Page 25 of The Snow Angel of a Duke
CHAPTER10
EPILOGUE
Two Sundays later, Christmas Eve, in Lord Stonely’s study at Stonefield Manor
“I cannot decide if I should admonish you for having ruined my only daughter, or if I should double her dowry, Your Grace,” Mark, Marquess of Stonely, stated before handing Andrew a glass of brandy.
Beyond the study’s only window, water dripped from the manor’s eves as the snow on the roof melted in the bright sunshine.
“I am quite prepared tobeadmonished,” the duke replied. “I now understand how it is a proper gentleman can succumb to a dose of angel dust and find himself irrevocably, deeply, and madly in love. As for her dowry, whatever you have set aside will be acceptable.”
Although the banns had only been read twice during the past two Sunday services—which had those in Kirkby Kendal all abuzz with wonder—Angelika had already taken on the running of the Dunfey Park household. She continued to see to Stonefield Manor in the middle of the day.
“Truth be told, I thought you were betrothed to someone else, or I might have introduced you and Angel years ago,” Mark responded.
“Oh, I was. Lady Phoebe broke it off, which is a good thing since she’s betrothed to your son.”
Mark winced. “Something I learned only a few weeks ago when I collected him from the ship that brought him back from the Mediterranean,” he said. “Robert barely arrived here before he took off to pay a call on her father.” His eyes suddenly widened. “Wait. How is it you know about his betrothal?”
Andrew chuckled softly. “It seems your younger son paid witness to their betrothal at one of the district balls you hosted here at your house.”
“Ah,” the marquess replied, sitting back in his chair. “Richard is rather resourceful when it comes to gathering information.”
“He’s quite... knowledgable about the goings on here and over at Dunfey Park,” Andrew hedged, “which suggests he may have borrowed your spy glass.”
Mark’s eyes once again rounded as he glanced over to where a telescope should have been mounted near his window. “I’ve a mind to recommend him to Chamberlain at the Foreign Office. He could be a master spy,” he groused.
Chuckling, Andrew said, “An acceptable position for a second son, I should think.” He finally relaxed. His worry about the marquess’ reaction to his request for Angelika’s hand had been needless, especially when he reminded Stonely there would be no need for her to have a Season in London with the requisite wardrobe and presentation to the queen.
Angling his head to one side, Mark said, “I cannot tell you how surprised I was when Bronson told me of your arrival. I understood from our past meetings that you never leave Dunfey Park.”
“Until a bit over a week ago, I didn’t,” Andrew admitted.
“What’s happened to change that?”
Andrew inhaled to answer before dipping his head. “A snow angel appeared in my back garden, and before I knew it, I was falling for her. Quite literally.”
Mark smirked. “You had a soft landing, I hope?”
Once again chuckling, Andrew said, “Yes, but I left quite an impression.” Having passed by the location of his snow angel only a half-hour earlier, he was relieved to see the evidence of it nearly gone in the melting snow.
Meanwhile, his other snow angel was making an impression on the Dunfey Park staff. He had worried she might not be welcomed by his housekeeper and the cook when in fact they seemed relieved to have someone seeing to menus and the household accounts. They were especially happy to be creating wreaths and sprays to decorate Dunfey Park for Christmas. The entire ground floor had smelled of pine boughs when he departed the hour prior, and before he had made it past the parterre garden, he passed two footmen who were lugging a yule log into the house.
Seeing him leave through the front door had one of the footmen so shocked, he nearly dropped his end of the log.
“So, when will you wed?” Mark asked.
“New Year’s Day, if you’ll allow it.”
“Of course I’ll allow it, but...” the marquess shook his head. “Perhaps Lady Phoebe can be coerced into a quick wedding. Unless you’re going to allow Angel to continue running both households, Stonefield will require a new lady of the house.”
“Or perhapsyoucould take a wife,” Andrew suggested, arching a brow.
Mark let out a guffaw. “I rather doubt I’m going to find a spinster or a widow of thetonwilling to live so far from London,” he said.
“I discovered one doesn’t have to go far to find one’s very own angel,” Andrew countered. “There is probably one ready to fall for you in Kirkby Kendal.” He set aside his empty glass and stood. “And I rather doubt you’ll have to make a snow angel to prove yourself.”
Coming to his feet, Mark gave the duke a look of confusion before he shook hands with him. “I can’t imagine what kind of impression that might make on a lady,” he remarked.
Grinning, Andrew said, “The very best kind, it seems. At least it did for me.” He gave a nod. “Good day.”
Mark watched his future son-in-law take his leave, a vision of angels dancing in his head.
