Eight Hunting Lyons (The Lyon’s Den Connected World)

Chapter Five

“E xcellent, my dear.” Even though he had wanted Miss Quinn to accept his offer, Thomas had to repress a shudder when she actually did so. In the blink of an eye, his life had changed irrevocably in so many ways. The last thing he’d expected when he woke up this morning had been that by sundown he’d be betrothed. Well, so be it. He made himself release the tension in his neck. Honor had been served, and that was the important thing. They must move forward from here. “Mrs. Dove-Lyon, we will require the use of your office until my carriage is brought around. It will not do for my betrothed to wait on the stoop.”

“That is highly irregular, my lord,” the woman said, her voice trying to be gruff. However, Thomas suspected she was elated at the turn of events.

“Considering I am about to pay an exorbitant fee to you for the privilege of marrying Miss Quinn, I believe you will make the exception.” He didn’t know the exact amount, but he assumed it was a hefty sum.

Miss Quinn turned wide, shocked eyes from him to Mrs. Dove-Lyon, then back again. “What do you mean, my lord? I thought you had to pay a fee in order for me to marry some other gentleman, not if you were going to marry me yourself.”

“It is no matter, Miss Quinn.” Thomas turned his brightest smile on her. At no point did he wish her to feel that he was in any way an unwilling participant to this marriage, although that was rather close to the mark. “A finder’s fee only. Mrs. Dove-Lyon is noted for her ability to bring ladies and gentlemen to an amicable agreement on matrimony.” He ushered Miss Quinn back to her seat and sat across from her. “Pray do not think of it again.”

“I will arrange the contract as usual, my lord.” Mrs. Dove-Lyon headed briskly for the door. “I will have it for you and Miss Quinn to sign shortly.” Without a backward glance, she left the room.

“May I get you something, Miss Quinn?” He looked about for a decanter of sherry, but the room held only the brandy. Spirits were probably not the best idea. Perhaps some wine. “Geoffrey, may I impose upon you?”

“Of course.” His friend suddenly loomed at his side.

“Please find some wine and cups. A celebratory glass for the three of us would not be amiss, I think.” Thomas had let go of his betrothed’s hand, reluctantly as he was still not convinced she wouldn’t bolt if given half a chance. “And please check on my carriage. We should leave as soon as possible.”

“Of course.” His friend bowed swiftly to Miss Quinn and hurried out the door.

Sitting pale and forlorn across from him, Miss Quinn narrowed her eyes. “Where are we going, my lord?”

Best to reassure her of his good intentions. “I mean to take you home to your parents immediately so they may hear the news of our betrothal.”

Twisting her hands in her lap, she stared at him with a hunted look in her eyes. “You mean for us to go there today, my lord?”

“Unless you have other accommodations in London where you can rest for the night.” He paused, and she shook her head. “Then I believe it best to take you there today. Your parents should learn of your impending marriage from you. We can discuss the arrangements for the wedding while we travel to…” He looked at her expectantly.

“Lower Clapton, my lord.”

“To Lower Clapton, then.” An hour or so out of the heart of London, so not an impossible journey before nightfall if they started soon. “We should make good time if the traffic isn’t too heavy.”

“What will you tell them, my lord? My parents?” The fearful look was back in the woman’s eyes.

“You may tell them what you wish, Miss Quinn. You can tell them the truth about Lord Danford’s scurrilous actions, or if you think that would be too scandalous, any tale you wish to tell them, I will give my full support. As you know them best, you should know what they will accept.” Lord, he didn’t even know who her parents were. A vicar, she had said but that was all he knew of her family.

A bevy of emotions flitted over Miss Quinn’s face until her features settled into the resolute lines he’d seen there before. “I believe we shall have to tell them the truth, my lord.” She looked up at him and a slight smile touched her lips. “How else could I possibly explain why a titled lord would wish to marry me without the reason being even more of a scandal?”

