Chapter22
Another sennight passed, and LordDevon still had not spoken with Mr. Clifford. He’d mulled over everything Kathryn, Easton, Fletcher, and his lovely wife had said about Mr. Clifford, but he still wasn’t sure he could approve of the marriage. It just wasn’t done.
An earl’s daughter and a commoner?
Preposterous.
“My dear, are you coming to services this morning?” Lady Devon asked as she pulled on her gloves.
“Not today,” Lord Devon said.
Lady Devon kissed his cheek. “I’ll see you later, my dear.”
After everyone except Kathryn and him had left for Sunday services, Lord Devon went in search of the butler. He found him in the dining room. “Jones.”
The butler turned. “Yes, my lord. Do you need assistance?”
“Yes. Have someone fetch Mr. Clifford and bring him to Fletcher’s study.”
“Right away, my lord,” Jones said.
It didn’t take long before there was a knock on the study door.
“Come,” he said.
Mr. Clifford walked in and bowed to the earl. “You wanted to see me, Lord Devon?”
Lord Devon did not invite Clifford to sit down but instead looked hard at him. So this was the man his daughter was in lovewith? He still wasn’t sure whether he’d allow the marriage to go forward. It all depended on the answers he received today.
“My daughter informs me she’s in love and wishes to marry you.”
“My lord, I love Lady Kathryn with all my heart, and if you consent to let us marry, I will do everything within my power to make sure she has a happy and fulfilling life.”
“How do you propose to do that?”
“My top priority will be to support whatever she would like to do, be it helping others with their garden design or any other charity work she’d like to do. I will not restrict any of her activities.”
“I see, and how will you do that without a large amount of coin? I assume you are not a wealthy man,” Lord Devon said.
“No, my lord, you are correct, but I’m not destitute either. I have savings from the stipend I receive from the Faulkner baronetcy that she may use. Lord Fletcher has granted me the use of a cottage on his property, so we would have a lovely home to reside in.”
“What about her dowry? What do you propose to do with that?”
“My lord, I don’t propose to do anything with it. I don’t want to marry Lady Kathryn because she has a dowry. I want to marry her because she makes me complete.”
Lord Devon steepled his fingers. “Do you know how substantial her dowry is?”
Clifford shook his head. “I do not.”
“Hmm… Mr. Clifford, you have surprised me, and I can see that you truly love my daughter for the wonderful person she is.”
“She’s more than wonderful, my lord. She’s magnificent.”
“If I grant my permission for you to marry, I want assurances that you will not spend her dowry on foolish things.”
“I understand your concern. I’m not prone to extravagances, my lord. I prefer a simpler life, but I want Lady Kathryn to have access to the funds if she needs it or wants to fund charity projects.”
“I see. You are dismissed.”