Chapter Nineteen
“I’ve asked Suzanna to marry me,” Bonham said, obviously waiting up for Gideon when he returned to the Musket Club after the ball. “I figured if you could take the leap and propose to marry someone who was obviously too good for you, then so could I.”
Gideon had just walked into his chamber and was ready to toss off his formal attire, but stopped and turned to stare at his friend.
He shook his head and laughed heartily, for Bonham’s smile was as wide as an ocean.
“Did she give you an answer?” He had just seen Suzanna at the Stanhope ball, and she had not said a word.
“Do you think I would be floating on air if she hadn’t? Yes, she accepted me.”
They were both laughing now, amazed that any refined lady would ever have anything to do with them, much less actually agree to marry them. Gideon understood exactly how his friend felt, for he was experiencing the same elation. “Congratulations. She’s a fine lady.”
“So is Berry,” Bonham said with all sincerity.
They embraced each other as brothers would, for they had been on this life journey together.
Brothers in friendship since around the age of three.
Growing up together, leaving the orphanage together, and building a successful business partnership.
In all those years, never once had they considered ending up married to actual ladies whose fathers held titles and were peers.
In truth, Gideon could not recall their ever talking about marriage at all, because it simply had not been a consideration. Perhaps it was a result of growing up completely on their own that they had expected to die that way, too.
But his business brain began whirring, and an immediate solution to his and Berry’s issue of having two houses presented itself.
Bonham and Suzanna would require a marital abode, would they not?
Bonham could not bring Suzanna to live above the Musket Club, nor would Gwendolyn appreciate the pair setting up residence in her home.
But Gwendolyn would be thrilled to have them as her neighbors on Duchess Square, would she not?
This was the perfect solution. Gideon and Berry would have to choose which one of their homes to keep, and then they could offer the other to their friends.
He would discuss the idea with Berry when he saw her later today.
He could not think of a better outcome, although it saddened him to think he might be giving up this new home of his.
She had done such a beautiful job of turning it into an inviting abode.
Much of the furniture had already been purchased, as well as drapes for each room.
Well, they would figure it out. He would not mind so much if Bonham ended up with his home. After all, Bonham had helped repair the guts of the house, upgrading the shaft mechanism and putting in the drainage pipes that were extremely convenient to have.
But Gideon would sorely miss the new ballroom, the refurbished study with that glorious cherry shelving, and that malachite entry hall.
Truly, it was a pity he might have to give it up.
Ah, but he would gain Berry, and that was worth everything.
Anyway, Berry had not voiced her opinion and might surprise him with her choice.
He and Bonham were still chuckling when Gideon asked, “How about we leave the inventory and accounts to Joss and Pudge tomorrow?”
“All right, but why?”
“You and I are going to obtain marriage licenses.”
Bonham clapped him on the back. “Excellent plan. I am going to bust if I don’t marry Suzanna soon. What a mind that girl has.”
Gideon looked at him askance. “Her mind? Seriously?”
“Yes, it is all part of the package. Beauty and brains. She’s a lot smarter than me, isn’t she?
Look at the way she picked up those mechanical concepts as though they were as simple as darning a worn pair of socks.
I’m sure she will have some interesting ideas on our wedding night, too.
She is quite knowledgeable about the laws of physics.
You know, bodies in motion. Forces of attraction. ”
“Gad, Bonham. I have no idea where you are going with this, nor do I wish to know.”
“My point is, the wait is going to kill me. Do you think Suzanna and Berry are going to insist on lavish ton weddings?”
“Lord, I hope not. But it is one of the things Berry and I will be talking about today.”
Bonham nodded. “I’ll wait to see what you two decide. Suzanna has a mind of her own, but in this I think she will be influenced by Berry’s decision.”
Gideon slept later than usual, enjoying the unexpected morning of leisure while Pudge and Joss took care of the tasks normally left to him and Bonham.
But he was also eager to get the marriage license, so he made no fuss when Horace walked in and opened the drapes wide to reveal a sunny day. “Rise and shine, Mr. Knight.”
“Botheration, must you be so cheerful in the morning, Horace?”
“Did you remember every detail of Lady Berry’s gown? Did she look spectacular? Was she wearing a tiara or just gems threaded through her hair?”
“Yes, she was wearing a gown. It was white. She looked like an angel. I wanted to ravish her.”
