Chapter Twelve
Lucien paced the floor of the bishop’s receiving room waiting for the man to finish up a meeting he was having in his office.
He’d met Bishop Chandler a few times, usually with his mother or father.
This was different. He was here to request a special license in order that he and Harriet could marry.
This wasn’t going to be the sort of wedding Harriet dreamed of, but her mother had plainly made that evident. He wasn’t the man she wanted her daughter to marry, even though he was heir to a powerful dukedom and money was what impressed the marchioness.
The door leading into the bishop’s office opened and out walked an older man, dressed in a priest’s clothes. He acknowledged Lucien with a slip of a smile as he walked past him. Lucien then heard to bishop’s powerful tenor boom, calling him into the office.
Walking into the office, he saw the man standing next to his desk. Lucien stepped to greet the man.
“Your Excellency, it’s a pleasure to see you again,” Lucien said.
“It’s always a delight to see you, Kingston. I’ve known you since the day you were born. We’re far beyond formalities.”
The bishop motioned him to sit in one of the wood chairs on the other side of his desk. Lucien picked one and sat.
“Now, what can I do for you?” His Excellency asked.
“I need a special license, sir.”
“You’ve come to the right place. Tell me a bit out this young lady.”
“Her name is Lady Harriet Churchill. Her father is the Marquess of Blackpool. She is a delightful young woman. Everything I will need as my duchess one day,” Lucien said.
“I know her father, of course. He’s a delightful man. Her mother is another story.”
A chuckle escaped Lucien’s lips.
“When’s this wedding to occur?” the bishop asked.
“It’s complicated. We had an opportunity to elope to Gretna Green as I will have to make a run with the Prince of Wales soon. Special rail cars he’s purchasing. So instead of that we’ve decided to marry here in a very small ceremony.”
“The prince? That would be something to tell the children and grandchildren,” the older man said.
“Yes, it would be.”
The bishop shifted his body in his chair. “So, what have you decided?”
“We’re going to have a small ceremony with my parents, her father for sure, and another couple we both know.”
“What about her mother?”
“Lady Harriet is terrified her mother will disrupt the wedding.”
The bishop arched his brow. “I take it the marchioness does not approve of you?”
“No. Why I don’t know.”
“You don’t think it will hurt her more to be excluded from her daughter’s biggest day?”
Lucien shook his head. “Nothing satisfies the woman. We include her, and Harriet has to be on pins and needles on what should be her day.”
“I understand.”
They sat in silence for a moment. This wasn’t an easy decision to make.
“What if I officiate your wedding say in three days? Thursday? That will allow me time to call on the marchioness. I can remind her of a few things and inform her I will be officiating, and I expect her to be on her best behavior.”
Sitting back in his chair, Lucien pondered the bishop’s words. “You’re too kind, but I think I should speak with Harriet about it. Can we finish our conversation tomorrow?”
“I’m going to hold the wedding day open and will see you tomorrow.”
Lucien stood and extended his hand to the man. “Thank you. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Don’t you want your special license?”
“That wouldn’t be right. We can do it tomorrow.”
“Very well. Until tomorrow.”
Heading out, Lucien was not sure if anything had been accomplished.
He hadn’t accepted the special license because he was split on the bishop’s idea of him officiating and talking to the marchioness.
He had learned what Harriet had told him about her mother was true.
It wouldn’t matter who was officiating, the woman would do or say whatever suited her.
In his mind’s eye he could see Lady Churchill objecting to the marriage in front of all who had gathered. It would mortify Harriet. To make matters worse, she would have something negative to say about everything. Even the wedding breakfast wouldn’t be off limits.
He needed to talk to Harriet about it. This was her wedding, not her mother’s, and he would move heaven and earth to give Harriet the perfect wedding.
As the carriage pulled up and came to a stop, Lucien took a deep, cleansing breath before exiting the carriage. Harriet was an understanding young woman, but there was almost so much she could tolerate. She was finally finding her own voice and would not be silenced again by anyone.
He was met by Harriet the moment he set foot in the grand hall. She looked as though she’d been crying. “How did it go with the bishop? Did you get a special license?”
Putting his arms around her, he hugged her close. “Why don’t we go to the drawing room and sit down. You can tell me what’s got you so upset.”
