She turned to direct the servants and speak with Elvina, so Ivy led Maidenbrooke into the chamber that had probably once been a presentation room of sorts.
High ceilings, windows divided neatly by ancient muntins, panes of glass distorted over the centuries into soft blurs that took sunlight and refracted it into rainbows here and there—it was one of Ivy’s favourite rooms and she hoped the Duke would like it too.
His indrawn breath reassured her.
“Incredible,” he muttered, walking to the carved mantel which boasted a mirror that also showed the passage of time and wasn’t good for much of anything but reflecting a blur of whoever stood before it.
“What a room.” His eyes wandered. “Don’t you wish you could hear these walls speak of what they’d seen?”
“No,” said Lady Siddington, walking in behind them in time to catch his words. “To be honest, your Grace, I have a horrid feeling that our ancestors weren’t always on the right side of the political scene. There must have been plots, assassinations, and all kinds of violence discussed in this room.” She gestured to one or two small portraits. “We have Angevins, Marcher Lords, Cavaliers, Jacobites, various dissenters and warriors in our family. None of whom I would particularly want to meet. There was even a Lancastrian who left a red rose symbol scratched into the wainscoting in one of the guest chambers.” She rolled her eyes. “No respect for the woodwork, that lot.”
The Duke smiled. “And yet they are part of the Siddington heritage, Ma’am. And as such, they’re family.”
“True,” she nodded. “But one of ‘em was even involved in that silly plot to blow up Parliament. Not the sort of thing one wants to see recounted in the family’s history, I have to say.”
“A colourful ancestry.” He glanced at Ivy. “Any nefarious plans to keep the notoriety going?”
“None whatsoever,” she smiled cheerfully. “I am content to let my predecessors shake their heads in disappointment.”
“Glad to hear it.” Lady Siddington smiled. “Now. Come and sit. I understand there are matters you wish to discuss.”
Obediently, Ivy sat next to her grandmother on the large sofa, while Maidenbrooke took a side chair.
“Indeed we do, Ma’am.” The Duke cleared his throat. “As it seems you’ve heard already, there was an incident at Sydenham House during which your granddaughter and I ended up in a compromising position…in public. Therefore, I immediately announced that we were engaged.” He swallowed. “It seemed the most expedient and effective solution to the situation.”
Ivy fidgeted. “He didn’t have to do that, Grandmama. It was a stupid matter precipitated by a rude and obnoxious gentleman of no class whatsoever. I think, with a certain amount of dexterity and some help from the Sydenhams, we could have come through it relatively unscathed, without his Grace’s noble gesture. And he certainly didn’t need to puff it off in the Times.”
“I felt it was necessary, Ivy.” Maidenbrooke’s tone was firm. “I don’t see how scandal could have been avoided otherwise.”
“Well, if you’d given me a few moments to think, I probably could have found a solution,” she said with a frown.
“There wasn’t time to think, not with twenty pairs of eyes looking at my hand on your leg, halfway up your skirts,” snapped back the Duke.
“Oh, for heaven’s sake—” she began.
Lady Siddington rested her hand on top of her granddaughter’s and shot a firm glance at Maidenbrooke. “Ivy. Your Grace. Be quiet, both of you. Picking at each other is no solution to anything.”
Thus reprimanded, Ivy bit back her anger and observed her fiancé manfully contain his own temper.
“Sorry, Grandmama,” she offered. “But you must admit, it’s a little frustrating to find oneself engaged because of a stupid idiot’s social ineptitude.”
“You’re not the only one who was caught by surprise, you know,” said the Duke, shooting her a speaking look.
She opened her mouth to point out that he had, in fact, created the surprise, but he shook his head at her. “Never mind. What’s done is done. We are engaged, Ivy. So for now, we can’t continue to bicker over how it happened.”
She blinked. He was taking all this rather better than she was.
“A valid point, your Grace.” Lady Siddington nodded and folded her hands in her lap. “It would seem we would all benefit from some calm contemplation. I suggest you both take a quiet stroll around the grounds, perhaps. Or you might want to show your fiancé more of the castle, Ivy. We’ll have a light lunch, I think, so the afternoon will be yours. I’ve already had rooms prepared and your bags should be unpacked.”
“You are very kind,” acknowledged Colly. “I trust this is not too much of an intrusion.”
“Not at all,” Lady Siddington shook her head. “It is a pleasure to have you both here, and completely acceptable. I think you’ll both agree that conforming to social expectations is the best course of action, given the circumstances?”
Ivy realised it wasn’t a question.
“Of course, Grandmama. We’re delighted to be here.”
The Duke squared his shoulders. “Indeed, we are. Thank you again.”
Lady Siddington’s smile was a thing of innocent beauty and fooled her granddaughter not one whit.
Chapter Eight
The gardens at Siddington Castle were indeed spectacular.
The Duke was quite happy to wander beside Ivy as she led him down paths carpeted with moss, across miniature stone bridges, over a small hill and around massive bushes of shiny green shrubs.
“A fairytale garden, it would seem…” he smiled on the words, brushing aside an overhanging bough of weeping willow. The stream next to it burbled satisfactorily.
“We hope so,” answered Ivy, her eyes reflecting her pleasure in his comment. “The fairies have to be kept happy, you know.
