When he reminded his mother of the impending change to her title, she said, “Well, that’s what we wanted to discuss with you, Hugo.” The lady sat in the chair vacated by Northcott. Forsyth stood behind, looking rather debonair in his forest-green coat, his elegant hands resting on Penelope’s shoulders. “We just hope we don’t offend you with our scandalous proposal.”
Hugo kept his composure. What the hell were they about? Did his mother want him to marry or not? “Nothing will prevent me from marrying Lara Bennett. Let me make that clear at the outset.”
Forsyth smiled. “I wouldn’t presume to come between two people in love.” There was a certain tone to the lord’s voice, a hint that he demanded the same consideration. Indeed, he confirmed Hugo’s theory when he added, “Your mother and I have discussed marriage, and we come hoping to secure your blessing.”
Their desire to wed came as no surprise, though it added certain complications. His stepfather would also be his grandfather-in-law.
“Do you want to marry at your age?” Hugo hoped to tease a reaction. While convinced the couple cared for each other deeply, he would hate for his mother to marry out of some past obligation. “You’re free to do as you please. It’s not as though there’s any financial reward in joining your houses. Is marriage not a business decision, Mother?”
“Don’t be a pompous prattler, Hugo.” Penelope sighed. “What do you want me to say? That I’m a hypocrite? That you were right, and marriage should be about love?”
“I’ve loved your mother for forty-one years,” Forsyth said with an air of supreme confidence. “And while I’ve wanted to marry her since the day we met, our personal experiences have tainted our view of matrimony.”
The pounding in Hugo’s temples started again. “Please, it’s been an exhausting morning. You must explain yourselves clearly.”
“We have decided not to marry,” Forsyth informed him. “We’ve decided to live together in complete and utter sin.”
Penelope looked up at her suitor and smiled. “I’m tired of conforming to society’s expectations. Love cannot be determined by a set of rules.” She turned her attention to Hugo. “Of course it’s different for you. You need a countess. You need heirs. But say you’re happy for us. Say you’ll give us your blessing and agree to our thoroughly outrageous proposal.”
After the shocking events of the weekend, this news proved mild in comparison. “There is nothing I want more than to make the woman I love my wife. How you choose to celebrate your love is your own affair.”
“See!” Penelope exclaimed. “Did I not tell you he would understand?”
At their age, few would cast aspersions. They possessed wealth and titles. Why couldn’t they live how they pleased?
Penelope jumped from the chair, raced around the desk and kissed Hugo on the cheek. Clearly Forsyth’s flamboyancy was infectious. “Oh, you wouldn’t believe what a night we’ve had. We didn’t get a wink of slee
p. Did we, Montague?”
Good Lord! He had no interest in the details. He’d heard enough of their goings-on with his ear pressed to the bedchamber door.
“While you were all tucked in your beds without a care in the world,” Penelope continued, “we were rampant—”
“Mother!” Hugo held up his hands, a shield against hearing the words sure to rouse haunting visions whenever he entered that godforsaken room.
“What?” Penelope blinked at him. “You look horrified. What have I said?”
“We were rampant with excitement while planning a trip abroad,” Montague informed him, though the sinful smirk on his lips told an entirely different story.
“Of course we were planning a trip abroad. What on earth did you think I meant?”
A chuckle burst from Hugo’s lips. He tried to suppress it, but the need to release the tension of the last few days sent him into peals of laughter. Before long, they were all laughing though no one knew why.
“Mother,” he eventually said, holding his stomach to ease the ache. “Do what makes you happy. Now, if you have nothing further to discuss, I intend to give my betrothed a tour of the stables.”
Penelope frowned. “But it’s St Stephen’s Day. You gave the grooms and stable hands the day off.”
“I’m quite capable of remembering the names of my own horses.” And it occurred to him that the stables would be deserted enough for lovers to partake in a quick roll in the hay. “Will you take tea with the remaining guests?” Someone needed to play host while he was otherwise engaged. “Lord Flanders has travelled widely and is a fountain of knowledge when it comes to touring the Continent.”
Excitement brightened Penelope’s features. She hurried around the desk and captured Forsyth’s arm. “We could ask Lord Flanders about Greece as it’s one place you’ve never visited.” Usually, Penelope lacked the enthusiasm to leave Wiltshire. To see her like this warmed his heart.
Leaving the couple to hunt for Lord Flanders, Hugo scoured the house looking for Miss Bennett. Knowing everyone else sat in the drawing room, he dared to venture into her bedchamber, hoping to find her there. When that proved fruitless, he found Crudging.
“Have you seen Miss Bennett this morning?”
Crudging inclined his head. “As I was trying to tell you a moment ago, my lord, when you raced upstairs, Miss Bennett left you a note.”
A note!