She glanced back over her shoulder.
He was staring up at her with his hands tightly clasped.
She smiled briefly and looked away. Her good, decent Auggie had refused to compromise her in Harbury’s library.
And, though she had quite wanted to be compromised at the time—she still did, though she would take his advice about the bolt—it was enough that Neville had wanted her so much, he’dalmostbroken his word.
Chapter Twelve
Just as Nevillewas climbing the steps of his townhouse, the noonday sun broke through the fluffy white clouds, casting a stark shadow of the wrought-iron fence over his path. He was simultaneously surprised and pleased at how much he’d already accomplished. He’d met with a solicitor to finalize the marriage settlements, obtained the necessary special license from the Archbishop of Canterbury, and secured a vicar for the ceremony.
On the other hand, as he handed off his coat to his butler, he barely managed a mumbled greeting before heading straight for his bed chamber. The morning had been devilishly hectic, and the night, gripping.
Hell, the last two days had challenged, then changed, everything he’d thought he’d understood. A decent night’s sleep might be the only thing hehadn’texperienced in the last 48 hours. And, as he was to be married this afternoon, he hoped to steal a few hours of rest.
If all went as he’d planned, slumber would be the last thing on his mind tonight.
He was asleep almost as soon as his head hit his pillow.
Sometime later, light slanting through his window roused him back to consciousness. He squinted, his eyes adjusting to the interior.Surely, a few minutes more wouldn’t hurt.He rolled onto his side. His lids drifted closed. But then, a startling bang and clatter left him wide awake.
His mother stood in the doorway of his bedchamber, cheeks pale and eyes wide.
“Mother!” Thank God he’d left his shirt on!
She rushed to his side, coming to her knees. “Is it true?”
He stared at her, completely baffled by her question.
She couldn’t possibly have heard of his impending marriage. The only people who knew were Asquith, a few distinguished members of the clergy and law, and those who had been at Harbury House this morning.
Asquith, for his part, wouldn’t have breathed a word. The clerks at Doctor’s Commons were known to be discreet. The Archbishop himself was hardly slander-prone, the solicitor’s confidentiality was required by law, and Harbury’s knocker was off.
How had she found out?
“Honestly!” She huffed. “I don’t see how you can sit there looking so perplexed. YouknowHarbury is at death’s door, somehow everyone but me knew you were by his side all through the night. I thought you told me you were going to propose to a lady!”
“Ah.”Now, he understood why she’d burst into his bedchamber. “So word of Harbury’s illness has spread. Excellent!”
Her jaw dropped. “Excellent?!”
She rose to her feet, folded her arms and gave him a look that would have made him quake in his boots, had he been wearing any.
“I’ve been half out of my mind! Harbury has never been seriously ill. And now, so I am told, he is sick enough to have called in the family solicitor. I have even heard he has requested the presence of a vicar!”
“Yes. I know.” He pressed his thumb and forefingers to his brow. “I’d expected word to spread, but not at inferno speed.Then again, dukes are a rare commodity…the golden geese of gossip, I suppose. That is fuel to the fire.”
“Ambrose! Why are you so irritatingly unconcerned? You know that If Harbury should die, the dukedom would pass out of my father’s line.”
Neville half-smiled. “No worry for Harbury himself, then?”
“Of course, I’m worried for Edward.” She pursed her lips. “He’s my favorite nephew.”
“He’s your only nephew.”
Her eyes widened, she inhaled, and her whole body stiffened as if she were about to deliver a blistering scold. He reached out and grabbed her arm, hoping to prevent an angry reply.
“Forgive me,” he said urgently and under his breath, ever mindful the new footman might be lurking about. “I haven’t had much sleep.” And maybe some of Millie’s penchant for teasing was rubbing off on him, too. “I will tell you everything. But first, close the door.”