The Gift of Love (The Book of Love #8) - Meara Platt Page 0,46
So here is the truth. Captain Brayden is in love with me. He is not in love with your daughter. If he were, he would not sneak around behind your back. It is cowardly, and Captain Brayden is no coward.”
“I never said he was.”
“You suspected him of going behind your back, and that is insulting enough. Now, about our courtship. It is not contrived. If it were up to Captain Brayden, we would be married tomorrow. But as I mentioned earlier, I do not trust myself yet. He knows better than to push me for an answer.”
“And the funding vote?”
“Why should my answer matter? Aren’t you going to vote on its merits? In which event you would have to approve it because I cannot imagine Captain Brayden putting anything extraneous or unnecessary in his budget.”
“How little you know of the workings of government. Merit alone is never enough.”
“Merit is all that should matter. Shame on all of you for even considering putting the lives of our noble seamen in danger over your petty suspicions and dislikes. Your Grace, those less clever than you would be guided by you on this vote. On any vote. You cannot hold back your approval out of spite.”
“Who says I plan to vote against it?”
“Then why are you questioning me? Why have you asked me to dance with you?”
“Concern for my daughter, of course.”
“And what has the Parliamentary vote on the navy’s budget to do with her happiness? You have a moral duty to king and country to protect our fighting men and honor them to your utmost. How can you be so venal as to willingly destroy the Royal Navy because you are peeved at your daughter’s choice in men? If anything, she has shown far better sense than you in this matter.”
“My dear girl, I asked for an honest answer, not a public spanking.” His eyes were gray embers, dark and stormy.
Crumpets.
She wouldn’t blame Ronan if he throttled her.
If the duke were a dragon, he’d have flames snorting through his nose.
Had she just ruined Ronan’s chances on this vote?
CHAPTER TEN
Ronan’s heart sank as he watched Dahlia being escorted back to his side by the Duke of Stoke. Dear heaven, what had she said to him? The man was grinding his teeth, and she looked to be in a panic.
He happened to be chatting with the Lord Admiral while Dahlia and the duke had been dancing. “Hellfire, Brayden. This looks bad.”
“I know, my lord. I’ll take full responsibility, of course. Miss Farthingale isn’t to blame. I tossed an innocent lamb into the jaws of that wolf.”
“No, son. It is my fault for forcing you into this bad idea. I hope your knees are in better shape than mine. I think we’re going to be doing a lot of groveling before Stoke in the coming days.”
The duke turned his angry gaze on Ronan. “I’ll have a word with you, Brayden. Now.” He spoke more politely to Dahlia, bowing over her hand. “Miss Farthingale, our time together has been...enlightening. Would you mind if I stole your captain away for a few minutes? I’m sure the Lord Admiral won’t mind entertaining you until his return.”
She nodded.
Ronan strode off with the duke. They stepped outdoors onto the balcony for privacy. Despite the cold, neither of them felt chilled. Ronan was certain they were both too hot and angry, and the temperature between them was about to rise even further.
He waited for the duke to speak first. “Miss Farthingale insulted me.”
Ronan arched an eyebrow, trying to stifle his amusement, which would only take matters from bad to not-a-chance-in-hell-the-vote-will-pass. “She did?”
“I asked her to speak honestly, and she unloaded her full artillery. She’s quite a girl.”
“I think so. Your Grace, what did she say to you?”
Stoke leaned against the balustrade and stared out into the darkened garden. “She called me venal and manipulative.”
“Lord, have mercy.” Ronan knew he should not be laughing, but he was about to spend the rest of his days swabbing the deck of the ugliest, most sea-unworthy vessel in the navy. He no longer cared what the duke thought of him. The punishment could not be any worse.
He tossed his head back and laughed.
To his utter shock, the duke burst out laughing as well. “She is right, Brayden. I have been a monumental arse. I want you to know that you will have my vote. Not only that, I will actively support your appropriations and encourage others in the House of Lords to do the same.”