Her Favorite Duke (The 1797 Club #2)(2)

She smiled at his kindness. “My father will be the topic of most of my conversations for the next few weeks. So let’s you and I discuss something else, shall we?”

He nodded. “Choose the topic, my lady, and I will attempt to be clever about it.”

She laughed at his teasing. “Why is my brother having a secret meeting with Graham? I thought the three of you were inseparable.”

For a moment, a shadow crossed Simon’s face, and he frowned. “To be honest, I don’t know what they’re discussing. The moment we arrived James asked Graham to talk to him in private and I was not invited.”

She wrinkled her brow at his expression. “Odd.”

“Not as odd as you’d think,” he said softly.

She shook her head. “I’m certain it’s nothing. Maybe they’re discussing surprising you for your birthday. It’s a few months off still, but you can never plan too far ahead.”

He chuckled, the storm clouds gone from his face. “And how do you know my birthday, Meg?”

“I remember everything about you, Simon,” she admitted after a moment’s hesitation.

He was silent except for a sharply inhaled breath. Slowly he turned toward her and her throat closed. He looked very serious suddenly and very focused on her. He opened his mouth as if to speak and she leaned in, hands shaking.

But before he could say a word, Grimble cleared his throat at the door and said, “Lady Margaret, His Grace requires your presence in his office.”

She was yanked from the spell Simon had cast on her in a moment. She exchanged a look with him and then got to her feet, with Simon right behind her. “Very well, I’ll join them momentarily.”

The butler left and she looked at Simon. “Come with me?”

“I wasn’t invited,” he reminded her.

She shrugged. “I invited you.”

He motioned for her to lead the way, and she did so. They walked together silently toward James’s office, but it wasn’t their usual companionable silence. All she could think about was what Simon could have intended to say before they were interrupted in the parlor.

James’s office door was closed as she reached it and she knocked lightly before opening it to allow them in. She caught her breath as she entered. This had been her father’s office before, of course, and it still looked and felt of him. Cold. Masculine. Unwelcoming. It didn’t fit James, that was certain. She couldn’t wait to help him make it over, stripping everything from the past away and welcoming a new future for them both.

Her brother was standing at the huge picture window with Graham, and they turned together as Simon and Meg entered. James was grinning, but Graham looked more reserved. He inclined his head ever so slightly toward her.

“Come in, Meg,” James said, motioning her forward. “And Simon, good, you are here too. Excellent.”

“Yes,” Meg said. “Good afternoon, Graham. It’s so nice to see you.”

“Lady Margaret,” Graham said, formal as always despite their longtime acquaintance. Today his voice was tight and he shifted slightly. Almost as if he were uncomfortable.

“I asked you to come in, Meg, because I have some news for you,” James said, reaching out to take her arm and draw her closer. “Very happy news, I hope you’ll agree.”

Meg smiled. “We all need some happy news today. What is it?”

James looked at her face. Her brother’s expression was intent and earnest and her breath caught at it even before he spoke again. “I have arranged a marriage for you, Meg.”

Her smile faded as she stared at him. “A-a marriage?” she repeated, certain she had misheard him.

He nodded swiftly and the excitement in his tone increased. “I realize I didn’t speak to you about it before, but I have been thinking of nothing else for weeks, since Father took ill.”

She tried to catch her breath as she looked back over her shoulder at Simon. He was standing stock still, staring at James, not looking at her. His expression was entirely unreadable.

“I wanted to know you would be taken care of, Meg,” James continued. “In case I’m ever in a position where I could not do it.”

“James—” she began.

“And it is with a friend,” he pressed forward, ignoring her interruption. “Someone we both like. Someone I know will have only your best interest at heart.”

Now her heart leapt. Could he possibly be talking about Simon? He had wanted to say something to her in the parlor. Could it have been a desire to share the news privately, and all his talk of not knowing the subject of James’s discussion with Graham was a ruse?

“Who?” she asked, breathless as she hoped, prayed…

James guided her forward until she was standing before Graham and suddenly everything became clear. Her heart sank, her blood ran cold and it suddenly felt like time slowed.

“Graham and I have just finished the arrangements, Margaret. You are engaged to the Duke of Northfield.”

Her lips parted as she stared at Graham. His blue eyes were locked on hers, but there was no joy in them. His lips were a thin line of resolution. He didn’t seem unhappy, but there was no excitement or emotion in his stiff expression.

He reached out and suddenly her hand was in his. Unlike when Simon had taken it, there was no spark to the action. He cleared his throat and said, “I will endeavor to make you happy, Margaret.”