Loving the Enemy

Chapter 15

Philip stood in front of the two people he admired more than his own parents. Their stern demeanour put him ill at ease and he fought hard not to squirm under their flinty gazes. He hadn't done right by them, comprising their daughter like this. All he had were excuses at the moment.

And he didn't even dare to look in his friend's direction, he who stood by the window, looking out.

The silence was thick enough to suffocate in and when Lady Healey finally deigned to speak, he nearly collapsed in relief at the break. "So, Wyndham, what have you to say for yourself?"

He drew himself in, ensuring that they heard the determination in his voice. "That I am more sorry for soiling her reputation than I can say, for I had never intended it as such. But I am prepared to marry Miss Kendall. I will marry her. Even without her dowry."

"Damn right you will." Kendall glared at him from his spot.

"Son." Lord Healey shot him a look and he refrained from saying more, though he all but vibrated with anger. The viscount redirected his gaze, his voice as unyielding as his brown eyes. "Wyndham. You have been like another son to us all these years and a part of us are pleased that you will finally join our house through marriage. Though it would have certainly been more pleasant if we hadn't given Lady Halifax more fodder for her gossip."

Wyndham was chagrined in the face of the older man's raised sardonic eyebrow. "Yes, of course."

"Do have a care with Adelaide, Wyndham. She has...unconventional ideas."

"I am well aware of them. And she has my full support."

The older couple blinked, surprise evident on their weathered faces. Lady Healey spoke first, breaking their stunned silence, "well then." Her steely gaze softened and she finally smiled for the first time since she'd discovered her daughter in a compromising position. "We are overjoyed to finally be able to officially welcome you as part of the family."

Her hug confounded him, but he quickly recovered and returned it, squeezing her tightly in the way he'd only dreamt of being able to do. "Thank you, my lady."

"None of that! You will call me mother." She drew back, the tears in her eyes bringing a sting to his as well. "And I will finally get to call you my son."

"Your favourite son?" He grinned, playful as a pup.

She laughed. "Definitely."

He looked over to where Kendall stood, and was relieved to see his friend's rigid stance soften, though his eyes were still slightly untrusting and hostile. This was a new side of Kendall he never knew about. He nodded at the other man, who acknowledged it after a tense heartbeat. And he knew that all was right with his friend.

Philip paced outside Adelaide's door. He'd knocked many times, but each time her maid had informed him that she was resting and wasn't available to see him, or anyone.

He wanted...no, needed, to talk to her.

He wanted to tell her that he had already thought about marrying her days before he'd even carried her into the library. That he wasn't some blackguard that would abandon her.

He hadn't intended for things to go so far. In fact, he'd only wanted to steal another kiss from her while he courted her.

It was an about-turn from his original plan but after Miss Blackmore had urged him to uncover her true feelings, he'd decided that maybe he would try to court her instead of pushing her away should she reveal how she felt about him. Lady Norbury's question to her — had he allowed her to answer — would have inadvertently helped him.