Page 73 of A Scot on Duchess Square
His gaze came to rest on Gwenys, who was still sniffling, her lips trembling. “Well,” he said, hiding the ache he felt in his heart, “I’m sorry, lass. But I dinna think yer aunt cares to wed me. We’ll have to come up with another idea.”
What could he do if not even this incident was enough to convince Miranda they ought to be husband and wife?
Blast. She had admitted she loved him. He had made no secret of loving her. There did not need to be anything more.
Well, he’d deal with Miranda later. Right now, Gwenys was the problem. He hadn’t a clue yet what to do to keep her safely out of the hands of her family.
What first came to mind was taking her back to Scotland this very evening and having her marry Douglas. But he had commitments here in London and could not leave for at least another month. He had Lanark kinsmen here who could watch her, but they also had their own commitments and their own lives to lead.
Bow Street Runners could be hired, he supposed. Aye, that would have to do for now.
He turned to Gideon. “Do ye know of any good Bow Street men?”
Chapter Fourteen
Miranda had racedupstairs and was now appalled by her actions.
There she was in her study with Solway, about to give him unimpeded access to her body because she ached so badly for his touch, while Gwenys might have been stolen straight out of her home.
And now Gwenys’s stepmother was going to resurrect the nightmare Miranda had spent fifteen years attempting to overcome, destroying her reputation, subjecting her to ridicule, and making her a laughingstock among theton.
She could not believe this was happening again, just when she wanted to give Gwenys the enjoyment of a London Season.
What was the use? And who cared about the costs of Gwenys’s new wardrobe, even though the gowns had cost a king’s ransom? Her safety was more important than anything else.
Miranda took a moment to collect her thoughts, then splashed water on her face to refresh herself and wash away her tears.
“Where is Solway?” she asked upon returning to the parlor.
“He’s gone,” Gwenys replied, her own tears now dry. “Why did you chase him away? He loves you and wanted to protect us both. Now, neither of us is helped.”
Gideon shook his head. “He’s gone to call upon Homer Barrow to set up a watch over Gwenys. Bonham and I,” he said with a nod toward Suzanna’s husband, “will send over some of our own men to stand guard if Barrow does not have enough of his own guards to assign here. Ours are not professionals, but they’re diligent and will put up a good fight if those miserable Lawsons try this again.”
Berry nodded. “We’ll also have our footmen stay on alert these next few weeks. We’re a small enclave, and strangers will be noticed immediately if they dare to enter our square.”
Miranda appreciated all that her friends were doing for Gwenys, and thanked them. She wished to express the same gratitude to Bram, and was disappointed he had already left her home to seek out those Bow Street men. “Do you know if Solway is coming back tonight?”
“No idea,” Gideon said.
Miranda realized he would have to return if he’d left his pouch of invitations here—the very invitations they were supposed to be comparing before they got distracted by their improper urges and accomplished nothing at all.
She hurried into the study to look, and then let out a breath of relief upon noting the pouch was still here. Besides, he had been invited for supper and must still be hungry.
She returned to the parlor, now heartened that he would have to return.
Her friends remained with her and Gwenys for another hour before returning to their own homes. Before leaving, Gideon and Bonham made certain her footmen were put on watch, and then each sent over a footman from their own households for added protection.
She and Gwenys finally dined as the hour approached ten o’clock. Neither of them ate much because they were too overset to do little other than pick at their food.
“He isn’t coming back,” Miranda whispered, her heart aching because she had been wrong about everything.
Gwenys heard her talking to herself because the dining room was painfully silent. Neither of them felt like talking, which was quite something, because theyalwayshad something to chatter about—especially Gwenys, who could run on like a little songbird at times.
Gwenys set down her fork with a clatter against her plate. “Aunt Miranda, he was willing to marry you and you rejected him in front of everyone. Why did you refuse his offer? It was the perfect solution, protecting me, and it would have also stopped the crude gossip my stepmother intends to spread about you. It is time you got over this fear you have of making another mistake in marriage.”
Miranda stubbornly shook her head. “You don’t understand. I—”
“Oh, Iclearlyunderstand. It is you who refuses to take off her blinders. Can you not see that Solway is nothing like your awful husband? All you are doing by hiding in your shell and remaining a spinster is denying yourself happiness with a good man who adores you.”