Thomas smiled at that. She was correct, of course. Society often leaped to the most sordid conclusions. In their eyes, the most obvious reason for him to marry a woman so abruptly was if he’d gotten her with child. Christ, when his friends heard of his marriage to Miss Quinn that would likely be their first thought. He must come up with a tale of his own to tell both friends and family why he’d married so suddenly out of hand without divulging the true reason. The more people who knew about Danford’s treachery the more possible ways for the story to spread. His smile dissolved.

This marriage would not be as simple as he’d originally believed.

“You are likely correct in that, Miss Quinn. Will your family be scandalized by the news of our marriage?”

She shrugged but shook her head. “I’m not sure what they will think.” Her head came up, determination in every line of her. “But I will make them understand that your intentions are nothing but honorable, my lord.”

Her change in demeanor took Thomas aback. Here was the flicker of a woman of substance. “Will you tell me of your family?”

She nodded and seemed to relax a bit. “My father is Mr. Aeneas Quinn, vicar at the parish of Fletching in Lower Clapton for the past twenty-five years. My mother is Anne, formerly Miss Bagley of London. They met at a social gathering shortly after my father was ordained.”

Very respectable people, then. For Miss Quinn’s sake, he hoped they would be as accepting of the circumstances surrounding her marriage as she believed. “Do you have brothers and sisters?”

She nodded. “Two sisters and a brother. My sister Thalia is two years younger than I am. And the twins, Althea and Hector, are now twelve.”

“You are fond of them, I believe.” Her tone when she spoke of them had held a special warmth.

“I am.” The smile that touched her face brought out a beauty in her he’d not seen before.

“If I may ask, then, Miss Quinn, what led you to leave them and take a position as a companion in Lord Danford’s house?” He’d wondered that from the beginning. Bracing for unpleasant news, he asked, “Are your families connected in some manner?”

“Oh, no, my lord.”

Thank God. That would have been disastrous news on both their parts.

“It began with Mrs. Tyne, the sister of one of my mother’s best friends, in London.” Miss Quinn’s mood lightened, seeming to have shaken off some of her fear and distrust. “Mrs. Tyne had been widowed and wished for a companion to help her in her grief and for propriety’s sake. When my mother heard of it, she asked if I’d be willing and, having nothing much to keep me busy at home, I was eager for the change.”

“But you left her?”

“No, she remarried after her mourning period was over.” Miss Quinn’s eyes had a fond gleam. “Not long after I returned home, Mrs. Tyne, then Lady Sackett, wrote to tell me that she’d recommended me as a companion to Mrs. Edwards, Lord Danford’s mother-in-law.” She stared at him, a rueful purse to her lips. “I’m certain she couldn’t have known about the earl when she made the recommendation.”

“Of course not.” Even Thomas had no idea about Danford’s rakish proclivities, and they’d belonged to the same club for years.

“And what of your family, my lord? What will they say about your sudden marriage?”

A good question. “I have only a sister and some distant cousins. Be assured my sister Joanna, Lady Rochdale, will welcome you with open arms. She’s been hinting for the past year that I should marry and set up my nursery. I daresay she will be delighted.”

An unexpected look of alarm flitted across Miss Quinn’s face. Thomas frowned. What had brought that on?

The door opened, and Geoffrey stepped in, followed by a footman carrying a tray with three glasses and a decanter filled with blood-red wine. “My pardon, Thomas, but it took an unconscionable time for the footman to procure the wine. Your carriage is even now at the front door, so,” he swept his hand toward the footman putting the tray on the sideboard, “we must toast your betrothal with haste. I persuaded this fellow to commandeer the best bottle in the cellar.”

As the footman bowed and left, Geoffrey poured the wine and handed the cut crystal glasses to Thomas and Miss Quinn. “To your health and happiness, Thomas,” he raised his glass, “and Miss Quinn.”

“To our health and happiness, my dear.” Thomas raised his glass and was encouraged when his bride-to-be did as well.

“To our health and happiness, my lord.”

Happiness, however, was not present in his betrothed’s face. Determination, trepidation, and perhaps a little fear lurked in her eyes. As they were virtual strangers that was only to be expected. He hoped he could allay those fears once they were married. After that, he hoped some form of happiness would follow. For both their sakes.