The Debutante Is Mine (21 page)

“I wanted to tell you,” Dovermere said, a razor’s edge cutting into the quietly spoken words. “Your mother did not want to you to be part of the society that had torn us apart. She wanted you to live free and be able to make your own decisions. I honored her wishes.”

Honor. They had something in common after all, other than their likeness. “Still, you acknowledged me when you signed the papers at Eton. That act alone informed everyone in society of our connection. You had to know that they would draw conclusions that I was your bastard.”

His father smiled. Not in an arrogant manner but more of tenderness. “I was proud to have you for my son, even from that first moment. You were so bold in the way you stood your ground. I already knew you were going to be a better, more determined man than I. And I wanted everyone to know that you were mine. Acknowledging you in a public sphere was the only avenue left to me, after I made my promise to your mother.”

Jack swayed on his feet, exhaustion taking over. It must have been exhaustion. Otherwise, he would have been better prepared against the blatant attack his father launched at him. An attack of affection. Up until now, it had been easy to bat away his unwanted visits and constant needling to be part of Jack’s life. But this was too much.

He stepped farther into the room and slumped down into the chair. “And now, what does all of it mean?”

“Since our marriage was annulled, it took effort to prove the date of your conception. After that, my solicitor quietly set about legitimizing your birth, just in case.”

Legitimate. Jack swallowed down a sizeable lump in his throat. Everything he knew about himself. Every step he’d taken in life. All of it fell under scrutiny. He wasn’t a bastard and likely never had been. Oh, but he’d lived like one. He’d fought like one. His identity and his determination both stemmed from that one single fact.

“You are still holding to the promise you made my mother?” he asked and received a nod. “I could still refuse to be named your heir?” Another nod, this one more reluctant.

“You could,” his father said as a familiar gleam lit his eyes. “However, that is not to say that it wouldn’t become an issue again after my death. Legal papers have a way of surfacing when one no longer has control. Perhaps it would be better to settle matters sooner, rather than later.”

F
our days had passed, and Jack Marlowe still had not come to call.

The
Standard
issued the briefest of mentions, regarding a sighting of
Mr. M—
leaving
Lord D—’s
residence earlier in the week but nothing else.

More than anything, Lilah wanted to see him, to tell him that she had broken ties with her mother. When she’d recounted her visit with her mother and told Aunt Zinnia, Juliet, and Ivy of her decision, they had all remained steadfast, promising to stand by her side, even if scandal rained down upon them, no matter what she planned to do next.

The only problem was she wasn’t sure what to do next. The banns would be read in three days.

In the meantime, however, she had to pay closer attention to Ellery, who’d arrived only minutes ago, having just returned from his time away.

Aunt Zinnia was not in the parlor, acting as chaperone today. She was across the hall with Juliet, the doors to both rooms left open for a semblance of propriety. Lilah speculated that the reason was because her aunt expected Ellery to make an offer for her.

“If I may be so bold, Miss Appleton. You were in my thoughts a great deal during our time apart.” Ellery grinned at her, his gaze searching hers as he sat on the edge of his seat, his body leaning toward hers. “Each day that passed, I was eager to return and even more eager to share my experiences with you. With each of our conversations, I always discover new things we have in common. Such is not the case with any of the other young women I have met.”

It would solve all her problems if she could return his sentiment. She did enjoy their talks, but more often than not, she found herself daydreaming of Jack. Yet if she were to attach herself to Ellery, then perhaps that would not always happen. In time, she could grow fond of him. “Your friendship has been most welcome. However, I fear that there has been some news that I must tell you immediately.”

He reached out with his hand and settled it over hers. “Miss Appleton—
Lilah
, if I may—if you are referring to the rumor linking you to Lord Haggerty, then I must tell you that I have already heard. In fact, I confess that very news is the reason I cut my travels short and returned to you.”

Lilah felt dizzy, the flesh on her brow puckering in confusion. “If you know that my cousin has laid a claim upon me, then why are you here?”

“Because I wanted you to have your choice. I could not simply let this marriage take place without informing you of my regard.” Now, he drew her hand into both of his. “I realize there would be quite a scandal involved, should you choose me, but I have already spoken with my parents, and they will support any decision I make. They are still eager to make your acquaintance.”

