Chapter Two
April 21, 1820
Titterford Hall
Waverley, near Cranley
Surrey, England
Two days before the wedding
The Honorable Gabriel Bright, or as most people referred to him, Inspector Bright, strolled over the rolling back lawn of his host’s estate, for it was a lovely spring day, and a bit warmer than was usual for this time of year.
Not that he was complaining, for he’d rather be outside than in, where there were far too many people for the confines of the manor house. But then, this was a wedding celebration and the more close friends and family members, the better.
Laughter and squeals of delight from the handful of children that were in attendance wafted their way from down the lawn to where Gabriel stood. Two of those children were his, and he couldn’t be prouder of them, for just months ago, he never would have thought the pair of them would have possessed the bravery or the trust to mingle with other children. They’d both been orphans, urchins from the streets, but he and Mary had rescued them, adopted them as their own. Now they were playing a game of tag and looking for all the world as if they’d always been reared as children within the ton .
Of course, there were still bumps and obstacles along their paths, and at times one or the other of them had nightmares regarding their little pasts. And, in Charlie’s case, he occasionally pilfered things from guests or rooms, but was immediately contrite and admitted to the crimes before the owners ever missed the items in question.
Most of the time.
As for Cassandra, who was a couple of years older than Charlie, she was trying hard to please Mary and learn her manners, her lessons, and how to play the piano. Yes, she adored him—Gabriel—as well as Henry, but she admired Mary and strove to be a lady like her. It didn’t matter that his wife constantly implored the girl to remember to play between doing lessons, but Cassandra was a bit bullheaded and could be just as stubborn as her new mother.
It provided endless entertainment for him .
The few governesses that had come to Titterford Hall with the guests wrangled the children, for the older ones had decided to play croquet, so they all moved farther down the lawn and out of Gabriel’s sightline, for there were slight hills and swells on the estate, but it was just as well, for he should join Mary for tea. She wouldn’t be pleased at his tardiness.
A handful of round tables had been set up on the upper part of the back lawn near the terrace, and each one sat five to six people. His gaze immediately strayed to where Mary sat with Miss Davenport’s parents—the Viscount and Viscountess of Titterford. He couldn’t help but smile as he observed her laugh and chat as they enjoyed tea. His chest swelled with pride for her as well. They had both come a long way since that house party where they’d met over two Christmases ago at his brother’s country estate. And each day that he woke up next to her, he counted himself as fortunate. She happened to glance his way and lift a hand in greeting.
He waved back with a grin. So damned fortunate to share a life with her.
Movement from the corner of his eye had him turning his head, and he stifled a groan, for speak of the devil, the man who strode in his direction from the manor was his older brother, Francis. Giving Mary a shrug, Gabriel intercepted the viscount before he could reach the tea tables. He wanted to head off a scene if he could, for their relationship wasn’t positive most of the time, but lately, he’d thought they’d come to an understanding.
Of course, there was always the sour note of the past between them, mostly revolving around Mary; long before she’d met him or held the title, apparently Mary and his brother had indulged in a tryst wherein Francis had promised her many things and delivered none of them. Then, when the first case that Gabriel had worked with Mary occurred at his brother’s manor two Christmases past, Francis had been jealous of the relationship brewing between them, but over the intervening year or so, they’d worked things out.
Hopefully.
“Ah, Stanwick, it’s lovely to see you. Glad you could attend.” Gabriel offered his brother a hand, which he shook. “Where is the viscountess? I would have liked to greet her as well.”
Even though he and Francis both lived in London, they didn’t spend as much time with each other as they should. In the summer and for the Christmastide holidays, the viscount took his family to the country estate, while Gabriel chose to remain in Town due to his work as a consultant inspector with Bow Street as well as taking private cases from citizens who wished to hire out his detective services.
“Good afternoon, Bright.” His brother nodded, for he was the more somber of them, took after their father in that way. Then he waved a hand. “Vivian is somewhere around, no doubt. Was going about with our daughter, introducing her to people and young men.” He shrugged. “And God only knows where Louis is. The boy is quite reckless with his time.”
Gabriel couldn’t help but chuckle, for his nephew was a couple of years older than Henry. “Sowing wild oats, eh?”
“Possibly.” Stanwick shook his head. “He has been quite vexing of late, with nothing to fill his time except bad habits.”
“Like father, like son.” But he infused the words with humor. “He’ll sort himself sooner or later.”
