His Lordship's Chaperone (21 page)

A multitude of gasps echoed throughout the room in
the stunned silence.

Haverton turned toward Catherine. “I beg your
forgiveness, my sweet, for making what should be a most private and intimate
moment a public display.” He lowered himself, bending on one knee before her.

More muffled cries of shock came from around the
room. Haverton could feel the piercing stares of everyone in attendance and by
Catherine’s reaction, she had felt them too. She could not seem to pull her
gaze away from the crowd of people who stared at her. She felt more terrified
than when Haverton had found her barricaded in the closet.

“Miss Hayward.” He drew her attention away from the
surrounding crowd. “My dear Miss Hayward.” He gained and held her complete
attention so she would close out the others. “Catherine, I must confess my
genuine affection for you and beg you to become my wife.”

“No!” one woman cried out. There were many high-pitched
cries that echoed across the room and several loud sobs followed.

“It is my unfortunate role in life but I must ask
you to bear the burden of my title which would make you the marchioness of
Haverton and, sometime in the future, the Duchess of Waverly.”

Out came the melodic alto and tenor wails of
mothers who had their hearts set on the Marquess as a son-in-law, whose hopes
were finally and irrevocably dashed.

“This cannot be!” came another shout of outrage.

“For these past few years I have been plagued by
various women who have been relentless in their pursuit and I am remiss if I am
not completely honest with you and say that it may not end even though I am
wed. However I vow, before all these people as my witness, my love and my
fidelity.”

Sobs punctuated the pauses all through his
discourse. The soaring soprano’s vibrating note sounded almost like an aria in
the background of Haverton’s pronouncement.

“I ask you to become my wife because I cannot
tolerate another day without your presence in my life. I need to see your
smile, your face. I need to hear your sweet voice. Your laughter brings me more
joy than even I can imagine.”

“All is lost!” came the plaintiff wail. “Say it is
not so!”

More soft
weeping
whispered around him. The younger women, he guessed. Something he’d said must
have struck a chord.

“I love you and the notion of continuing without
you … life would have no meaning.”

Multiple cries of “No!” rang out around them, followed
by wholehearted sobs that echoed around the room. The crying went on and on.

“I have procured a special license so we may wed as
soon as possible.” The Marquess continued to look up into her eyes and asked
his final question. “What say you, Miss Hayward? Will you do me the honor of
marrying me?”

Catherine remained quiet.

“Of course she’s going to say yes,” some woman
called out quite spitefully among the waterworks around the room.

The surrounding guests blowing their noses in quite
unladylike fashion made a horrendous racket more akin to a flock of geese than
gentle-bred females. Several high-pitched tantrums played out, much to the
dismay of the mothers or the young ladies’ companions who tried to keep their
wards silent.

Catherine glanced at Haverton and replied, “Yes, my
lord.” Her answer was nearly inaudible but he saw her lips move, forming the
words. She said louder, nearly shouting. “I accept.”

“You see there, ladies? I am a most fortunate man.
She’ll have me!” He stood, smiling, waving his arm in victory. “You have made
me happy beyond belief.” He kissed her gloved hand before setting it in the
crook of his arm and led her toward the door.

The Duchess stood by her youngest son Simon and his
Honoria. Her Grace watched her eldest and his fiancée pass her to quit the
ballroom. Catherine and Robert would soon be married and he would provide the
long-awaited heir. Until that moment, the Duchess never knew how much she
longed to be a grandmother.

The wailing of the females, young and old, did not
cease.

“You should all be ashamed of yourselves!” Her
Grace reprimanded.

An embarrassed hush fell over the crowd.

She then remarked, “Is no one happy when true love
takes its course?”