All she had to do was agree, and she could have this man as her husband. He was here before her, leaving her with no doubt of his regard or his plans for the future. He was kind, handsome, honorable, and . . .

The type of man who deserved a chaste bride, or, in the very least, a woman who loved him.

Lilah slipped her hand free. “Forgive me, Lord Ellery. Any young woman would be fortunate to have earned your regard, but I cannot commit my heart to you when it resides elsewhere.”

“Oh.” He winced, and abruptly, his posture altered. He shifted back into the chair. Then, when that did not suit him, he stood and looked around the room, as if he’d dropped something earlier. Though Lilah suspected he simply did not want to meet her gaze again. “I was under the impression that your cousin’s suit was not welcome.”

“It isn’t,” she said quickly. “Quite honestly, I despise Haggerty.”

Ellery slowly nodded. “Then it is Marlowe, as I suspected from the start.”

This would have been the perfect time for Lilah to pretend ignorance, but she respected Ellery too much to play him for a fool. Instead, she neither confirmed nor denied his statement. “I have valued our friendship. That will not change. Not for me.”

He chose not to respond but merely bowed to her and then turned on his heel, leaving her alone in the parlor.

When the front door closed, Aunt Zinnia and Juliet rushed across the hall. It was the first time Lilah had ever seen her aunt move with such speed that her skirts tangled with her legs.

“Did he make an offer, my dear?” Aunt Zinnia asked, her cheeks flushed, her eyes brimming with excitement.

“He did.” Lilah wished she could leave it at that, but with her aunt’s hopeful countenance in front of her, she couldn’t. “I refused him.”

Her aunt’s eager grin abruptly fell but then rallied. “If your reason was because of Haggerty’s involvement, then perhaps a simple explanation would set matters right.”

Lilah shook her head and drew a breath. “He already knew, and he was willing to brave the scandal.”

Juliet said nothing, but her tearful gaze spoke for her. Years ago, she’d taken her own path when faced with scandal. Out of respect, Lilah had never asked her about her reasons for it. Yet now, Lilah couldn’t help but wonder if Thayne would have stood by Juliet, if given the chance.

Then Juliet squeezed her hand—a wordless display of worry as well as support. Lilah suspected Juliet knew that Jack held her heart. Even if he did not want it.

Just as the cheerless thought formed in her mind, a fearsome knock reverberated against the outer door, filling the foyer and even the parlor with the commanding sound. Lilah felt her heart quicken and her gaze strayed to the open parlor door.

A moment later, Mr. Wick appeared. “Mr. Marlowe to see Miss Appleton.”

“Send him away,” Aunt Zinnia said with a tired wave of her hand.

“No!” Lilah hadn’t meant to shout, but it was more a matter of reflex. It took every bit of decorum to stand still and not rush out to greet him and drag him inside. “Please, Aunt. I would like to see him.”

Aunt Zinnia looked at her as if a stranger stood before her. “Is Mr. Marlowe the reason you refused Lord Ellery?”

“Come, Cousin,” Juliet said softly to Zinnia, taking her arm. “Let us wait across the hall until this matter is sorted, once and for all.”

As they left, Lilah waited, facing the parlor door, shifting from one foot to the other. The thumping of her heart matched the ticking of the clock in the corner. Then, at last, he appeared.

Jack, wearing a dark blue coat with a crisp white cravat and silver satin waistcoat, looked unusually formal for a morning call. He paused in the doorway, his gaze searching her face.

This wasn’t like him. He never stopped and surveyed. He always walked with purpose, striding directly to battle or to stake his claim.

“Why are you hesitating?” she asked, her hands cold with trepidation.

“I have some news I wish to discuss, and I am not certain how to proceed.” Then, as if he’d made his decision, he entered the room. Slowly. “The first of which concerns that favor to Vale that I mentioned the first day we met.”

What an odd way to begin a conversation after they’d been apart. Confused, she frowned. “When he asked you to send me flowers?”

Jack nodded. “I have recently discovered that this errand did, indeed, have something to do with his
Marriage Formula
.”

“I remember that you suspected as much.” She knew it. All along, Jack was her perfect match. Grinning now, she stepped forward.

Jack shook his head. “Vale compared the results of your equation and came up with a match. The reason he asked me to send you flowers was in an effort for this man to take notice of you, which he did.”

