He snorted. “Because his opinion stopped mattering to me even before he died.”
“Then why would you not have told him?”
“Because I suspect thatyoucare.” When that statement softened her heart, he added, in a colder voice, “Fortunately, my father no longer gets a voice in what I do and whom I marry, anyway.” When she stiffened, he added hastily, “That is, who I engage myself to.”
He forced a smile. “In any case, a party for the Lord Mayor’s Show is the perfect place to introduce you to my London acquaintances. And half of the city will be in the streets observing the spectacle.”
She blinked. “You do not mean to introduce me to half of the city, do you?”
“Of course.” When she muttered a French curse, he laughed. “Relax. To dothat, we’d have to spend our whole lives at the Lord Mayor’s Show. It’s long, but notthatlong.” His eyes twinkled. “I’ll merely introduce you to a few hundred or so Londoners.”
She planted her hands on her hips. “How am I to trust a word you say when you are so often joking?”
He sobered. “Don’t worry about the introductions. I’ll be at your side every moment. I mean that.”
“Still, I do worry. Do you think Lewis Nash will be at this party?”
“It’s unlikely, but I hope so. Then you can point him out to me, and I can have a word with the fellow.”
“There, in public? I do not like the sound of that. What if he tries to fight you?”
“Then I’ll fight him back.” When she frowned at him, he reached out to pat her shoulder. “Do not fret. I won’t do anything stupid, I promise.” His smile faded. “Too much is at stake for that.”
She searched his face, but he seemed sincere. “Very well.” She paused. “What happens after we go to this ‘show’?”
“We can attend a couple of other small events, waiting for the gossip to appear in the press. Then I will return to the Court of Chancery for my next appointment and point out why they should give me custody and remove my brothers from the custody of my mother’s cousin.”
“I see.”
He paused, looking suddenly wary. “You’ll have to go with me, you know. Can’t have them accusing me of inventing a fiancée.”
“Even though you are,” she quipped.
“They mustn’t know of that,” he said earnestly.
“Of course. I can keep secrets, you know. I’ve kept the one of my true lineage for some years now.”
“Have you? Jon and Tory know. Scovell knows. I know.”
She crossed her arms. “You were not supposed to know, and neither was Captain Scovell.”
He blinked. “You said you were aware that Jon told us.”
“I found out afterward. I never expected him to do so. I neverwantedhim to do so, but he did not consult me. I tried not to tell evenhim.”
“But you did all the same. And he told us.”
She glared at him. “Is thatmyfault?”
“No, of course not,” he said with a sigh.
“Exactly.” She tipped up her chin. “So, I must keep your secrets and go to the Court of Chancery with you. Then what?”
“After I regain custody, I’ll take the boys back to Longmead.” He brightened. “You and your mother can travel with us. The timing would work.”
She frowned. “Will it? Exactly whenisthis show?”
“November ninth.”