The Heiress - Lynsay Sands [122]
Now it was time to get married and they hadn’t had their talk. Suzette wasn’t sure what he’d wished to discuss with her. He had already told her that he hadn’t written the letter, which she’d pretty much figured out by then anyway. She thought perhaps he was going to tell her that he wasn’t poor and in need of her dower, but she already knew that too.
In truth, Suzette was hoping he’d wanted to declare his feelings for her. Her father and his mother had both said that Daniel loved her. It would be nice to hear it from him though. But then she hadn’t told him she loved him yet either, Suzette realized, and then glanced to the door when a soft knock sounded.
Crossing the room, she pulled the door open and smiled when she saw her father in the hall. He wore knee breeches and a frock coat and looked all ready to attend a ball. He also had his cane again and she supposed that Daniel and the men had collected it from the overturned carriage for him while searching for Jeremy Danvers.
“You look nice, Father,” she complimented.
“And you’ve never looked so beautiful, Suzie,” he said solemnly, and then added, “Your mother is probably weeping in heaven with pride and happiness for you.”
“Oh.” She waved a hand before her suddenly watery eyes and grimaced at him. “Don’t say things like that, Papa. You will have me weeping at my own wedding.”
“Sorry, child.” He kissed her gently on the cheek and then urged her back into the room so he could enter.
“What are you doing?” she asked with surprise.
“I wish to speak to you before we go below,” he said solemnly, pushing the door closed and urging her across the room to sit on the side of the bed. He settled himself next to her, took her hands in his and eyed her solemnly. “I just want to be sure you are positive this is what you wish to do.”
Suzette frowned. “Was it not you who was trying to convince me to rethink marrying Jeremy and staying at the inn to wait for Daniel?”
“Yes,” he agreed.
“And now you’re trying to talk me out of marrying Daniel?” she asked with bemusement.
“No, no,” he said at once, squeezing her hands. “No, Suzie, I’m not trying to talk you out of it at all. It is obvious to me that you two love each other and I think he is perfect for you.”
“Well then what—?” She fell silent when he patted her hand.
Smiling wryly now, he shook his head. “I am not doing this right. It is just that you and Daniel have had such an unusual courtship. Well, really, you haven’t had a courtship at all, and I just want you to be sure. I don’t want you to feel you have to marry him because of anything that’s transpired . . . and I want you to know that if you wish to take more time to get to know him now that there is no need or rush to marry, I will support you in that.”
Suzette relaxed and leaned forward to hug him, whispering, “Thank you, Father. That means a great deal.” Sitting back she added, “But I don’t need more time. I want to marry Daniel.”
“Well, good.” He smiled, and then gave a little sigh and said, “I suppose it shall just be Lisa and I from now on then . . . and she will be off marrying her own husband soon enough too.” He shook his head. “It seems like just yesterday when you were all my little girls running around playing.”
“We will always be your little girls, Papa.” Suzette squeezed his hand. “You are always welcome to come visit Daniel and me at Woodrow. And now that you’ve sold the townhouse you will have to stay with Christiana and Richard when you go to town. You will see us. You are still our father and a part of our lives.”
“Of course I will,” he agreed, managing a smile that seemed weak at first, but then became more sincere as he said, “And you will all give me lovely grandbabies to spoil and watch drive you as mad as you all drove your mother and I.”
A surprised laugh slipped from Suzette and she