She was so happy that she could leap out of her own skin, but Jack, on the other hand, did not look pleased at all. “Did this news not appeal to you?”

“It did not . . . because you were matched with Lord Ellery.” He raked a hand through his hair and frowned. “From what I have heard, he is planning to make an offer for you.”

Was that the reason for Jack’s chilly greeting? Did the news matter so much to him? Or was it that it mattered so little? “Ellery was already here.”

“And?”

“He did make an offer.”

Jack’s hands clenched to fists. “I had hoped to arrive before him.”

“Why?” she asked, holding her breath.

“Because I”—he stared at her, hard—“have found another match for you.”

The tension building inside of her came out on an exhale. “You have?”

“Yes.” Jack began to pace the room. “Viscount Locke. Have you heard of him?”

“Viscount Locke?” Her brow knitted in puzzlement and then swiftly in anger. She’d been waiting for days to see him, and all their time apart, he’d been trying to find a man who was willing to marry her? “I don’t want to marry Viscount Locke. I don’t want to marry Lord Ellery either.”

Jack stopped pacing. “You don’t?”

“No.”

Then, abruptly, he looked more like himself. One corner of his mouth arced upward. “Well, that’s hardly fair to Locke. You haven’t even met him.”

Her anger faded under a wave of hurt so deep that she couldn’t see clearly. “I thought you loved me, Jack.”

His smirk faded. He crossed the room to her, his hands on her arms, pulling her close—almost into his embrace. “I do, Lilah. More than my own life. I just want you to have the freedom to choose the life you want.”

“Then I would marry you.” Didn’t he know this by now?

He released a deep breath and smiled genuinely at her. “I was hoping you would say that. Though I must admit, I feel sorry for Locke. He’s . . . here, you know, and eager to make your acquaintance.”

Confused by all this, she wondered why—if he was so pleased—he wasn’t holding her closer and making plans to marry. The faint twinge of a headache started to form above the bridge of her nose. “Here? And you still want me to meet him?”

He nodded. “Only if you agree to marry me. Then I’ll introduce you.”

She felt her cheeks lift and her lips spread into a smile before his statement hit her. When it did, she leapt toward him and twined her hands around his neck. “I agree. In fact, I am nearly ready to march you out that door and drive you to Gretna Green myself.”

Of course, their union would cause a scandal. Her father’s will guaranteed a great deal of complications as well. But she didn’t care about the consequences. She only wanted to be his.

He kissed the tip of her nose and then removed her hands from his neck. “Wait here for just a moment.”

He slipped out of the parlor, closing the door behind him. Lilah could hear the murmur of voices, Mr. Wick’s and Jack’s, in the foyer. Then, Aunt Zinnia and Juliet appeared, their faces mirroring Lilah’s confusion.

“Mr. Marlowe has requested that we wait in here,” Aunt Zinnia said before her lips pursed in disapproval.

A nervous, excited effervescence filled Lilah. She couldn’t wait to become Jack’s wife. She wasn’t certain, however, how her aunt or cousin would take the news. Aunt Zinnia would need time to adjust, and perhaps Juliet would as well. But Lilah knew in her heart that they loved her and would support her.

While she could never have said the same about her mother, Lilah knew that she had all the family she would ever need in this very townhouse.

Yet before she could prepare her aunt and cousin, Mr. Wick appeared at the parlor door.

He bowed. “Viscount Locke to see you, miss. Are you
at home
?”

“I am,” she said quickly, eager to end this introduction. “Please send him in.”

“Viscount Locke?” Aunt Zinnia said, looking from Lilah to Juliet. “Why does that title sound so familiar?”

Juliet shook her head. “I don’t believe I’ve ever heard it.”

Neither had Lilah, and she knew she had never been introduced to him. At least, not yet.

Then a figure filled the doorway. Instead of a stranger, however, it was Jack. He walked into the parlor and bowed first to Aunt Zinnia, then to Juliet, and finally to Lilah. Behind him, Mr. Wick cleared his throat. “May I present to you, Jack Marlowe, Viscount Locke.”

Jack lifted his head and one corner of his mouth. “Now will you consider marrying Viscount Locke? I can vouch for his character. And I do believe he is already in possession of your heart.”

What an arrogant man. And Lilah loved him far too much.