The Perfect Arrangement (The Not So Saintly Sisters #4) - Annabelle Anders Page 0,36

almost as though she was on the verge of fainting. “Is this the scoundrel you’ve married?”

“Do be careful, Your Grace!” Christian moved quickly to ascend the stairs while Mr. Williams helplessly reached out his hands, as though doing so would prevent her from falling.

Lillian raced after Christian, who’d halted before reaching the landing. Her mother gripped the balustrade with white-knuckled rage and glared daggers at him.

“Mother.” Lillian stepped in front of her husband in order to protect him from death by mother-in-law. “Please, don’t upset yourself. May I present my husband, Christian Masterson?” And then she bit her lip. “He is the Duke of Warwick.”

A painful moan escaped her mother at the announcement.

But the Dowager Duchess of Crawford was a lady, first and foremost. After closing her eyes a moment in order to summon her dignity, the older woman opened them and nodded her head. “Your Grace. I’m sure you’ll understand my displeasure upon making your acquaintance. You see, my dearest daughter failed to mention to me that she was betrothed.”

“Mother?” Lillian entreated. “Do you not think it would be best to have this discussion sitting down, in the drawing room perhaps?” It was possible that bringing Christian along had not been the best course of action after all.

Her mother nodded, and as though she’d not just nearly fainted dead away, she strode purposefully in the direction of their most formal of public rooms. “This way, Your Grace.”

Lillian glanced over at Christian but before she could get a word out, her mother’s voice broke into her thoughts. “And bring your husband, as well, Lillian.”

Her own mother had just “Your Graced” her.

Christian smiled tightly and then shrugged as though to ask if she’d expected anything different.

Entering the elegantly furnished sitting area, Lillian grasped Christian’s hand and tugged him to sit beside her, facing her mother.

Mr. Williams closed the door behind all of them.

“I cannot begin to imagine how you can explain your actions?”

“It was not well done of us, and the fault falls squarely upon me. Please don’t blame your daughter.” Christian flicked a fond gaze in Lillian’s direction. “We simply got carried away.”

That morning, the two of them had decided it would be best if her mother was to believe they’d been swept away in a whirlwind of love. Even as a child, Lillian had not been good at dissembling—especially to her mother—and yet she could not help but send a loving smile in her husband’s direction.

This morning had been quite lovely, indeed…

“My daughter does not get carried away,” her mother countered in clipped tones. “She has always been quite levelheaded.” She shifted her gaze to Lillian. “This is why you were asking me about Warwick? You did not see fit to direct your questions toward the man himself? The man you intended to marry? And will you come running back to your mother when you realize you have married into a family of reckless rogues? A duke, Lillian? Really?”

“Mother!” Lillian nearly burst to her feet, but Christian had gripped her arm so that she remained seated beside him.

“My wife need never worry about that.” Something in his voice had Lilian turning to read his expression. “Our courtship was sudden. I… I am irrevocably, whole heartedly, head over heels besotted with your daughter.” Lillian nearly dropped her jaw at the sincerity she heard in his voice.

Was it possible?

He twisted his lips into an almost apologetic smile.

Her mother sat up straighter. “Might I ask then, what your plans are for the future?”

Lillian did not want Christian to answer this question. He would have taken more time to plan out his future if he could count on having one. He most certainly wouldn’t have married her and definitely not in such a great hurry.

“Have you a contract? My stepson is out this morning. I suppose you’ll be wanting to claim my daughter’s dowry. You’ll put it in trust, mind you.”

“Cameron is here?” Lillian ought to have realized her mother would send for him…

“Louella remained at Ashton Acres with the children. He’s with Kingsley this morning. At White’s, I believe.”

“I’ll make arrangements to meet with him.” Christian spoke somberly. Lillian knew he had no interest whatsoever in any dowry of hers.

“You’ll be lucky if he doesn’t call you out, Your Grace. This isn’t the manner in which this family functions.”

“Enough. Mother.” Lillian held up one hand to halt her mother’s unkind interrogation.

But Christian did not seem angry, nor upset, even when her mother continued right on with her tirade.

“They are all reasonable enough