Page 51 of Dare to Risk it All

“I wanted to tell you,” Greer said, apologetic now. “Only—”

“You thought I might disapprove,” Elspeth finished for her.

“Do you?” Raphe asked. He gripped her hand as if she was an anchor to the ground, and she felt the tension running through him. “I wouldn’t blame you, after the trouble I caused you and Dare.”

Elspeth smiled and shook her head. “Dare has always told me I ought not to judge you for those first weeks of our acquaintance. I admit, I am anxious still, but I trust my husband and, if he thinks you are a man worthy of his friendship, then I must put my faith in you too. Do not let me down, though, Lord de Ligne. My twin is like a part of myself. Hurt her, and you will have me to deal with.”

“Elspeth,” Greer said, touched and a little annoyed by the warning.

“I would rather cut out my heart,” Raphe said. “But I take your warning with the seriousness it merits, I assure you.”

“Then it is indeed a happy day,” Elspeth said, holding her arms out to Greer.

Greer let out a breath of relief and ran to her sister, hugging her warmly. By the time they turned around, Raphe was being smothered by their mother, who hugged him, kissing his cheek and ruffling his hair like he was a small boy, though he had to bend down to let her.

“Now can we go shopping?” Alana whined plaintively.

Greer laughed, so excited she felt she might burst. “Yes!” she exclaimed. “Everyone should be happy today, even you, my darling nuisance.”

“Congratulations! About bloody time you got leg shackled. It’s not as if Dare and I haven’t led by example.”

Raphe endured Bainbridge’s pat on the back, which was hard enough to make his teeth rattle.

“Smug devil. I was the one who did it first,” Dare said, rolling his eyes at his friend. He turned to Raphe and shook his hand, grinning warmly. “Well, I’ve always considered you a brother. May as well make it official, eh, old man?”

Raphe laughed, touched and pleased by his friend’s reactions.

“Just wait until August hears the news. He won’t believe it,” Bainbridge predicted. “He’ll think we’re pulling his leg.”

“Well, can you blame him, bearing in mind some of the stunts you pulled over the years? If I were him, I wouldn’t believe a word that came out of your mouth either,” Dare retorted as they walked towards their waiting horses.

Bainbridge and Dare had elected to ride into Chesterfield as they intended to visit the railway works in which Bainbridge had taken a financial interest. The station was due to open the next year, and he was keen to show his friends the progress. Raphe had declined the visit apologetically, wanting to spend his time with Greer, but he had agreed to ride with them into town.

The day was cold but bright and they rode ahead of the slower carriages, making their way into Chesterfield. Greer’s father and Raphe’s younger brother Oliver rode with the ladies. Raphe was touched by his young sibling’s delight in his engagement but had not yet told Sylvester. The poor fellow was suffering the torments of the damned after having overindulged last night and had elected to stay home and sleep it off.

Chesterfield was a handsome, busy little town with a fine church made notable by its violently twisted spire.

“Legend has it that the devil was having a comfortable nap up there when the scent of incense drifting up from the church made him sneeze with such force it twisted the spire,” Bainbridge said with amusement. “Nothing whatsoever to do with green timber and shoddy workmanship, mind,” he added with a wink.

Raphe laughed and bid his friends goodbye as he followed the carriage to its destination. The coaching inn was a friendly, bustling place, and Raphe handed his horse over to a groom before hurrying to help Greer and her family from their carriages.

They had a pleasant morning, exploring the town and the shops, and whilst Raphe wished he could lavish his beloved with an expensive gift, she did not appear the least bit interested in buying for herself. Instead, she finished the last of her Christmas shopping, buying a fine pair of leather gloves for Elspeth, an illustrated book of birds for Alana, and chocolates for her mother. Raphe fretted over his gifts, feeling he must buy his new family something but too aware of the limited coins upon his person. Greer had assured him they did not care how much money he spent and only wished for his company, which was reassuring… but only up to a point.

“Raphe,” Jerry said quietly whilst Greer browsed a shop window, taking him aside. “This is for you.”

Raphe looked down at the fat purse his soon to be father-in-law was holding out to him and flushed with mortification.

“No,” he said, shaking his head. “No, that is very kind, but I cannot.”

“You can, you know. Consider it an advance on Greer’s dowry. No one else need know, and I’m sure you’ll be wanting to buy her a betrothal gift.”

Raphe stared at the purse, tempted for a moment by the idea of buying something pretty for Greer, but he shook his head again. “No, sir. Thank you, truly. I appreciate the offer and your confidence in me, but I shall buy Greer’s gift myself. It might not be as extravagant as she deserves, but I will do the best I can.”

To his relief, Jerry smiled at him, something that looked very much like approval in his eyes.

“Good for you,” he said quietly, and walked away, leaving Raphe uncertain if that had been a test, and if he’d just passed it.

They returned to the coaching inn late in the afternoon when hunger overrode even Alana’s enthusiasm for shopping, and enjoyed a fine meal of lamb stew, studded with pearl barley and carrots, and cloudlike suet dumplings.