“Of course, my lord. Thank you for seeing me.”
Kathryn had been pacingthe hallway outside the study, hoping against all hope that the meeting between Sam and her father was going well. She heard no shouting, just a low murmur of voices as the minutes ticked by.
When the door finally opened and Sam walked out, she saw nothing in his expression to indicate how the meeting had gone.
“Your father wishes to speak with you,” he said.
“Did it go well?” she asked.
Sam shrugged and squeezed her hand. “Go on in. He’s waiting.”
Kathryn took a deep breath and walked into the study. Her father was sitting behind the large desk with a faraway look on his face.
“Papa, you wished to speak with me?”
He turned to look at her. “Kathryn, have a seat.”
Kathryn sat in one of the chairs in front of the desk. Her father’s face was passive, and she had no idea what his decision might be. No wonder Sam could tell her nothing.
“I’ve talked with your Mr. Clifford.”
“And?”
“He seems like a solid sort.”
“Oh, he is, Papa. He truly is a good and honorable man.”
“Did you know he will allow you to have full access to your dowry to spend it on projects you’d like to take on?”
“No, I did not know that.”
“Well, he informed me that was what he wanted.”
“He did?”
Lord Devon nodded. “Yes, he did. And that, my dear daughter, was an important factor.”
Kathryn sat very still, holding her breath, waiting for her father’s decision.
“I will not delay my answer any longer. You may marry. I will have the marriage contracts drawn up to ensure you have legal access to your dowry. I want the banns read here in Reading. There will be no announcement in the London newspapers, there will be no morning calls, and there will be no engagement ball. Those are my conditions.”
Kathryn leapt out of her seat and ran around the desk to hug her father. “Oh, Papa, thank you so very much. I don’t care about anything concerning theton.I will be very happy living here or wherever else we decide to move to.”
“Well, I do expect you to visit sometime,” Devon said, his lips curving up in a little smile. “All you need to do is send a note, and I’ll send the funds and the carriage for your use.”
Happy tears rolled down Kathryn’s face. “Thank you, Papa.”
When Kathryn exited the study, her face was wet with tears, and she saw Sam’s shoulders sag when he saw her. She rushed into his arms. “My darling, he said yes!”
“He did? But why are you crying, my love?”
“They are happy tears indeed. Papa will have the marriage contract drawn up, and the first banns can be read at next Sunday’s services. His only condition is that there will be no announcement in the London papers, nor will he host a ball in our honor.”
“Is that all?”
“Yes.”
“So we are truly engaged with your father’s permission?”