Will put his arm around her waist protectively.
Her brother nodded. "I don't know how many people he might have declared his intention to, or where he is even now. I ws coming to find you to speak with you about your feelings for such an offer when I came across you here on the terrace with Will, and the rest is as you can see."
"There are no feelings, Brother," she said truthfully. "There has all been some sort of mistake on his part, and perhaps excessive politeness on mine."
He nodded, satsfied, and she was pleased to see that Will looked completely at ease with her explanation.
The Duke looked from one to the other. "By rights I suppose I ought to be angry that you and Will have come to an understanding with one another so quickly without so much as giving me an inkling, or asking permission, but I can see how you both clearly feel about each other, and I know you've certainly not been sneaking around in any way on purpose.
"As for Marcus Fitzsimmons, well, sneaking is more his style, and a lack of veracity. So I merely said I would consider what he had requested. I also admit I told him flat out that I did not approve.
"I did, however, also tell him that the final choice would be yours, dear sister. I'm only sorry I had to declare my own feelings so openly. He is after all a cousin of Stewart's, and as such is part of our extended family circle, so I would not wish to offend him. But it was my opinion, and as your loving brother I could say no less than the truth, that you were very young, and that frankly, his prospects and person were not quite what I could hope for a precious jewel such as yourself.
"No, indeed," she agreed, nodding dazedly, still struck by the fact that Will had slipped and arm around her again as they headed back to the ballroom, and was holding her so close she was sure she was going to swoon again.
"However, that is all no matter now, for you have made your choice. Thus I will not have to be the villain of this piece, so long as you make it clear to everyone that you're marrying Will of your own volition. That he was your choice all along. But then, I doubt anyone will be surprised. No one can have failed to notice his gentlemanly and loving regard for you. Therefore, Fitzsimmons will never have cause to think that I talked you out of the match in any way."
"No, indeed," she said numbly, still shocked by the sudden turnabout in her affairs.
"Are you all right?" Thomas asked, looking at her more closely as she clung to Will's arm as though afraid he would disappear, hardly able to take her eyes off him.
"Yes, fine. Just shocked. I cannot plead ignorance of what Marcus Fitzsimmons intended, but I did not offer him any encouragement to go speak with you," she temporized.
"It's not your fault, my love," Will murmured. "You can't help it if he read more into your indulgence of him as he carried on like a rattle than was actually in your heart."
The Duke nodded. "No, of course not, Elizabeth. Anyone who ever met you would never accuse you of being a wanton. I hope you will appreciate, Will, what a delicate flower my sister is. She had been very sheltered since that family trouble which we have spoken of privately. I am sure Elizabeth has probably mentioned how much it horrified us all. I know as a gentleman you would not take advantage of her tender sensibilities and youth."
"Never," Will said promptly, drawing the other arm around her protectively. "My actions, such as they have been, have, I hope, demonstrated nothing more than my most sincere and devoted love for the most worthy woman in the world. Next to your wife, of course."
"And your sister," Thomas said with a bow.
"We certainly have some wonderfully lovely women in this family, do we not?" Will said with a warm smile which lit up his entire face.
Elizabeth stared up at the transformation, and wondered how on earth she had ever found him gloomy or forbidding-looking.
He was…. quite spectacular. Those lush lips, those incredible aquamarine eyes. The lightest touch of his hands upon her waist or shoulder were enough to set her flesh roiling all over again. Could she possibly….. Did she dare?
"Thomas, dear brother, can you please give me one more minute alone with Mr. Joyce?"
"Well, I—"
"Really, it's all right. We just need to fortify ourselves for the crush," Will reassured him, seeing that Elizabeth was quite overcome with emotion.
Thomas at length smiled and nodded. "Very well, then. Slip around the front to our private parlor, and have something from the decanter, both of you. Fitzsimmons will not be the only one surprised by my announcement."