Chapter Twenty-Nine
Gideon entered his brother’s home and was escorted to his study, not that he needed to be led and announced since he was perfectly aware of its location. But Harrington was nothing less than holding onto the old ways and naught would change him at this stage of his service to the family.
“My apologies for disturbing you, my lord, but your brother is here to see you,” he droned as he stepped back to allow Gideon to enter.
“My thanks, Harrington,” Gideon said with a short nod.
“Of course, Captain Tyler,” the butler said politely.
Gideon would have teased the man but, in the past, asking him to call him by his given name had only had the poor man stammering the inappropriateness of what such an action might cause.
The butler had known him all his life and yet, he still refused to drop the formalities that had been drilled into him from his successor when he’d first served their father.
Asher set aside the work he had been pursuing and came from around his desk. He nodded toward a sideboard holding a variety of drinks but Gideon declined.
“Was your trip to Bracknell successful?” Asher asked, moving to sit in one of the chairs near the fireplace and gestured for Gideon to sit down.
“Yes, but there’s more going on than just receiving Violet’s forgiveness I’m afraid,” Gideon replied taking the other vacant seat.
Asher raised one of his brows. “Oh? What could possibly be occurring in such a small town?”
“Someone is trying to kill my soon-to-be wife,” he answered honestly. He didn’t have long to wait for his brother’s reaction. “We plan to wed as soon as we’re able.”
“What?” he bellowed, sitting forward in his chair. “And why the rush?”
He chuckled although having someone out to hurt Violet wasn’t anything to be laughed about. “Which one are you more concerned with? That she said ‘yes’ or that someone is trying to kill her?”
“Both!” Asher said before shaking his head. “If you’ve forgotten, Violet is already related to me by marriage so of course her wellbeing is of the utmost concern. But marriage so soon? Why is that happening so quickly?”
Gideon shook his head. “I would think that answer would be obvious, brother. I can protect her better if she has my name. I already went to see my godmother yesterday afternoon when I arrived back in London because her husband is a bishop. After I reassured him that both Violet and I were amicable to marrying, he agreed to give us a bishop’s license by the end of next week. ”
“A seven-day cooling off period, eh?” Asher smirked knowingly.
“Better than trying to get the Archbishop of Canterbury’s approval.
Even with your and mother’s connections that would still take longer than I can wait.
I’m worried, Ash.” He decided he needed a drink after all, and rose.
After pouring brandy into two glasses, he returned to his seat and handed a glass to his brother who raised the drink in a salute.
“To your upcoming wedding,” Asher said as they clinked their glasses together. “Now, tell me what’s happening with Violet and your concerns for her safety that has you asking for a bishop’s license.”
Gideon began to tell his brother everything that had happened to Violet both at the Lyon’s Den that involved Cosmo Dawkes and all the small accidents that caused his concern once she left London.
He paced Asher’s study, glass in hand, becoming more agitated the more he told of the story.
“So, you can see why my main concern is to keep her safe.”
“She will certainly benefit with everything the family name can provide. As long as you have some feelings for the lady, I’m certain Patience won’t take you to task for having a marriage of convenience with her cousin on whom she dotes.”
“I can’t honestly saw we’re madly in love but I believe in time our relationship will develop and our feelings will deepen,” he replied, thinking he most certainly had deep feelings for the lady he had yet to say aloud.
“It’s Dawkes I’m mostly concerned with at the present.
He was seen at the coaching inn she was forced to stay at when she left town.
Honestly, Ash, that man has been a pain in my side since Waterloo. ”
“Doesn’t mean he had anything to do with what’s happening with Violet without proof,” Asher said, frowning. “Why does he hold such a grudge against you anyway?”
Gideon shrugged. “I moved up in rank faster than he did. It’s the only thing I can think of but whatever anger he’s been holding onto for all these years runs deep.” A quick flash of conversation with Dawkes at the Lyon’s Den caused Gideon to halt his pacing.
“What is it?” Asher asked.
“I didn’t think much of it at the time… just Dawkes running his mouth sputtering about how I should have died on the battlefield.
” He poured another splash of brandy and returned to his chair as he rubbed his temple.
A vision of them both arguing was a hazy blur reminding him he was surely missing something important.
“Do you suppose the major had something to do with my injury and memory loss?”
It was Asher’s turn to shrug. “Again… unless you have proof, then everything will be circumstantial. You’d hardly be able to hold him accountable without any substantial evidence.”
Gideon gave a heavy sigh. “Then I’m right back to the beginning of trying to solve this mystery with no clues as to who is the culprit.”
“These sorts of things have a way of coming out. Perhaps with more time, some of those missing memories will return. Until then, you have another problem that will cause your head to ache,” Asher sniggered with a sly grin.
“What could be a bigger problem that someone trying to kill me or Violet?” he asked with another frown of worry.
“Once Mother finds you haven’t landed some Society lady with a huge dowry, she’s going to have a fit!”
“Like I would have stood a chance or wanted one of them anyway. I honestly never understood how she thought I’d marry some debutante when I’m only a second son.
” Gideon slumped in his chair and downed his drink just thinking of the conversation he would need to have with his mother.
“God help me with me trying to explain my reasoning to her why her ideas of grandeur for me will all be for naught.”
“You know Mother… she honestly only wants the best for us even if she sometimes goes about her objectives in the wrong way or without thinking things through,” Asher commented with a short laugh.
As if they had conjured their mother up, she was heard in the hallway telling Harrington to get out of her way.
Asher rose to his feet and Gideon did the same, preparing to be berated by his mother.
“Let’s talk more about Dawkes and what we can do to perhaps catch him at his own game after Mother leaves,” his brother commented dryly as he pulled at the cravat at his neck.
“I think I have an idea that might work.”
Before Gideon could answer, their mother swept into the study throwing her wrap on the floor before pointing to Gideon.
“Explain yourself!” she screeched. “I have just spoken to Patience, who filled me in on your upcoming marriage to her cousin, an apothecarist who runs the business on her own. You will be the death of me!”
Gideon had no choice but to listen to his mother complain to him for the next hour.
Between the two brothers, they finally were able to calm her down and get her to listen to them tell her of the wedding that would take place in Bracknell.
But he wouldn’t worry his mother by telling her of the danger he and her future daughter-in-law might encounter.
Perhaps whatever plan Asher had in mind might solve everything if they were lucky.