Chapter Ten #3
As soon as the words were out of her mouth, doubts assailed her.
What had she done? She’d had no intention of marrying again, but now, with no home to go to, and no means of support—and with the other options open to her being so difficult and fraught with problems—and with that dreadful scandal, which he really didn’t deserve—she’d given in and taken the easy way out.
Only now it didn’t seem so easy.
It was ‘a practical solution’ she reminded herself. Necessary to stop the scandal from spreading. But it would mean everything for her, and what for him? Companionship? It was a very unequal bargain.
But it was what he said he wanted. So why was she shaking?
“Thank you.” He rose to his feet.
Tessa stood and braced herself. What did he expect? Was he going to kiss her now? He stood before her—she was so glad he hadn’t gone down on one knee, but had proposed in a cool, unemotional way—announced it, actually. We need to marry.
He held out his hands, and a little bemused, she placed her hands in his. Her hands were cold, his were big and warm.
He bent his head and kissed each hand lightly, first the left, then the right. She shivered at the touch.
Looking down at the dark head bent over her hands, she felt strangely moved, even a little bit tearful. As a gesture it seemed almost romantic, but then he released her hands and straightened, and his eyes were as gray and steady as ever.
She breathed again. He wasn’t being romantic; it was just good manners. Theirs would be a practical marriage. He’d assured her he wasn’t the slightest bit romantic. Friendship and companionship, that’s what he wanted. She could give him that.
She would give him that with every fiber of her being.
Voices sounded in the hallway. Lady Gosforth had returned from her unusually early shopping expedition. The drawing room door opened and she stood there, casting a shrewd eye over them.
“Well?” she demanded as she entered the room, discarding shawl and hat and shopping as she went.
The butler followed, picking them up as they fell.
“Well?” she repeated, seating herself on the chaise.
“Tea, Peverill, and some of those cat’s tongue biscuits.
” She turned back to Tessa and her nephew.
“And I say again, well? Cat got your tongue, Marcus?”
“Not at all, Aunt Maude,” he said smoothly. “But ‘well’ is hardly a question. And good morning to you, too.”
“Pshaw! Of course it’s a question. You know perfectly well what I’m askin’.”
Marcus inclined his head. “Lady Hewitt has agreed to marry me. You may wish us happy.”
“Excellent!” The old lady stripped off her gloves, tossed them aside and turned to Tessa. “Thought for a while you didn’t have the sense God gave a cat. Now, off you go, Marcus. This gel and I have a grand wedding to plan.”
“Oh, please, no.” The words burst from Tessa.
The thought of a big society wedding made her feel ill.
Everyone—the women especially—would despise her.
Bad enough that she’d twice married an old man for his money.
But no young society lady dreamed of marrying an octogenarian, so although they might have despised her for it, their noses had not been put out of joint.
But virtually every match-making mama—and grandmother and aunt— had been angling to wed their darling to the handsome, wealthy and titled Earl of Alverleigh, one of the biggest prizes on the marriage mart.
They wouldn’t just despise her; they would never forgive her.
“No?” Lady Gosforth echoed ominously. She fished out her lorgnette and trained it on Tessa. “Changed your mind already, gel?”
“No. I made a promise and will keep it, but I don’t want a big society wedding.”
“Of course you do,” the old lady declared. “Marcus is an earl and earls, my dear, don’t have shabby little hole-in-the-corner weddings.”
Marcus cut in. “No, we have small, dignified, family ones.”
His aunt gave him an incredulous look. “Small?”
“Small,” he confirmed. Marcus glanced at Tessa, one eyebrow raised, and relieved, she nodded.
“No big wedding breakfast?” his aunt persisted.
“No.”
She pouted. “What about a wedding ball?”
“No.”
“Not even a small one?”
His lips twitched. “Not even a small one. In fact, if Lady Hewitt agrees, I shall obtain a special license, and we can be quietly married by the end of the week.”
“That would suit me well,” Tessa said.
“Nonsense!” his aunt snapped. “Marry hastily and everyone will assume the gel has trapped you into it. As if the scandal won’t have everyone thinking it anyway.
But Renfrews do not dance to the tune of gossip-mongers!
You will have the banns called at St George’s, Hanover Square, as is the correct procedure. ”
Marcus considered it a moment, glanced at Tessa, who nodded her agreement and said, “Very well, we’ll have the banns called and marry at the end of the month. And now I’ll take my leave and make the relevant arrangements.”
“And what, pray, should we do in the meantime, since you’re determined to deprive us of the pleasure of a wedding?
” his aunt said acidly. “Am I never to arrange a proper wedding in this family? Harry and Nell married in a rush, as did Gabriel and Callie—and she a princess! Even Nash and Maddy’s wedding was in an obscure country church—though they did at least have a bishop present.
And they allowed me to organize a ball, afterward.
I thought I could at least count on you, Marcus, to have a wedding worthy of Alverleigh. ”
He smiled. “Sorry to disappoint you, Aunt Maude, but you know I’ve never liked a fuss, and I’m delighted that my bride agrees with me.” Tessa glanced at him. Was that true, or was he simply saying it to support her?
His aunt snorted. “So, I’m to sit and twiddle my thumbs while the biggest catch on the marriage mart marries practically in secret.”
“Hardly in secret. I shall be sending a notice immediately to the relevant newspapers, and the banns will also help spread the word. But if you’re looking for something to do, you might take Tessa out and order her a couple of new riding habits.
Oh, and you might drop a line to Harry and Nell to let them know.
As the only relatives I have in England, it would be nice to have them present. ”
“Only relatives?” his aunt began indignantly. “You have dozens of cousins and—”
“I meant close relatives. I’d prefer only immediate family at my wedding.” He turned to Tessa. “Is there anyone you’d like to invite?”
She thought of NannyJune and Phillips, but they were poor and elderly and it would be difficult for them to make the journey to London, so she shook her head.
“No, I will simply write to the two most important people in my life. They will be happy to get my news.” They would be, too.
Neither of them had approved of her previous two weddings, but they would both know Lord Alverleigh, since he’d grown up on the next estate.
It occurred to her with a start, that she would be living at Alverleigh soon, and would be able to see NannyJune and Phillips whenever she wanted, and to make sure they were well cared for. She felt immensely cheered by the prospect.
“I hope you don’t intend to invite that brother of yours,” Lady Gosforth snapped. “I doubt he’ll be at all pleased to hear about this.”
“No, I don’t want him at the wedding,” Tessa said worriedly. Edgar would be bound to make trouble as soon as he heard.
“He won’t be at the wedding, and he won’t hear about it—if at all—until it’s too late,” Marcus said calmly. “Actually, I believe Edgar Blaxland is half-way to America by now.”
“America?” Tessa gasped.
“Yes, an acquaintance of mine saw him board the ship and watched it sail.”
“He left the country? Without a word to me?” Tessa couldn’t believe it.
“Yes, I’m sorry.”
“Oh, I don’t mind,” she said, her thoughts in turmoil. “In fact, I think I’m more relieved than anything. It’s just so hard to believe.”
“I assure you, it’s true,” Marcus said. “My source is quite reliable.”
“But how could he afford a ticket? Though I suppose he might have won at the tables the other night. And why America? I would have thought Paris would be more his style.”
“Whatever his reasons, it seems you’ll have no need to worry about him turning up at the wedding like the skeleton at the feast!
” Lady Gosford said briskly. “Not that there will be a feast!” she added with a baleful glance at her nephew.
“So, in order to arrange the wedding of the Earl of Alverleigh I’m to supervise the ordering of a couple of riding habits and write a letter to Harry and Nell. Wonderful. I expect to be exhausted!”