He agreed, of course, and would be leaving today for a stay of two weeks. And what would two autumn weeks in the country be without a shooting party?
The prospect of such an event left him as excited as a child with a new puppy. He’d asked me several times to join him, and I finally conceded. Though with Lily’s wedding coming up, I thought I could only spare a week.
“Actually, this spot of trouble means I may be able to join you even sooner.”
His brow smoothed as he grinned. “Have they decided to elope then? Wise choice.”
I shrugged. “As it happens, it’s their only choice.”
“You’re serious.” He leaned back and took me in with a glance. “Truly? After all their plans they intend to elope?”
“They must marry soon.” I gave him a meaningful look.
He responded with a blank stare. “They are marrying soon.”
Clearly, I needed to work on my facial expressions. “No. I mean they must marry immediately.”
His raised brows told me he finally understood. “Isn’t your mother on her way as we speak? She’ll be terribly disappointed if she misses the wedding.”
“As will Leo’s mother, but we couldn’t think of another option. I suggested we put together a small family ceremony in the country, but Harleigh Manor is for sale and thus, unavailable.” I shrugged. “As Leo’s parents have no country home, there is nowhere to gather even a small family party.”
“They could come to Risings. Plenty of room there.”
“That’s lovely of you to offer, but your brother is no relation to any of us. We cannot ask him to host a wedding, even a small one. It’s far too much of an imposition.”
“Correction.” He held up his index finger. “You are soon to be my brother’s sister, a very close relation indeed.” A second finger joined the first. “He is not in residence, thus no imposition at all. And finally”—his ring finger joined the others—“I am already hosting a shooting party as Hartfield has given me leave to entertain as I wish. Another dozen people or so will make no difference.” He gave me a nudge with his shoulder. “Bring them to Risings.”
I bit my lip, hardly believing my good fortune, or Lily’s good fortune as it were. Perhaps this could work after all. Risings was in Hampshire. Not far at all. We could gather the immediate family quickly. My mother would arrive in just a few days, and both she and Mrs. Kendrick could attend their children’s wedding. This could work. A quick but proper wedding. No disappointed parents. Society none the wiser.
“If you are in earnest, and you really don’t mind.” I paused, giving him a chance to reconsider, but he merely cocked his head, awaiting my answer.
I leaned my head against his shoulder, relieved to have a solution. “Thank you, George. That would take care of everything.”
“I am always happy to help you in any endeavor. And I’d also hate to exclude a mother from her child’s wedding.”
A grimace twisted my lips as I gazed up at him. “I confess, the thought of telling my mother she missed the wedding is largely what motivates me.” I shuddered at the thought.
He nodded. “Yes, I’ve met your mother. I would not want to be the bearer of bad news either.”
“Well, now neither of us has that onerous task.” I pressed his hand to my cheek. “Thank you, George. You always manage to have the solution to my problems.”
“You offer the best rewards.” He twined his fingers with mine and brought us both to our feet.
“I don’t recall offering a reward.”
“You’ll be joining me at Risings at least a week before I expected you. I’d call that a reward.”
He pulled his watch from his pocket, unaware he’d removed a letter at the same time. It fell to the floor while he checked the time.
“Do you leave right now?” I asked.
“Almost, I have a stop to make first, so I should be off.”
As he headed toward the entry hall, I picked up his letter and trailed behind him. “Is your stop at Newgate Prison?”
“What?” He snapped around so quickly I almost ran into him. “No. Why would you ask such a thing?”
I pulled back in surprise, the letter dangling from my fingers as I handed it to him. “This fell from your pocket.” The lines of tension around his mouth faded as he relaxed his jaw. He took the envelope and shoved it back into his coat.
“I couldn’t help noticing it came from Newgate. Are you corresponding with a prisoner?”
He let out a sharp laugh. “Hardly that, but it does relate to my errand. I’m taking it to the Home Office.” He rested a finger against my lips. “Don’t even ask. You know I can’t tell you.”
“I’m marrying a very mysterious man,” I said, the words distorted by the pressure of his finger on my lips. With a smile, he replaced the finger with his own lips, and I was reminded how much I loved him.
A few minutes later, I’d seen him out the door and leaned back against it, considering the morning’s events. I’d been presented with a somewhat sticky problem, and with George’s help, managed to work through it. Holding the wedding at Risings was the perfect solution.
Fiona, George’s sister and my best friend, would be there as her husband, Sir Robert, would be joining the shoot. She’d be a great help. Once I determined how to transport my mother to the country when she arrived, this should be a relatively simple operation. One small wedding to plan. How difficult could that be? Perhaps I’d broken my cycle of highs and lows.
Chapter 2
After seeing George out, I returned to the library to share the good news and was surprised to find Lily less than thrilled.
“I can’t believe you told Mr. Hazelton.”
Even Leo’s cheeks reddened, and once again he refused to meet my eye.
Dear, perhaps I shouldn’t have told him. Though I considered George as almost my husband, these three were unaware of our engagement and understandably did not see him as family. I sat down on the window seat, facing my sister and her fiancé.
And lied.
“I told him nothing, Lily. I simply stated the two of you were unwilling to wait another eight weeks and were threatening elopement.” I made a mental note to ask George to forget he knew anything about Lily’s condition.
“So he offered his family home for our wedding ceremony?” Leo looked unconvinced.
“Well, I did mention my objections to the elopement.” I shrugged. “And then he offered.”
Lily nodded and seemed to accept the idea, but Leo watched me with suspicion. “It’s possible he just guessed there might be more to your decision