“I hope so, though I have a feeling I’ll be well distracted, for Elizabeth is on her second Season, and it’s already been fraught with a bevy of suitors who are wildly inappropriate for her.”
Gabriel nodded. His niece was two years younger than Henry. “I fully believe being a parent is more difficult when the children are young adults over when they were toddlers.”
“It truly is, especially since I’m trying to take more of an interest in that sort of thing.” Yet the viscount seemed far too frazzled for just worrying over his offspring.
What the devil ailed his brother? “Will Vivian and your daughter join us for tea? I’m sure you already know Titterford, but it might be nice to socialize.”
“I would imagine she will. We’ve met Titterford a couple of times socially over the years. He’s a quiet, reserved man. Doesn’t make a splash in the Lords. Doesn’t have much to say any other time either. I think he’s some sort of scholar.” As he spoke, lines of exhaustion lined Francis’ face. “To be honest, Gabriel, I don’t know what my wife will do. For the past year or so, I have been making an effort to patch things up between us, and everything had gone quite well, but recently she’s cooled regarding me.”
That didn’t bode well. “How so?”
The viscount shrugged. “She doesn’t like physical relations any longer, can hardly stand my presence, especially during breakfast. That used to be her favorite meal because it was before we were each busy with our schedules. Now, she seems annoyed even when I’m doing nothing more than breathing.”
“That is odd.” Perhaps his sister-in-law was struggling with an illness she didn’t wish for her husband to learn about.
“Agreed, and I can’t puzzle it out.” His brother blew out a breath of frustration. “There are times when she locks herself in her suite.” A dark red flush suffused his face and neck above his cravat. “We sometimes don’t sleep in the same bed, not due to fighting but me coming in late from the club or from parliament, depending. I don’t want to wake her on those nights. ”
“That is understandable.” Gabriel frowned. Everything his brother said deepened the mystery surrounding the viscountess’ absence. “Has she recently discovered something that might upset her?”
His brother waved a hand. “I would have no idea.”
It took great willpower not to roll his gaze to the heavens. “For the love of all that’s holy, Francis, talk to your wife.”
“I would, but she’s avoiding me, perhaps hiding something.” Near desolation reflected in his eyes. “What if she’s breaking our marriage vows again?”
He seemed so broken that Gabriel’s chest tightened with empathy for him. They might have had their issues, and his brother might not have treated his wife as he should during parts of their union—the viscountess wasn’t innocent of those sins either—but things had been going so well with the pair that he’d thought they would perhaps enjoy a marriage like he and Mary had.
“Don’t borrow trouble, brother. Just talk to her. Perhaps it’s nothing and she’s merely emotional due to the wedding. You know how women are at events like this.”
“Yes.” Francis brightened. “Perhaps that’s it.”
“Good.” Gabriel nodded. “Now come. Sit down with Mary and me as well as Titterford and his wife. No doubt Miss Davenport already told her parents that Henry is the nephew of a viscount.”
“I would imagine she did. It probably was one of the things that secured the match.”
Side by side, the two men approached the tea tables, and for the moment, all was right with the world.
Later that evening
Gabriel held Mary’s hand as he and his little family were out walking the property on their way back to the manor from an outing to the hedge maze. The children had wished to run amok inside the structure, and he hadn’t minded, for it was an opportunity for him to steal a few kisses from his wife.
There was nothing like the feeling of his hand firmly in hers and of watching Cassandra and Charlie cavort and laugh over the back lawn. Dinner was scheduled in an hour, but he’d wanted the time with the people who were dearer to him than anyone else.
When Henry came into sight, walking toward them, he lifted his free hand in greeting. As soon as Cassandra spotted him, she gave a glad cry and ran over to the young man, for they were fast friends .
“Henry!” She threw herself into his arms and then squealed when he picked her up and twirled her around and around in the air before setting her back on her feet. Her platinum blonde hair, curled with rags the night before, streamed down her back, held in place with a pink satin ribbon. “Don’t forget to come up and tell me goodnight after dinner.”
“Of course I won’t forget. It’s my favorite time of the day.” He bent down and bussed her rosy cheek. “You’ll always be my favorite girl.” While she blushed, he turned to Charlie, who’d come up to them both. “And how are you, Master Charlie?”
The younger boy cleared his throat as he somberly shook Henry’s hand. “Well enough, but there are too many girls here,” he confided in the world’s worst stage whisper. “They all want to be around me with chatter.”
