A Wedding In Springtime(81)

He paused for a moment, considering whether or not his mother and sisters would be pleased with his choice. He shook off the question. Genie was a living, breathing female; they would be ecstatic.

Grant arrived at Bremerton house looking like a man he would have laughed at only days before. He held a bouquet of flowers from his mother’s garden, a ring was in his breast pocket, and his heart was on his sleeve. How had it come to this?

And yet, for all the ridiculousness of the situation, he did not want to be anywhere but here. He was going to ask her hand in marriage. He would do it right.

Grant was shown into the drawing room where, much to his disappointment, he was met by Lady Bremerton and her daughter.

“I am here to see Miss Talbot. Is she in?” he asked politely.

“She is resting. It has been a busy morning,” said Lady Bremerton. She made no movement to call her down, and Grant sat nervously in a chair. His hands starting to sweat as he awkwardly held the flowers. He had envisioned how things would proceed when he asked for her hand. He had practiced his apology; it was a good one. Then he would tell her of his love and the things about her that he admired and all the reasons why his life would not be worth living without her.

Yet in every scenario he had imagined, Genie was at least in the room. Lady Bremerton posed an obstacle he had not considered. His reputation had not concerned him before, but it was not helping him now. Or perhaps Genie had shared with her aunt his indecent proposal? That would certainly explain the looks of hostility directed his way from Lady Bremerton.

“It was quite an evening at Almack’s last night. I hope you enjoyed the vouchers.” Grant smiled. No harm in reminding her of his contribution. “Did you fare well at the tables?”

“I do not gamble, Mr. Grant.” In other words, she lost.

“It was terribly flat last night. Perhaps I should return later when Miss Talbot is available.”

“My niece will be quite busy today,” said Lady Bremerton. “We need to start making wedding plans.”

“Wedding plans?” Grant echoed.

“Yes, perhaps you have not yet heard. Mr. Blakely proposed to Genie last night. She has invited him over today so she can formally accept his proposal. We expect him any minute.”

Grant’s stomach recoiled as if he had been sucker punched. He had to force himself to take a slow breath. “How wonderful,” he said, forcing his lips upward into what he hoped looked like a smile. “Please relay to her my best wishes for a long, happy life together. I understand now how much preparation you have before you to plan the wedding. I’ll not keep you any longer.”

Grant somehow managed to get his feet moving and walked out of the house with the false smile still plastered on his face and the flowers in his hand. It was the smile of a man who had just had his heart ripped from his chest. Grant walked around the block back to his house. He dropped the flowers in the gutter somewhere along the way.

There was only one thing to do. Grant reached for a bottle as soon as he walked in his study. He planned, quite simply, to crawl into a bottle and never come out. Last night, he had drunk enough to become stupid, but not enough to forget. He would not make that same mistake. With any luck, if he started drinking immediately, he would forget this whole day ever happened.

He grabbed a bottle and took a large swig. This way, when the servants found him crying, he could blame it on the drink. He wiped the tears from his eyes and lifted the bottle.





Twenty-seven





“I received your message, Miss Talbot,” said Mr. Blakely, entering the drawing room.

“Come, Louisa,” said Lady Bremerton, abandoning Genie to her fate. “There is something I would like to speak to you about upstairs.”

When Lady Bremerton and Louisa had removed themselves, Mr. Blakely sat next to Genie on the couch.

“Thank you for coming, sir,” said Genie. This was the right decision. It must be. What else could she do? Mr. Blakely was a nice man and their marriage would make everyone around them happy. “I would like to speak to you about accepting your proposal.”

“You have made me the happiest of men,” said Mr. Blakely with a bland smile.

“I am pleased, but I do need your help. My brother has gotten into a bit of trouble.”

“I am certain whatever it is he will land on his feet. Here, I was hoping you would say yes. These are for you.” Blakely handed her a familiar velvet box. Inside were emerald earrings. Her emerald earbobs. Genie stifled a gasp.