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Why else would Gareth co? He had never had any cause before And after beco acquainted with Hyacinth’s family—some of them, at least—he had no doubt that her mother had already met with her brother and discussed the possibility of theira match

“Mr St Clair,” the viscount said, rising from behind his desk as Gareth entered the roo Etiquette did not demand that the viscount come to his feet, and it was a show of respect that he did

“Lord Bridgerton,” Gareth said, nodding Hyacinth’s brother possessed the sah his was just starting to gray at the te to diminish him, however He was a tall man, and probably a dozen years Gareth’s senior, but he was still superbly fit and powerful Gareth would not have wanted tofield

The viscount e leather chair, positioned opposite to his desk “Sit,” he said, “please”

Gareth did so, working fairly hard to hold hiainst the arm of the chair He had never done this before, and da He needed to appear calanized and collected He didn’t think his suit would be refused, but he’d like to conity If he didthe viscount for the rest of his life, and he didn’t need the head of the Bridgerton fa him a fool

“I iine you knohy I am here,” Gareth said

The viscount, who had resuany desk, tilted his head very slightly to the side He was tapping his fingertips together, his hands le “Perhaps,” he said, “to save both of us from possible embarrassment, you could state your intentions clearly”

Gareth sucked in a breath Hyacinth’s brother wasn’t going to make this easy on hiht, and he would not be cowed

He looked up,the viscount’s dark eyes with steady purpose “I would like to marry Hyacinth,” he said And then, because the viscount did not say anything, because he didn’t even move, Gareth added, “Er, if she’ll have me”

And then about eight things happened at once Or perhaps there were ht, because it was all so unexpected

First, the viscount exhaled, although that did seeh, actually—a huge, tired, heartfelt sigh that made the man positively deflate in front of Gareth Which was astonishing Gareth had seen the viscount on many occasions and was quite faroaned

His lips see, too, and if Gareth were a ht that the viscount had said, “Thank you, Lord”

Combined with the heavenward tilt of the viscount’s eyes, it did seem the most likely translation

And then, just as Gareth was taking all of this in, Lord Bridgerton let the pal force, and he looked Gareth squarely in the eye as he said, “Oh, she’ll have you She will definitely have you”

It wasn’t quite what Gareth had expected “I beg your pardon,” he said, since truly, he could think of nothing else