Both Henry and Gabriel chuckled.
“Well, I’m afraid that is what girls do, but if you ever need a place to hide, go to the library,” Henry said with a wink as he glanced at Gabriel. “One of the window seats is hidden by draperies. No one will find you.”
Charlie’s eyes rounded. “Do you hide there too?” He might be more reserved than his sister when in Henry’s presence, but that was only because he was in awe of the young man.
“Yes, but don’t tell anyone.” He tweaked the little boy’s nose then straightened. “Unfortunately, I’m to marry a girl in two days, so I suppose I’ll never have peace.”
Charlie nodded. “A run of bad luck, that,” the boy said with a shake of his head as if marriage was the bane of a man’s existence. “No more bully fun.”
Henry snorted. “No, I guess not.” Again, he winked at Gabriel and Mary. “You will have to tell me about all the fun you have, though.”
The boy nodded as seriously as if he were a thirty-year-old man. “I will.”
Mary squeezed Gabriel’s fingers before releasing his hand. “I should take the children back to the manor so we have enough time to change our clothing before dinner. I think their tea went into empty bellies.”
“Well, they are growing,” he said as the adults laughed. “I’ll try to console myself with the emptiness,” he joked with a hand over his heart.
“Do stop, Bright. Such antics,” Mary murmured with a shake of her head. “Come, children. Let’s go back and leave the gentlemen to talk.”
Gabriel couldn’t help but smile at his second family as they departed. Once alone with his son, his grin faded slightly, for Henry appeared a bit worried as well as nervous. “Why do I have the feeling you are not out here to take in the fresh air?”
“Ah, Papa, my mind is conflicted. ”
“Well, let us take another turn about the property. We’ll be back well in time for dinner, but at least we won’t be disturbed.” Silence brewed between them as they strolled over the new, bright green grass. “I can sense you’re nervous. Is it the wedding that worries you?”
The younger man shook his head then clasped his hands behind his back as they walked. “Yes, a bit of the wedding, but more so life afterward. I’m afraid I’m not intelligent enough for marriage.”
What an odd thing to say. “Why do you think that? You are in an apprenticeship to be a solicitor or a barrister, whichever you decide. I’d say you are quite intelligent.”
“Ha. Practicing law is the easy part.” Henry grinned. “But what do I know of being a husband?”
“The same as every man—nothing. We all learn as we go along.” Though he tried to infuse as much humor into the statement as he could, Gabriel feared he might have failed. “Sometimes there is a steep curve to that.”
“Yes, yes, I understand what you’re trying to say, but you are just so… right with Mary. It’s effortless. How can I aspire to that when I have no idea how to do it?”
“Ah, Henry, my boy.” Gabriel couldn’t help but chuckle. He laid a hand on his son’s shoulder. “I know what you’re feeling. Before I married your mother, I was at sixes and sevens. The only thing I knew for certain was that I wanted a better union than my father had or even my grandparents, God rest their souls.” He pressed his lips together before speaking again. “However, for all a man’s experience or not, he must make compromises.”
“Why, though? Shouldn’t a couple work together?”
“Of course, but it takes a concentrated effort to be good or make the union appear effortless. Marriage is a partnership which requires you to listen not only with your ears but with your brain and your heart.” I am mucking this up. “That doesn’t mean it won’t have problems or obstacles. And if you’ll recall, I wasn’t good with your mother. That relationship did not work, at all. Regardless of the fact that neither of had been married, learning as we went along only showed more problems, and as the problems came, it was all too evident they couldn’t be solved, especially when there wasn’t enough love there to hold everything together while we tried.”
“When you put it that way, I must be insane to want to marry this young.” Henry blew out a breath. “I am halfway through my twenty-third year, Papa. I have bedded a handful of women…” His eyes rounded as he met Gabriel’s gaze. “Uh, I shouldn’t have admitted that to you.”
I don’t want to have this discussion with my son; I don’t want to know any of this !
But this was life. “No need to tell me of your experiences in that way. However, age doesn’t necessarily mean your marriage will fail.” He stopped walking in order to turn to his son and hold his shoulders. “Your integrity, your honor, your intentions will matter.”
“Right.” Henry nodded. “But working together is key, and my wife will need to do her part as well, correct? And truth should be held more holy than anything else?”