After getting her to sit on one of the settees, Lucien went and rang for tea. It was hardly the time for anything stronger. At least not until he knew what was going on.
“My mother paid me a visit.”
“It didn’t go well?”
She shook her head and blew her nose. “No. Does it ever?”
“What did she do this time?”
“Just demanding I end things with you and let her find a more appropriate husband for me. I told her no and things just escalated from there.”
“Why? She barely knows me,” Lucien said.
“She managed to blurt out something about your father. I think they were courting each other years ago and your father rejected her as being too outspoken or something like that. Is that even possible?”
“I know little of my parents’ social life before they married, but it could be entirely possible. I suppose I could ask my grandmother when I see her next.”
He sat down next to her and began to tell her of his visit with the bishop and what he was proposing, but Harriet shook her head.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
“That’s kind of him, but she’ll agree with it and when the time comes, she’ll forget what the bishop even said.”
“Then what do we do, Harriet?”
She smiled at him a moment before answering his question.
“We go forward with our plans. Mother is going to be Mother. I can ask my father to say something to her. I refuse to let what is supposed to be one of the happiest days of our lives be ruined. If she insists on making inappropriate comments while here, then I’ll take matters into my own hands.
Banish her from my life. Maybe if that happens, she’ll think about what she says first.”
“What exactly do you mean by banish?”
“She’s persona non grata. She’ll not be received at our house for one.”
“Harshness seems to be the only thing she understands,” Lucien replied. “Okay, just to be clear, I’ll go back to the bishop, and we’ll plan on marrying on Thursday.”
“Yes.”
Lucien leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. “I’m glad that’s done. I’m going to send word to my housekeeper at my estate in Somerset to have the house readied and stocked. I think you’ll love it there.”
“That’s all you’re going to tell me?”
Lucien chuckled at her. “Yes. The rest is a surprise.”
“Where will we stay when we return?” she asked.
Truth was, he hadn’t figured that one out.
His mother had mentioned them staying at the family home when in London.
He already lived there, and it would be convenient.
His mother wasn’t interfering and would keep to herself.
Once it was time to move back to the country, they would either go to the family home in Kent or a small estate his father had gifted him when he graduated from Oxford.
The estate was in Surrey and would do them nicely.
“I’m not sure yet,” he said. “We could stay at the family home here and when we go to the country, we will reside in Surrey on an estate I have there.”
“Your parents won’t mind us staying with them when we’re in London?”
“No, not at all,” he replied.
“Tell me about Surrey.”
“It’s impressive. Lots of room in the house. Acres of places to ride. I think you’ll like it. I had Onyx moved there. The stables there are much better equipped for his injury.”
“I’m glad to hear he’s doing well,” Harriet said.
“He still has a long journey to recovery, but he improves daily, which is all I can hope for.”
“I wish you could have figured out who spooked him,” she said suddenly.
He gave her a lopsided grin. “I have a good idea who it was.”
Harriet was about to respond to his comment when Daphne entered the room. “There you are.” She looked at Lucien. “If you’ll excuse Harriet, the modiste is here to do a fitting.”
“Yes, of course.” He stood and helped Harriet to her feet. “I have a meeting with my partner about a prospective new client, so I’ll be on my way.”
“Will you stop by after your visit with the bishop?” Harriet asked him.
“Of course, I will. Is there anything you wish for me to convey to my mother?”
“Harriet and I are having lunch with your mother tomorrow to go over the wedding and breakfast,” Daphne said.
“Enjoy your meeting, ladies, and I’ll see you tomorrow,” he said and headed out of the room without looking back. It was going to be a long week just to get to their wedding day.
Lucien walked out of the house to his waiting carriage.
He instructed the driver to take him to his offices.
Sitting back, he closed his eyes. Things had gone quite well today despite Harriet’s mother’s interference and the bishop putting him off a day.
By the end of the week, they would be married and enjoying private time in Somerset before beginning their new life together in Surrey.
He needed to purchase a ring for her or ask his mother if there was anything in the family collection that would be worthy of his bride. He’d ask his mother this evening and if nothing caught his eye, he’d go to the family jeweler and see what they might have.