“But…” Lady Celchester frowned. “Maud, I’m sure his Grace was concerned, but even so…his hand…he was touching her…”
There was a murmur from the guests, even as Lydia and the others were trying to push through and get to Ivy.
The Duke stood. “You need have no cause to worry, Ma’am.” He turned his frosty gaze on Lady Celchester. “Miss Ivy has done me the honour of accepting my offer of marriage. Although we have not publicly announced our union, you may rest assured that her behaviour and my own are quite in keeping with our current status.”
For a second or two, Ivy could have sworn there was no air in the room as each guest sucked in air and left her dizzy. She wanted to slap her ears to see if they were working, because she was as astounded as everyone else.
She blinked at the Duke. “Your Grace…” she whispered, her throat clogged with shock.
“Hush, my dear.” He leaned down and took her hand in his. “Lady Maud will tend to your wound.”
“Yes, but…” She saw Prudence’s eyes, wide and surprised, and realised that Lydia, Rose and Judith had arrived in time to hear the Duke’s announcement.
She had no idea what to say or do. So she opted for the easiest way out of what was a momentously and shatteringly unexpected turn of events.
“Very well. Thank you, Lady Maud.” She released the Duke’s hand and reached for Maud, trying to control the shudders she could feel building deep in her belly.
“Come along, my dear. Let’s get you sorted out.” Maud’s hand was there, her arm around Ivy’s shoulder. “Girls, if you want to join us, I believe your presence would be of help to Ivy…”
Lydia, Judith and Rose were there, with Prudence right behind.
Ignoring the servants who were manhandling a slightly unsteady Albert from the room, and what sounded like a shriek of disgust from the foyer—where Lady Streatford was obviously being escorted from the house—Ivy simply went where she was led.
The small study looked like heaven, since it was empty of curious faces with greedy eyes.
She plopped down onto the sofa, let Ellen look at the long scratch, and raised her face to her friends as the little wound was cleaned.
“Did that just happen?” She swallowed around the lump in her throat. “Did the Duke just say we were engaged?”
Maud nodded. “He did.”
“No two ways about it,” endorsed Lydia.
“Very firmly too,” muttered Rose.
“Everyone heard it,” Judith sighed.
Prudence, to the Ivy’s surprise, was smiling broadly. “Isn’t it grand?” Everyone’s head turned to look at her. “It’s the best thing that could have happened.” She sat next to a stunned Ivy and took her hand. “I’m so very, very happy, Ivy. I’ve been really hoping that the two of you would realise the strength of the affection between you.” She leaned over and kissed Ivy on the cheek. “Welcome to the family, dear soon-to-be-aunt.”
Ivy closed her eyes. Oh God. What has he done?
Chapter Six
Ivy awoke the following morning in her own bed, with a head that felt as if it was filled with wool. It took a few moments for her to recall that she now had a fiancé, a Duke no less, and also a sore leg where a man’s poorly designed signet ring had left its mark.
She might bear a little scar, Ellen had warned her, but overall the physical damage was minimal. The damage to her heart and mind, however, was anything but.
Once tucked away into the nether regions of Sydenham House, she’d not had chance to speak with the Duke at all. Prudence had been in transports of joy, apparently deaf and dumb to the shock on her chaperone’s face, or what that expression inferred—both of which were evident to the others.
Lydia had merely raised her eyebrows and hugged her. “We’ll talk very soon, love. Don’t worry.”
Rose and Judith had expressed much the same sentiments. They all knew why the Duke had made such a declaration and understood the implications.
In spite of Lydia’s advice, Ivy worried.
What the devil was she supposed to do now?
She couldn’t cry off. Not yet, anyway. Obviously they would have to break the “engagement” at some point, because there had been no indications at all that they were in any way developing a tendre for each other.
Ivy turned restlessly on her pillow, acknowledging that she might easily have been on the verge of such a thing—since his Grace was nothing if not attractive, and a great deal too close to the man of her dreams for her comfort.
But although she was a Siddington, a name that was well-respected and bearing a solid history within the aristocracy, she could bring little to the match but a somewhat rundown castle that was rumoured to be haunted.
A Duke, especially one in Maidenbrooke’s position, needed a wife with land. The more of it the better. And a whopping dowry probably wouldn’t come amiss either. No, any way she looked at it, she was not a suitable bride for his Grace.
Much as she’d like to be.
Stop that. She chided herself, and turned again on the pillow, doing her best to dismiss the images of how life might be as Maidenbrooke’s wife.
His eyes featured in her dreams; she remembered the heat she’d seen burning in their depths last night and wondered if they would look thus when he loved.
Restless, she finally rose, sitting on the side of the bed, hearing rain patter against the windows. A suitable response from the weather, at least.
A tap on the door and Elvina’s head appeared. “Well, you’re awake. I’m so pleased, since I understand we have much to discuss.” She grinned at Ivy. “That’ll teach me to retire before you arrive home.”
