Moira drew away in embarrassment. “Certainly not!” she said. “I was just… just thanking Mr. Hartly… that is, Major-I mean Lord Daniel. Oh, what should I call you?” she asked in confusion.

"Call me ‘my fiancé,’ until we are married. That will solve the question.” When she opened her lips to object, he raised a finger. “No welshing on a bargain. You said I got the girl!"

Jonathon rushed forward to pump Daniel's hand. “I shall call you Daniel. Are you coming home with us, or are we going to your place?"

"That will be up to my fiancée,” Daniel replied. “Eventually, we shall remove to Oakdene, my place in Sussex, when you are a little older, Jon."

"Oh, do come home with us first,” Jonathon said. “Moira is always saying we need a man around the place, and now that we have our blunt back, we can begin doing all the things that need doing. The roof needs releading, and there is that pasture Papa meant to tile, and-"

Daniel nodded. “As I have an excellent bailiff, perhaps it would be a good idea to go to your place first. But before those decisions are made, I would like to take Moira to Cove House. There will be a certain amount of unpleasantness here tomorrow. We can leave for the Elms in a few days. Moira, does that suit you?"

Moira did not care where she went, as long as she was with Daniel. “That will be fine,” she answered in a daze.

"Excellent. I want to take a couple of barrels of your cousin's brandy back with me. I shall deliver you to Cove House now. Ring for someone to take down your trunks, Jon."

"I have already done it, but I do not want to go to Cove House with Moira. I should like to stay here,” he said. “I have never seen a Bow Street Officer. I daresay he will be carrying a gun. You shan't forget to take me for a ride in your curricle, Daniel? You promised. You will let me take the ribbons when we get home, won't you? Moira, you have not forgotten you promised I could have a curricle if we got our blunt back from March."

"For goodness’ sake, Jonathon,” Moira exclaimed. “Stop chattering. You make my head ache."

"But you will let me stay here with Daniel?"

Daniel said, “If you are in the next room and very quiet, I daresay we shall forget you are there when Moira leaves."

Jon gave a cheeky grin. “Oh, you mean you want me to leave so you two can snuggle some more."

"Just so,” Daniel replied blandly.

Jonathon left, and Daniel resumed his interrupted lovemaking.


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