arrival.
“Indeed,” said the duchess, “then we shall all move on into the dining room.”
The duke, however, called Douglas back, motioning for the duchess to go on with the others. “We’ll join you in just a moment, pet.”
When they were alone, Sudeleigh turned to face Douglas. The expression on his face was grave, purposeful. He’d apparently reached his decision in the matter of this marriage.
“Your grace.”
“A question, if you please, sir, before I make my answer to your proposal.”
Douglas inclined his head. “Aye.”
“Why did you conceal from me the fact that you were of the Scottish nobility? Mr. Ramsay made mention of your estate, Dunakin. That would make you the Earl of Dunakin?”
“The title was forfeit with the land. I hid nothing, your grace. You simply saw what you wanted to see. A poor, uneducated bloody Scot who had seized the opportunity to wed a duke’s daughter.”
The duke’s face colored only slightly at having been overheard earlier that day.
“Few farmers can tell the difference between a Ming vase and a Japanese imitation,” he said. “Apparently few dukes can either.” Sudeleigh smirked at himself. “I don’t suppose you’ve told my daughter the truth of your identity.”
“Like her father, your grace, Lady Elizabeth saw only what she wanted to see. I saw no reason to tell her otherwise.”
The duke stared at him for a long moment. Finally he said, “Mr. MacKinnon, as I’m sure you must be aware, if I were to seek the annulment of your marriage to mydaughter, it would produce a scandal of unfathomable proportion in London.”
“I cannot see that anyone would care.”
“I would care a great deal, as it could have an effect on my position at Court. Obviously I am reluctant to arouse such a stew of gossip, but at the same time, I am also a father who loves his daughter, and thus does not wish her to live a life of unhappiness.”
Douglas merely nodded.
“I’m sure you are aware that my daughter has a tendency to be . . .” He hesitated, searching for the right words. “A bit headstrong.”
Douglas saw no reason to affirm the obvious.
“She was our first, and I have been too indulgent with her, I admit. She has never had to learn what it is to face the consequences of her deeds. I come to think, however, after this most recent affair,
Similar Books
