Page 168 of The Wallflower Takes All

Poppy took Gabriel’s hand. “Mr. Ashby has asked me to marry him, and I have agreed.”

The elder Mr. Ashby smiled. “I am very glad to hear it.”

Gabriel looked at his father. “You might at least pretend astonishment.”

“I might,” his father said, “but you did tell me you meant to ask her, and I may have retired with admirable speed once I saw the opportunity.”

Gabriel’s jaw dropped. “You?—”

His father’s smile turned devilish. “I knew you would be perfect for Miss Montfort.”

Gabriel put his free hand on his hip. “How could you possibly have known that?”

His father winked. “Because I know you. And I have come to know Miss Montfort well enough to see what you could not. You are both so accustomed to carrying burdens alone that neither of you quite knows what to do when someone remarkable tries to help you.”

Gabriel went very still.

“I thought,” his father continued, “that given half a chance, you might bring out the best in one another.”

For a moment, Gabriel could say nothing. He looked at his father and understood, all at once, the gift he had been given. Time. Proximity. An excuse to remain in Poppy’s company when duty alone would have sent him away.

Then he looked at Poppy.

She was already looking back, her eyes bright with the same dawning realization.

Lady Viva handed Freddie to Jenkins, who accepted the dog and the ruined fabric with resignation, then swept Poppy into her arms. “I thought so too,” she announced. Then she whispered in her daughter’s ear, “Are you happy, darling?”

Poppy closed her eyes. “Yes, Mama. Quite.”

“Good.” Lady Viva held her a little longer. “I appear to have developed the most inconvenient tendency to become misty-eyed. It is perfectly dreadful. I hope it passes.”

Gabriel’s father came forward and bowed over Poppy’s hand. “My dear Miss Montfort. May I say that I am delighted?”

“You may,” Poppy said, smiling through tears.

Lady Viva dabbed at her eyes. “Now, Mr. Ashby.”

Both Gabriel and his father looked at her.

She pointed her handkerchief at Gabriel. “The younger one. We must be clear. I come with Poppy.”

“I assumed so.”

“And Freddie.”

“Also assumed.”

“And my friends, upon occasion.”

Gabriel hesitated.

Poppy looked at him with wry amusement.

“Define occasion,” he said.

Lady Viva brightened. “How legal of you.”

“How necessary of me.”