Chapter 3 #2
“But I do,” he insisted. “I will postpone my departure for a few days. Mrs. Farthingale, does this give you enough time to assemble a wedding breakfast? I shall undertake all the costs, of course.”
“No, that is my responsibility,” John intoned. “You just let my wife know who you would like us to invite.”
“In truth, no one but the Thornes. I have no close family.”
John nodded. “They’ll have to be verbal invitations followed by a confirming note since there’s no time for formal invitations to be printed. I’ll leave the responsibility of a Somerset wedding celebration up to you.”
“I’ll take care of that,” Tulip assured, then realized she may have spoken out of turn.
“I am very close to my mother’s family, Your Grace.
It does not have to be anything lavish, just a simple dinner party will do to introduce you to the Hesters and perhaps a few friends of mine.
Would that be all right? They’ll be so sad to have missed my wedding, but there’s no time for them to join us here. ”
Her uncle, William Hester, and his wife, Perty, had taken primary responsibility for raising her after her parents had died.
“Of course,” Davenport said with surprising gentleness.
“That takes care of the wedding plans.” John gave a nod of satisfaction. “Tulip, I’ll let you and Sophie get to work on those details right away. His Grace and I shall next discuss the betrothal terms.”
Sophie rose, but Tulip hesitated. “Should I not be involved in that discussion?”
“No,” John and his brothers said in unison.
Rupert smiled at her. “You are best served by having us act as we deem best without your presence.”
A polite way of saying they did not want her interfering and botching their negotiations.
“I am merely a doctor,” George added, “but my brothers are quite good at this sort of thing. Let them do what they must to protect you.”
She frowned. “The duke has already shown he has valor and will do whatever he must to keep me safe. Should we not trust him to do what is right? Has he not already shown he has an excellent moral character?”
“And this is why we do not want you in here,” John said, taking her by the shoulders and nudging her toward the door. “You are naively softhearted, Tulip.”
Davenport smiled. “And an excellent negotiator on my behalf.”
“Because I know you are a man of honor,” Tulip said, talking over her shoulder as her uncle steered her out. “I apologize for taking so long to realize it.”
John rolled his eyes.
George laughed.
“Where is Hortensia when we need her?” Rupert muttered.
“Oh, yes,” Tulip warned. “You had better come to an agreement before Hortensia sticks her nose in our business, Davenport.”
“Who is Hortensia?” Davenport asked.
“The family dragon,” they all happened to respond in unison.
John chuckled as he sought to explain about the eldest of the family elders. “She can be a bit difficult.”
“But she’ll make for a wonderful ally if she likes you,” Tulip assured him as John gave her a final, gentle nudge.
“Thank you for the warning,” Davenport called out as John shut the door behind her.
Everyone considered their elderly, maiden aunt a total dragon who did not believe in compromise and struck fear in the hearts of all mere mortals.
In truth, Tulip was surprised Hortensia hadn’t swooped down from her bedchamber and set forth her edicts about what was to be done.
No negotiation. Her terms only. Scorched earth and no mercy shown.
If Tulip or Davenport had any objections, too bad.
Hortensia was not the sort to listen patiently while others spoke.
Perhaps the hour was too late for Hortensia to join them.
She would be in fine fettle come morning, and Davenport had better hope the betrothal terms were agreed upon and the matter concluded before she awoke.
Tulip was now left to stand in the hall with her cousins, none of whom had yet to leave.
The gentlemen ended their discussion not long afterward.
Davenport walked out of the study, his features expressionless.
Tulip could not tell if he was pleased or angry.
She followed him to the door. “Well? How did it go? Were they too demanding?”
He tucked a finger under her chin. “All is agreed upon.”
“That easily? What were the terms? The discussion did not take more than fifteen minutes. How is this adequate?”
“Come to my solicitor’s office tomorrow with your uncle and you will find out.”
She tugged lightly on his arm. “Can you not tell me tonight?”
He shook his head. “It is late, and I need to revise my travel arrangements before I retire.”
“Yes, of course. I do feel awful about this.”
He tilted her gaze upward to meet the dark glint of his eyes. “It is done and we will make the best of it.”
He glanced at the other family members who were still gathered in the hall, the elders now being peppered by questions from her cousins. But he kept his attention on Tulip. “I would kiss you,” he said softly, “but I do not like to have an audience when undertaking such matters.”
“Do you often kiss ladies?”
He cast her a surprisingly affectionate smile. “There’s only been one, lately.”
She cast him a look of confusion, for she had not seen him escorting any young lady around London or heard his name connected to anyone else. “Do you mean me? Am I the one lady?”
“Yes, Tulip. Who else? See you tomorrow,” he said and walked out.
Did he mean it?
No one but her?
Was this not remarkable?