Chapter Nineteen #2
He was not going to remember her as a saint, for she was far from it. But if they did not look after her, then no one else would. As irritating as Jasmine could be, she did not deserve to die forgotten.
He and Bonham lost several hours in getting her comfortably settled in a pleasant apartment close to the club.
Pudge, Henry, and William helped Chloe move her belongings out of her benefactor’s Curzon Street love nest and into the new place.
Joss made certain to send over plentiful food and supplies for them.
“I’ll stop by daily to look in on you both,” Pudge said. “Let me know if you need anything, Chloe.”
She nodded, and then took Gideon and Bonham aside. “This disease kills fast, says Dr. Farthingale. You offered Jasmine employment as a hostess at the Musket Club once. Would that position be open for me afterward?”
Bonham nodded. “It is yours whenever the time comes, if you want it. Greeting responsibilities only. If any patron makes improper advances, he will be tossed out. Your role would be to present a smiling face, an occasional sympathetic ear, and ensure our patrons promptly receive the drinks they have ordered. That’s it.
No bedding our patrons. The club has never been that sort of place, and we will not have it turned into something other than an honest gaming establishment. ”
“I am done with that, I assure you.” She nodded. “Thank you.”
With Jasmine now looked after, they went to obtain their licenses.
Afterward, they rode to Duchess Square, Bonham heading to the Carstairs residence where Suzanna and her cousin, Gwendolyn, were no doubt eager to see him.
Gideon strode to Berry’s home.
Melton greeted him at the door. “Good afternoon, Mr. Knight. Lady Berry informed us you were a stunning success last night.”
Gideon grinned. “Thank you, but we know it was Lady Berry who made me look good. Where is she?”
“Seated on the terrace.” The butler led Gideon out to her.
Berry was all smiles as she rose to meet him.
“Mrs. Garland was so eager to hear all about the ball, so I spent the last hour telling her how marvelous you were. She’s sleeping now, and my throat was so parched from doing all the talking that I thought to sit out here and enjoy a glass of lemonade.
Care for some? Or would you prefer a stiffer drink? ”
“No, I’m good.”
She took a closer look at him. “Oh, I don’t think so. You look troubled. Is something the matter?”
He told her about Jasmine. “That’s why I was late in coming over here.”
Berry put a hand to her throat in obvious dismay. “I am truly sorry. Is there anything I can do for her?”
“For the woman who wanted to scratch your eyes out?” He knew it was not in Berry’s nature to be malicious, but was surprised that she would actually extend a hand to help out Jasmine after the woman had been so insulting while Berry was struggling to recover from her own injuries.
“Oh, I did want to see her get her comeuppance in that moment. But holding on to anger and resentment serves no purpose. I do not wish ill on anyone, not even her. I am terribly sorry for her. It is a very cruel outcome.”
Were the roles reversed, he doubted Jasmine would have shown her the same kindness. But this was the reason he had fallen in love with Berry, for her soft heart and generous nature. “I got the marriage license.”
He then told her about Bonham and Suzanna.
She squealed and clapped her hands. “Oh, Gwendolyn predicted this! She knew it the moment they set eyes on each other. She predicted the same for you and me, but I dared not believe her. I only dreamed of the possibility, but expected the reality to be quite different. I was preparing myself for heartbreak, never expecting this happiness.”
“Same for me.” Gideon shook his head. “Berry, I still cannot believe you and I are a possible match. That is, I know we are. But I never thought you would deign to accept me when I am everything reviled by Society’s elite.”
She cast him a gentle, admonishing frown.
“I did not spend years holding out for love just to refuse it when the perfect man came along. That you and Bonham are hardworking is an asset, not something to be frowned upon. The ton’s rules about this are ridiculous.
Who wants a lazy dolt for a husband? I would prefer a gentleman in trade any day.
I know Suzanna feels the same. She never cared what others thought and was ready to accept Bonham if he ever proposed. ”
“But that’s just it—we are not gentlemen. We’ve worked hard to build up our business, but we have none of the elegance one expects in a gentleman.”
“And Hawthorne and his friends did?” she remarked with a dismissive shake of her head. “They were given every advantage, given allowances, courtesy titles, the best schooling, and squandered it all.”
“Still, you had to give thought to what I represented because you had the orphanage to worry about.”
She nodded. “Even so, if you loved me, I was going to do all in my power to make both work. It simply was not an option to do otherwise. I was not going to give you up or the orphanage without a fierce battle. After last night, that is no longer a concern.”
He was not so certain it would all be easy sailing from here on out.
However, they had been given this precious chance to make a life with each other, and he wanted to grab on to it as much as Berry did.
“We have some things to talk about,” he said.
She motioned for him to sit in the chair beside her.