“Yes, of course.” With a frown, Gabriel wondered what his son was trying to get at. “And truthfully, do not hold any outside force above that of your relationship. Not even your living. That landed me into trouble more than once.”
“In your case, that couldn’t be helped.”
“Perhaps, perhaps not, but I am trying to be better in my union with Mary.” He shrugged. “I am still learning, my boy.” He dropped his hands. “In many things, it seems.” Certainly about being a father.
Henry nodded then rubbed a hand along the side of his face. “What else should I know?”
“There must be quiet times between you and your wife, not only physical attention, but with times of rest and relaxation, like reading or strolling. In fact, the best rule I know is to always try and court your wife.”
“Even though I’ve already won her?”
“Especially then. If you stop trying to woo her, it will only be a matter of time that discontent will grow and fester. Women don’t want to feel unappreciated, so bring her flowers once a week. Take her on a surprise drive along Rotten Row. Buy her a new ribbon for her hair. Never fail to charm her.” A sigh escaped his throat. “I forgot the importance of that, so that was another reason why things deteriorated between me and your mother.”
“It is so much to remember, and none of this has relieved my fears.” In fact, Henry appeared as if he would run from the property and never come back.
“Don’t fixate upon all these things. You have a nuptial ceremony to enjoy as well as a honeymoon period. Just focus on you and your intended, but never think you aren’t intelligent enough, Henry. We all start in confusion covered by the flush of love. Good couples work together; great couples make each other better through support. Don’t fret. You and Priscilla are already good together. If you weren’t, you wouldn’t have asked for her hand.”
For long moments, they walked in silence, and honestly, it was a pleasant way to spend the last moments with his son before Henry became a married man.
Finally, the younger man spoke. “And when I eventually become a father? What then? What if I don’t have courage enough to raise children? I know nothing about any of that. ”
“Neither did I, but life and fate don’t care about that.” Once more, Gabriel rested a hand on his son’s shoulder. “We all feel that way, but you know what? You were the best thing to come out of my marriage to your mother. I made mistakes; she did too, but never did I ever have regrets about ushering you into the world.” It had been one of the defining moments of his life. “You have made me proud every damned year. You are kind and compassionate and possess a sense of humor. Those things will see you far in life.”
“Thank you.” A tiny bit of relief reflected in Henry’s eyes. “You have done many gallant things in your life when you worked with Bow Street, and now as an inspector consultant. You are a hero and are so brave. How can I aspire to be even half of that?”
“There are many different kinds of bravery.” The poor child needed to stop overthinking so much. “And so will you be when the time comes. Whether it be when you’re making a living, building your relationship, having children or whatever you need to confront in life.” He gave his son’s shoulders a little shake. “Always remember that bravery comes in many forms.” There was not much else to say, so Gabriel winked. “But if you are truly worried, it’s not too late to join Bow Street.”
“Ha.” Henry chuckled, and there was less anxiety in the sound than there was when they started the conversation. “Thank you but no. That path is yours, not mine. If I decide on a barrister over a solicitor, then I will represent wrongfully accused people in a court of law. In that way, you and I can work together.”
What a novel idea, and it was secretly one of his secret dreams, but he didn’t want to push his son in any direction. That path was his alone to walk. “Good man. No wonder Priscilla adores you.”
“I like to think I inherited some of your charm, which helps.”
Gabriel snickered. “There is that.”
For the rest of their walk, they spoke of things unrelated to the wedding, and by the time they came back within sight of the manor, Henry’s spirits were quite a bit lighter than they were when they’d started the outing.
“Feel better?”
“I do, thank you, but I’m still nervous about the ceremony.”
Gabriel couldn’t help but laugh. “About the ceremony or the life thereafter?”
Henry gave his arm a mock punch. “Do be serious, Papa”
“I am, but I have a feeling you’ll do splendidly. I have raised you to be discerning, intelligent, to think about things before you do them, and to be kind. And Pricilla wouldn’t have consented to marry you if she didn’t see those qualities either.” He nodded. “Enjoy the celebrations. The ceremony will go by quickly as will the honeymoon period, but when you start feeling content with you life? Ah, then you know you’ve gotten it right.”
“I’m anxious to start this next part of my existence, though.”
“Good.” He nodded. “I’m proud of you, and I can’t wait to witness your ceremony.” Though he couldn’t believe his son was old enough to wed, it was a mark that life was constantly changing.
The only thing he could do as a parent is hope he did right by his son and gave him an example of how to succeed.