Can’t Buy Me a Duke by Bianca Blythe

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Harrison’s shoulderseased, and the tightness that had encircled his heart alleviated. Lucy was here beside him. She was going to marry him, and he wasn’t going to lie anymore.

There would be no more deception.

The duchess would be upset of course. She’d have to make do with the amount the late duke had given to her in his will. Unless they were able to trace some far-flung relative, the dukedom would revert to the crown. Harrison wouldn’t be surprised if the duchess tried to petition Parliament itself to let her maintain her position. He gave a wry smile.

But it was for the best. It would be what should have happened long ago.

This would be his new home. He looked around, noting the bustling carriages, the elegant mansions built by people who’d made something of themselves. Lucy’s father had been poor when he’d arrived in New York. He hadn’t spent his time gambling, like so many of the ton, eager to alleviate their boredom by whatever means possible. Anything here was possible.

Excitement thrummed through Harrison. Perhaps he would never be able to return to England without fear of the law, but perhaps that didn’t matter. He didn’t care what people like Sir Seymour thought.

The sun glinted against Lucy’s magnificent red hair and cast a golden glow about her sumptuous body. He forced himself to not simply barrage her with compliments. He loved her. He loved her so much. It had been difficult for him to go against his instincts for so long, but now he could tell her. He never wanted to stop telling her.

Lucy and he ascended the short flight of steps and reentered the house. The butler swallowed hard, and his eyes flickered to Harrison’s and Lucy’s enjoined hands. He drew back. “Great Scott!” The butler’s cheeks reddened. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine,” Lucy said reassuringly. She beamed. “In fact, everything’s fine.”

They exchanged a glance, and Harrison’s heart warmed even more.

“What’s all this?” Mr. Banks’s voice boomed from the top of the stairs, then he stomped down. “It’s you again.” He fixed a hard stare on Harrison. “I told you to go away.”

“Look,” Mrs. Banks interrupted, and she pointed at Harrison’s hand. More specifically, Harrison’s fingers, which were entwined with Lucy’s. “They’re holding hands.”

Mr. Banks’s frown turned deeper and more ferocious. “What are you doing?” He glanced at the butler. “Reynolds, bring me a gun.”

Lucy shot a nervous look at Harrison as if she half expected him to let go and sprint all the way to the very first ship back to England.

Harrison wasn’t going to do that. He loved Lucy and would marry her.

“I have an announcement to make,” Harrison said.

“That you’re an idiot?” Mr. Banks asked.

“No.”

“That you are a scoundrel?” Mr. Banks suggested, and his eyes narrowed.

“No.”

“Perhaps we should hear what he has to say.” Mrs. Banks still stared at his and Lucy’s hands.

“We are going to marry,” Harrison said.

Mrs. Banks clapped her hands. “My son-in-law is to be a duke. My daughter will be a duchess. This is the pinnacle of my happiness.”

“Well, actually . . .” Harrison said. “There’s something you should probably know.”

“I know you should be inside this house talking instead of outside of it.” Mrs. Banks ushered them both inside and shot a stern look at her husband. “You shouldn’t have frightened him so much. Most likely, he would have proposed long ago if you hadn’t been so terrifying.”

“Terrifying, you say?” Mr. Banks’s eyes twinkled.

“It was not meant to be a compliment,” Mrs. Banks said.

“I’ll take it as one.” Mr. Banks slapped Harrison on his back with such force that Harrison nearly fell to the floor, even though he was in no manner weak.

“You’re going to be my son-in-law,” Mr. Banks said jovially, and all the scowls and glowers were gone. “Welcome to the family.”

In the next moment, he tackled Harrison in a large hug.

Harrison blinked. “Mr. Banks?”

“You can call me Papa now,” Mr. Banks said.

“Papa?” Harrison tested.

“Yes, exactly. Two syllables.”

“Papa,” Harrison said.

Mr. Banks grinned and jerked his thumb at Lucy. “It took us eight months to teach you that word. And this man, this fellow, it just took him two seconds to learn. He’ll be quite a husband for you.”

*

“HE’S RENOUNCING HISdukedom, Mama,” Lucy said.

“Well, renouncing is not quite the right word.” Harrison looked at Lucy.

“I know,” she whispered. “But one thing at a time.”

“Wait. You’re not going to be a duke?” Mrs. Banks’ eyebrows rose.

“No,” Harrison replied.

“Oh, no! Well, what do you say, Mr. Banks, about that? How horrible. How tricky. How . . .”

“Well, I don’t see anything wrong with that at all,” Mr. Banks said. “I thought all that title business was nonsense.”

“You’re not supposed to say that.” His wife elbowed him.

“I only speak the truth.” He grinned. “We’re elated to have you join us.”

“But, darling. Maybe we should reconsider if he’s not a duke.”

“No. He is marrying our Lucy.”

“But you despised him before,” Mrs. Banks wailed. “Why can’t you do so again? Why must you always be so disagreeable?”

“I’m sorry,” Mr. Banks told Harrison. “She’ll calm down eventually.”

“Or find something else to worry about,” Harrison suggested.

“Yes, that’s possible. Sometimes that’s the only solution.” Mr. Banks glanced at his wife. “Both your daughters are getting married.” 

“I’ll be alone.” Mrs. Banks continued to cry. “Both my children gone, departed from the house.”

Mr. Banks nodded at Harrison. “See, it worked.”

Harrison wasn’t certain this was an improvement on his wife’s previous state, and he had the odd suspicion Mr. Banks didn’t quite care either way.

He sighed. Still, he had Lucy in his life, and that was the important thing. Even if sometimes her parents were difficult.

“Well, Mama. You needn’t worry,” Lucy said. “We plan to move here, to New York.”

“Oh, my baby.” Mrs. Banks dashed toward Lucy and embraced her into a hug. “You’ll be here.” She turned to Harrison. “Is this really true?”

“That’s our plan,” Harrison said.

“Well, it’s a good plan.” 

“I will need work, though,” Harrison said. 

“Heavens, you are becoming American.”

Harrison grinned. “That’s not a bad thing to be.”

Mr. Banks slapped him on the back. “I’ll take you round to my office tomorrow. My wife already tells me I’m far too busy. It will be nice to have some help. I’ll teach you everything I know, then we’ll get you voted in to join the New York Stock and Exchange Board.” Mr. Banks gave a smug grin. “I know a lot.”

Harrison turned to Lucy. He’d thought he would never see her again, and then he’d thought he’d only see her to have one brief awkward conversation. He hadn’t thought he might marry her, that there might be a way that he could find happiness.

His heart filled with images of what might happen in the future. Places they might go. Balls they might dance at. Picnics they could have and children, laughing and dancing, that they would make.

“I’m the luckiest man in the world.” Harrison turned to Lucy, and even though her parents were nearby, he dipped her into a long kiss and kissed and kissed and kissed.

“Oh my,” Mrs. Banks exclaimed.

When they stood up, Mrs. Banks stared at him, her hand on her heart.

Lucy’s eyes glimmered. “I’m quite a lucky woman too.”