“Yes, several important matters to resolve before we marry. I’ll leave the betrothal terms for you and Lord Berwick to negotiate, but do let me know if he gives you a hard time,” she said with a light laugh.
“You will have access to all my funds anyway as trustee. And the law gives a husband broad powers over a wife’s assets. ”
“I am interested in you, not your wealth. But setting aside trusts and laws, Lord Berwick needs to know that you will have access to all I own in return. You will, Berry. I am always going to protect you.”
“I know. You always make me feel safe.”
He smiled.
“Then we have the problem of two houses,” she said. “I have a suggestion that might resolve this.”
He leaned forward, hoping she might be thinking the same thing he was. “Go on, tell me.”
“Suzanna and Bonham will need a home of their own.”
He let out a breath. “Yes. That had come to my mind, as well.”
“Do you think he would consider purchasing my home? Suzanna loves this place, and it would be perfect for her in so many ways, not the least of which is to remain close to Gwendolyn.”
“You would give up your place?” In truth, the notion surprised him, because she was very sentimental, and this home was a connection to her parents.
“Well, I would ask a fair price. I don’t think Lord Berwick would allow me to simply gift it to them.”
“Bonham would insist on paying for it. He isn’t looking for charity. But I know he would be in favor of the idea. He and I have not discussed the possibility. I wanted to discuss it with you first.” He shook his head. “I thought for sure you would ask me to sell mine.”
“I love your house.” She cast him an impish smile. “After all, I designed it exactly as I would wish my home to be. And you have that lovely ballroom. After last night’s triumph, people might actually attend our parties if we ever hold any.”
He laughed. “I’ll try not to behave like an arse and have everyone hate me again.”
“They’ll adore you, especially the women.”
He took hold of her hand. “As long as you still like me.”
“Oh, I do not think you need ever worry about that.” She turned toward the stone wall that separated their homes.
“We could throw some splendid holiday parties in your enormous ballroom, and even hold some special events for the orphans. Why not bring them all there for a musical recital or yuletide festivities? And wouldn’t the Ladies Tea Society love to hold their weekly meetings there? ”
He groaned in jest. “We are not going to have a quiet life, are we?”
“Occasionally noisy, but we can always cut back on entertaining if it gets too much for you. This is to be your home and sanctuary, after all.”
“And yours, Berry. It is important that you are happy.”
“I will be.” She edged forward and kissed him softly on the lips. “I still wonder whether we met when you were growing up at the orphanage. Perhaps when I was six or seven and you were nearing fifteen years old.”
“I don’t know. Would you have noticed a brooding, angry boy who often went off on his own? As I’ve told you before, I doubt you would have liked me back then. You are such a kitten. And I walked around with a gigantic chip on my shoulder because I resented my parents for abandoning me.”
“We may never know what happened to you, but I cannot imagine your mother ever purposely abandoning you. Yet, you turned that anger toward a good purpose. No matter your motives, you made something of yourself.”
Ah, yes. His motives. He wanted to shove his success in the faces of his parents, wanted them to live to regret their decision.
“Perhaps you needed that anger to become the man you are today, but there is no need to hold on to it,” she continued. “We’ll raise our own family, have our own children, and create our own memories. Precious ones.”
Blessed saints.
Would he be a good father?
Berry, of course, would be the perfect mother.
As she said, it did him no good to hold on to his anger. How could he remain bitter when he had such a promising future in his grasp?
Yes, time to move forward. No looking back.
Of course, he would never forgive those who had abandoned him. He was not anywhere near as nice as Berry was.
But he would push the hurt and seething grudges far down in importance. Life was too short to dwell on the bitter.
“Berry, I would like to talk about something else important. A thing that is within our control—the wedding. Any chance you might agree to keep it simple and marry me tomorrow?”
“How about a compromise? I agree to marry you next week and we hold our wedding breakfast at the Denby Arms? Plan on about fifty people. Forty for me and ten for you?”
He laughed. “Done.”
After all, she could have insisted on inviting two hundred and fifty of the ton elite and making him wait a year for the wedding. Other than Bonham, Joss, and Pudge, whom did he care to invite? Well, he supposed Horace and Henry, too.
He placed his hands behind his head and relaxed back in his chair. “Anything else to discuss?”
She nodded. “One more thing.”
“What is that, love?”
She cleared her throat. “Sleeping arrangements. Are we to share a bedchamber?”
“And a bed?” He had not considered any other possibility, although this was foolish of him. These lords and ladies often had separate sleeping arrangements. “Do you wish for separate quarters?”
“No. I want to sleep beside you every night.”
He nodded. “Then we share.”
She released a soft breath and smiled.
He smiled back.
This marriage thing was going to be quite easy, wasn’t it?