Page 32 of Vying for a Viscount
He chuckled. “You took pity on me?” he teased. “I believe it was the other way around. I saw this beautiful woman and felt empathy for her as all her married friends surrounded her.”
“Funny, but a total lie.”
“I have something I need to tell you.” The moment he began to speak, his body language changed. Gone was the relaxed, carefree Greyson, replaced by the tense version she’d met a time or two. “On Wednesday, I leave for Danbury Estate. There are things I need to take care of. I must meet with the estate manager. Correspondence can only convey the information he wants to share with me. I feel I owe it to my father to visit at least once a year to check on the tenants, the servants, and the manager, to ensure he is doing his job adequately. I refuse to let the estate be run to the ground by the manager, as has happened many times when the title holder prefers London and neglects his other properties. People suffer, buildings fall into disrepair, and animals suffer, to name a few.”
Letitia pulled away from his arms and looked at him. “You would never neglect your duties, so you don’t have to convince me otherwise. Go. Take care of whatever needs tending. I will be waiting when you return.”
He brought both her hands to his lips, kissing one, then the other, before returning them to her lap. “Thank you for understanding.”
“Did you think I wouldn’t understand?” Everything he said rang true and was what the lords of estates did. They often visited their country estates. Why did he think she wouldn’t understand?
“I knew you would. It’s just that we’ve finally begun courting, and I have to leave.”
“Are you afraid some other gentleman will come into my life, sweep me off my feet, steal me away to their castle, and ravish me?” She was only half teasing. Part of her believed he thought that way.Which was silly, since she hadn’t seen him for months after Newmarket, and no gentleman had come calling on her. Not even once, and he knew this.
“Yes and no,” he exhaled. “At least I hope not. And if some other man calls on you, I’d hope you’d send him away with his self-esteem bruised and a shattered heart.” He kissed her gently. “Because you are mine.” He kissed her again, and she tried not to fall off the bench in shock at hearing him say those words.
He jumped up, his hand out. “Come, my princess. I need to make sure Warren hasn’t ruined my sister. If he has, that double wedding will happen quite quickly.”
Letitia was glad to hear his voice; his expression and demeanor were back to normal. She took his hand, and they strolled back through the gardens, swinging their joined arms back and forth like children. “Do you think Hunter proposed yet?”
“Bloody hell, I forgot about them. You make me lose myself in your lips. And to answer your question, yes. It was probably the first thing he did when he got her alone. I hope they’re either back inside the drawing room or will be soon. I’d hate to have to go looking for them.”
“Yes. That could get awkward.”
“Please, don’t remind me.”
“Greyson, I’m shocked,” she huffed. “You can pull a lady into your arms and kiss her senseless, but you can’t accept Hunter doing the same with Anastasia?”
“I know. I know. It sounds ridiculous, but she’s my sister.”
“With one of your best friends, about to be married to him.”
“Once again, I know. I wouldn’t want her married to anyone else. It’s still...” He paused.
“Hard to think about and witness,” she said.
“Exactly.”
“I don’t understand men. Oh, look,” she said softly with a smile,and her insides warmed with joy.
“What?”
“Shh. Look who’s on the veranda.”
“They look happy together,” he murmured, tightening his grip on her hand.
“They do,” she sighed.
They ascended the stairs, and only when they stood on the veranda did Hunter and Anastasia notice they were no longer alone.
“Jacob proposed,” Anastasia said with exuberance.
Letitia kissed Anastasia’s cheek. “Congratulations to both of you.”
“Yes,” Greyson said, kissing his sister’s cheek and shaking Hunter’s hand. “Congratulations.”
Anastasia looked positively glowing in the lantern light. “Can we marry as soon as the banns are posted?” She reached for Hunter’s hand and intertwined their fingers. “We don’t want to wait or have a large wedding. Only close family and friends.”
