Page 57 of Venus in Disguise

Lord Cavendish stilled, his eyes growing dark. In that moment Narcissa remembered what Ash had told her, that his grandfather had been a brute and had beaten his father until he ran away from home to escape the violence.

“I see,” Lord Cavendish said, before returning his attention to Narcissa. “I cannot tell you how profoundly sorry I am to hear that.”

Narcissa smiled at him, touched by the sincerity of his words. “Thank you, but I am quite well, and I feel I ought to assure you that is not the reason I married your son. Though he saved me from very difficult circumstances, and from a marriage I viewed with revulsion that is not—”

“The duke intended her for Lord Wishen,” Ash cut in, and his mother gave a little gasp of outrage.

“But I married Ash because… because I care for him very much,” Narcissa carried on. She blushed at having to speak so in front of people she had only just met, but she needed them to understand. She glanced back at her husband, her chest swelling with emotion as his eyes met hers. “Very, very much indeed,” she added, her voice little more than a whisper.

There was a brief silence before his mother spoke.

“Well, of course you do. I’m afraid the dreadful creature is adorable and, what’s more, he knows it.”

Lord Cavendish snorted at that but held out his hands to her. “Welcome to the family, Narcissa. We are very glad to meet you at last, and more than glad to know our reprobate son has decided to settle down at last, and not before time,” he added dryly, giving Ash a look that made him shift awkwardly and clear his throat.

“Oh, congratulations, darling,” his mother said, hurrying to him and pulling him into an embrace. “She’s delightful. I’m sure we shall get along famously.”

Narcissa let out a breath of relief, as that hurdle seemed to have been cleared, but then they heard the front door open and close once more and Barnes’s voice carried down the corridor.

“But Mrs Lane-Fox, you must let me announce you and—”

The parlour door swung open and a woman so lovely she could only be Ash’s twin exploded into the room.

“Ashton Anson, tell me it isn’t true,” she demanded furiously, her lovely eyes flashing with temper. “Tell me you did not go and marry that pretty half-wit without ever consulting me!”

“Vivien!” Ash, his father, and his mother all said in unison.

Disregarding the admonitions, Vivien hurried up to Ash, taking hold of him as if she might give him a hard shake, which, considering the disparity in their size, was rather ridiculous. “Tell me you didn’t throw yourself away on that foolish child!” she cried, too impassioned to heed even her father’s words as he tried to silence her.

“No, I didn’t marry a half-wit, nor a foolish child,” Ash said evenly, breaking out of his sister’s hold with ease. “And if you don’t listen to me, I shall put you out on the street until you can find some manners, you appalling girl. Really, Viv, you are the absolute limit!”

“Oh, Ash!” Vivien said, wiping her eyes as she gazed at him. “You didn’t marry her? Only August had it from Larkin and I said he must be mistaken, for you would never get married without telling me first and certainly never….” Vivien trailed off as she finally noticed Narcissa. She turned back to Ash, eyes wide. “But you said—”

“I said I didn’t marry a half-wit, though I’m beginning to think I’m close kin to one,” Ash said, glaring at his twin. “It was an act, Viv. She was being coerced by her father to make a good match and so she acted the simpleton because the men of the ton are too bird-witted themselves to appreciate a woman with spirit and a mind of her own. Happily, that does not include me!” he added, giving a look that warned her to think carefully before she spoke again.

Narcissa, steeling her nerve, knew she must calm the situation and convince his sister that she was not the dim-witted girl she clearly believed her to be.

“Good afternoon, Mrs Lane-Fox. I am so sorry to have caused you distress. I’m afraid the news must have been a shock to you. I know how deeply Ash regretted not having his family with him when we married, but I’m afraid there was no time. You see, I ran away from home, from my father, to be with your brother. If the duke had caught us, it would have gone very badly, I’m afraid,” she added, her heart still fluttering with fear even though that was all behind them now. “I know you have no reason to welcome me into the family, and I know I must prove myself worthy of your regard, but I must tell you how happy I am to meet you, and I hope you might come to like me when you get over the shock of how things were done.”

“Oh,” Viven said, staring at her. “Oh.”

“Oh, indeed,” Ash said dryly. “Viv, you are the worst sister in the entire world.”

“No, I’m not,” she retorted. “You know very well I’m the best sister anyone ever had. You take that back.”

Ash snorted and shook his head as the front door opened and closed once more and hurrying footsteps sounded in the hallway.

“Good lord, what now!” Ash demanded irritably, folding his arms as the new arrival burst in upon them.

“Vivien!” A handsome fellow with an untidy shock of gold hair stared wildly around the room until they settled on the lovely young woman at the centre of the disturbance. “Vivien, you wicked creature. I specifically told you to wait for me and not to come here, accusing people of wrongdoing.”

“August, don’t scold,” Vivien said, looking chastened. “Ash has already told me off.”

“And so I should think,” August said crossly, taking a moment to adjust a cravat that looked to have been tied with more haste than care. “Silas, Aashini, I am so sorry. I tried to stop her.”

Lord Cavendish rolled his eyes and shook his son-in-law’s hand. “You may as well try to hold back the tide with either of them. I blame their mother,” he said with a shrug.

Lady Cavendish shot her husband a warning look before addressing the growing company. “I think tea is in order. Barnes!”