“Because you are a naughty devil. May I say, that report was completely unhelpful. I’ll just have to wait for the fashion articles in the gossip rags. And I see you are alive and breathing, so your cravat was not too tight and did not strangle you.”
Gideon chuckled. “But I might strangle you if you don’t stop talking now.”
Of course, Horace ignored him and continued to chatter while Gideon washed and dressed. “See, Mr. Knight,” he said, turning Gideon toward the mirror so he could look at himself once Horace had finished. “Is that a duke or is that a duke?”
“Neither, actually. But you did a fine job of making me look like a gentleman, as you always do. Thank you, Horace. I am most grateful.”
Horace beamed. “My pleasure, Mr. Knight.”
Gideon then grabbed a bite to eat before he and Bonham walked out of the club together, on their way to St. Mary’s, the Mayfair church that the ladies on Duchess Square attended.
They hadn’t gone far before they saw Chloe and Pudge helping someone who appeared to have fallen and was in distress.
“Blessed saints,” Gideon muttered. “Is that Jasmine?”
Bonham followed his gaze. “Dear heaven, it is. Come on, we had better help.”
They ran toward them. Jasmine seemed weak and on the verge of fainting.
“What happened?” Gideon asked.
“Oh, Mr. Knight!” Chloe was trying to hold back her tears. “She wouldn’t tell you, but she’s dying.”
“What? How?” Bonham asked.
“Something about her pancreas, Dr. Farthingale told her. Jasmine said it was the same disease what killed her mother.”
“Oh, hell,” Gideon said with a groan. He knew Jasmine’s mother had died young, and that was why Jasmine was brought to St. Brigid’s.
“Hell, indeed,” Bonham muttered.
Gideon’s heart sank, for he would never wish this outcome on her. “She looked fine when the three of us went to the theater a few weeks ago. Did she know then?”
Chloe nodded. “Yes, but I had no idea. She told me later that night, after you had escorted us home. I wanted to tell you, but she wouldn’t let me.
She didn’t want word getting around. I think she was in denial.
If no one knew, then it could not be happening.
Haverstock dropped her as soon as he realized something was wrong.
The cur told her to leave the townhouse he had let for her. ”
“Typical nob,” Pudge muttered with disdain.
Chloe nodded. “She’s been staying with me this past week, but my benefactor does not want her around.”
“Arse,” Bonham said under his breath. “They’re all alike.”
Chloe was more practical about it. “He’s paying for my services and my attention. He wants privacy. Discretion. He does not want a sick woman in the bedchamber next to ours. I would rather he were the one to leave, but he’s paid for my lodgings. The lease is in his name, not mine.”
Pudge cast Gideon a pleading look. “She’s one of us. Even if she has turned into a witch this past month. I understand why now. Can I have an advance on my wages? I’ll find comfortable lodgings for her close by and do what I can to make her comfortable in her last days.”
“I can also help tend her,” Chloe volunteered. “Frankly, I don’t care if my services are terminated by my benefactor. He’s no prize, anyway.”
Gideon shook his head. “I’ll pay for Jasmine’s lodgings and care. Chloe, would you be willing to look after her in the way she needs? Or should I hire a caretaker with some medical knowledge, a companion to live with her and attend to her night and day?”
“I’ll do it. She’s my friend. But if you wouldn’t mind, it would help to have someone come by for a few hours a day to show me what to do for her.
” She looked up at them with a pained look on her face.
“I know Jasmine has been awful to you lately, Mr. Knight. But she is the closest thing I have to a sister. She was often vain and insufferable, even as we were growing up. But can you understand why I must take this upon myself?”
“Yes,” Gideon said. He well understood this feeling of kinship, for none of them had anyone but each other. Those in the Musket Club were their family.
“I’ll kick in my share,” Bonham said, giving Gideon a look he well understood.
Family needed to take care of each other.
Gideon had been so angry with Jasmine, but it was senseless now.
He could not condone her jealousy when coming upon Berry in his bed at the club, but he understood the grief and fear she must have been feeling.
She had just been given a death sentence, and there was Berry being given everything poor Jasmine had always wished for.
Including him.
Perhaps Jasmine had loved him. In her own selfish way, of course. Theirs had never been more than a casual relation. She dropped him whenever a rich benefactor came along and returned to him whenever she was bored or between men.