“But as I am certain he will say yes, then I give you permission.”
There was a rakish look in his eye the moment before he pressed his lips to hers. His kiss was simple but heartfelt.
He pulled away, and she kept her eyes closed, unwilling to let go of the magic of this moment. His lips, firm and warm, kissed her brow.
“What are you thinking of?” His voice was raspy, his breath caressing her temple.
“I am thinking that you still remind me of a pirate.”
“What was it—my eyebrows?”
She opened her eyes to see his amused smile.
“Yes, and your dark, wavy hair. I am imagining you as a pirate, your hair blowing in the wind, jacketless, your neck exposed to the sea air, and that severe look you sometimes get when you’re displeased. I have not seen that look in a while—not directed at me, at least.”
“That is because you do not displease me.”
She stood on her tiptoes and kissed his lips. One kiss turned into two, then three, then she lost count.
Finally Lord Withinghall—Edward—pulled away. “A servant might walk by. Or your mother.”
“I suppose.” She put her arm through his as he led her to the couch. They sat very close. What a strange and wonderful feeling to allow herself to touch Lord Withinghall’s—Edward’s—arm and feel as if they belonged to each other. He sat with his head angled down toward her, as if listening for her to speak.
“Is your father home? I should like to speak to him today.”
“No, he’s away.”
“Shall I go find him?”
“Not just yet. You know he will say yes.” She was in no hurry to part with him. She felt as if she could sit beside him for hours and still not wish him to leave. Besides, she was still thinking about his kisses and wondering if he might kiss her again.
“I thought I would get a license so we don’t have to have the banns read,” he said.
“Yes, that is good.”
“Shall we marry very soon or wait? I should like to take you on a wedding trip, but Parliament will still be in session for several more months.”
“We can go on a trip at any time, and I should prefer to marry as soon as possible.”
He gazed down at her as if she had just said the most wonderful thing he’d ever heard.
CHAPTER THIRTY
They sat quietly talking, half listening for Mother to come down the stairs, Father to come home, or one of the servants to walk by, in which case they would move away and stop sitting so close. But an hour passed, and no one bothered them. The servants must have been too busy getting the house ready.
Mother did finally come downstairs and saw them sitting close together on the sofa. After greeting her, Edward excused himself to go find her father at his club.
Mother lifted her brows. “What is this, Leorah?”
“We are engaged to be married, Mother.”
“You are engaged? To Lord Withinghall?” She stepped closer to her daughter. “And do you love him, truly love him?”
“Yes, Mother. I love him so much more than I ever could have thought possible.” She laughed, and her mother embraced her. “You will love him too, when you know him better.”
Late in the afternoon, her father came home while Leorah was busily knitting. She was too nervous to write to Julia and Nicholas, or Isabella and Jonathan, or even Felicity to tell them of her engagement, and she was too nervous to read a book, so she sat knitting a blanket for the Children’s Aid Mission. She kept her head down so Mother would not ask why she was smiling and blushing as she relived her visit with Lord Withinghall—Edward—her viscount pirate.
“So”—Father’s voice boomed from the doorway of the sitting room, drawing Leorah and Mother’s full attention—“you managed to get the viscount to propose again.” Her father’s face was lighted up, the closest thing to a smile one was likely to see from him. “And it’s all over town that the man is in love with you.” He slapped the newspaper in his hand and strode into the room.
“What are you speaking of?” Mother said. She knew him well enough not to bother to ask him to lower his voice.
“Read it for yourself, Mrs. Langdon.” He held out the paper to her. “It’s all there, how Mr. Pinegar implicated himself in several evil doings at a ball at Colthurst’s. To think an MP could behave himself so badly. But our Lord Withinghall comes out looking like a hero from a blooming novel.” Father let out a triumphant guffaw.
He turned toward Leorah while Mother read the paper.
“How now, missy? You had me fooled, but your sense got the better of you. There’s no denying the worth of an alliance with the wealthy Lord Withinghall—a viscount, no less.”
Leorah stared at him, hoping her horror showed on her face.
“Father, I hope you do not crow like this in front of anyone else. Lord Withinghall is only a man, though he is a viscount. He believes himself to be as blessed in his choice as you believe me to be, and I hope you will not disabuse him of that belief.”
“Very well, daughter, very well. I shall not crow, as you call it, in front of Lord Withinghall, but it is a fine thing to have a daughter married to a rich viscount.”
“I value his kindness and good character much more than his wealth or his title.”
Her father did not even acknowledge her words but sighed and stared at Mother. “No other man in England has children who have distinguished themselves as ours have. Mrs. Langdon? Is it not so?”
She glanced up again. “Indeed, we have three very excellent children.” She looked at Leorah and smiled. “Lord Withinghall is completely acquitted of any wrongdoing, from this report. I am very pleased.”
Leorah smiled back, but she could no longer stay still and listen to their discussion of her upcoming marriage or her future husband. “I am going to my room. I shall be down for dinner.”
Leorah gathered her things and started toward the door.
“We should invite Lord Withinghall to dinner. Mrs. Langdon? As soon as he has an evening away from his duties.”
“Yes, my dear,” she said.
Leorah hurried up the stairs to be alone with her thoughts.
Edward had never felt so distracted or so frustrated with the proceedings of the day as he had the day before, when he had been forced to stay in Parliament and listen to hours of rhetoric. At least today was Sunday and the House of Lords would not be sitting, so he could attend church with Leorah and her family. They had also invited him to dine with them afterward. Perhaps he and Leorah could set a date for their wedding.