Pride and Fire by Jomarie Degioia

Saturday.”
    Lady Helen blinked at him in surprise. “This Saturday? Do you mind my asking what has changed?”
    Paul gave a laugh. “Not in the least, Madam,” he said. “I’ve decided I cannot wait a year to make your lovely daughter my wife.”
    Michelle flushed at that admission. Paul placed a kiss on her hand, his eyes sparkling.
    “Splendid!” Lady Helen exclaimed. “We’ll have to start right away, my dears, if everything is to be done properly. We may have to hold the nuptials here, I daresay.”
    Lady Helen went on to list all of the tasks to be completed. Michelle nodded, trying to keep all of what her mother was saying straight in her mind. Paul leaned back, his arm draped over the back of the settee.
    “I daresay I’m quite relived that I merely have to procure the license and show up on time,” he said.
    The two ladies clicked their tongues at him and resumed their planning.
     
    * * * *
     
    Paul paid a visit on Lord and Lady Kanewood that afternoon.
    “Leed,” Geoffrey said. “What on earth are you doing here?”
    “Geoffrey,” Becca chided her husband. “Is that any way to greet our good friend?”
    Paul bowed to Becca with a smile. “I have some wonderful news, Rebecca.”
    “Oh?” she asked, her eyes twinkling. “Do tell us, Lord Leed.”
    Paul sat on the settee facing her, surprised at the sharp interest in her eyes. Geoffrey gave a chuckle and Paul looked at him in question.
    “Am I missing something, Kane?” Paul asked him.
    “It seems, Leed, that Rebecca has been starved for news of late.”
    Becca waved one hand. “Geoffrey, that’s not true.”
    “It is true, love.” He took her hand and turned back to Paul. “She even went so far as to ask Lady Michelle to apprise her of all the latest gossip.”
    Becca’s eyes widened at her husband’s mention of Michelle. She looked at Paul with concern and Paul’s grin widened.
    “What precisely is your news, Lord Leed?” Becca asked.
    “Lady Michelle has consented to be my wife.”
    “What?” Geoffrey asked in comical surprise.
    “Oh, that’s the most wonderful news!” Becca squealed, her hands clasped in delight.
    She shot her husband a knowing glance, at which he bowed his head.
    Paul looked from one to the other. “Kane, what’s going on?”
    “I’m afraid my wife has been cheated out of a bit of matchmaking.”
    “Matchmaking?” Paul laughed. “Oh, I believe our match was inevitable.”
    “That’s what I told my husband,” Rebecca said. “You see, Geoffrey? I told you so.”
    Geoffrey groaned. “You’re going to be impossible to live with, aren’t you, love?”
    “Just a bit,” she teased.
    Paul watched them for a moment. “I hope Michelle and I will be as happy as you two.”
    “Not possible,” Geoffrey said. “But I daresay you’ll give us a good run for the money.”
    Paul shook his head and laughed.
    When he entered his townhouse he went directly to his study. He penned a few notes to several of his connections in the House of Lords, advising them of the increase in his availability. He sat back, resignation causing him to let out a harsh breath. He called for Starks to see to the notes and settled himself behind the desk once more.
    Without a glance toward his ledgers, he turned his attention to the folders on the left side of his desk. He thumbed through the pile, searching for nothing in particular. With a sigh, he settled on one near the top. He opened the file and placed it in front of him. He read through the contents and shook his head.
    “Ridiculous.”
    Giving a shrug, he withdrew a blank piece of paper from the desk drawer and began to scribble some notes on it.
    He worked at the task until well past tea time. Thankfully Starks had prepared a tray for his master, from which Paul had eaten enough to sustain him. He’d finished work on the first file, which now had several sheets of paper added to its contents, and read over the second he’d chosen.
    “How in God’s name am I going