Chapter 7
Seven
Though Michael assured him that Miss Alexandra kept very different hours than the ton and she would receive guests at nine in the morning, approaching the door of the unexceptional townhouse gave Richard a case of nerves unlike he had not felt since he was called up to the headmaster’s office with no explanation almost twenty years ago.
The false accusation from his half-brother had nearly ended his schooling then.
Why was it that Richard always found himself in desperate situations because of that man?
The largest footman Richard had ever seen, including his own protective footmen, answered the door of the townhouse. Richard and his cousin followed the footman into the parlor where he had been the day before.
Miss Alexandra breezed into the room. Honestly, if he did not know of Peggy’s existence, Richard would never guess. She would have made the most elegant of duchesses. He pushed the thought out of his mind. Neither of them could change the conclusion that honesty had brought them to.
“Jane wanted to join us this morning. However, I blundered my way through the proposal yesterday, and she swooned. She is afraid that she might do the same this morning. However, she wants me to convey her acceptance of the honor of your proposal.” Alexandra handed a sealed note to Richard.
“She fainted? Are you sure she accepts?” In his experience, women did not swoon over proposals.
“Yes.” The soft answer came from outside the doorway.
Richard made to stand, but Alexandra stopped him with a shake of her head.
“I know I should come in,” said the voice from the hall. “But…Alex, please?”
Alexandra cast an apologetic look at both Michael and Richard. “Unfortunately, Jane’s face made acquaintance with Peggy’s toes, which, being made of the finest wood, are unyielding. My sister doesn’t wish you to see her with a bruised face and be disappointed in your choice.”
From Michael’s description yesterday, the newest bruise would only add to the fading ones.
Sir Lightwood had much to answer for. The woman’s embarrassment was understandable.
Still Richard had not chosen her for her face, whatever it looked like.
He had chosen her because Alexandra, who loved her sister without partiality, believed her to be worth choosing.
He knew enough of women’s vanity to assume Miss Jane would not believe his protests.
“I am far from disappointed. Michael has been singing your praises since yesterday afternoon.”
“Michael.” The voice scolded.
His cousin laughed in response. “Come, Jane, it is not as bad as all that. I did not tell him anything unflattering.”
A gasp came from the corridor.
Michael continued. “I did not because I could not think of anything to say. Will you not join us?”
“I look a fright,” came the whispered response.
The situation was awkward. Richard wished to speak with her, and her quiet answers from the corridor were difficult to hear. “What if I turned a chair to the window and gave you my word as a duke that I will not look?”
There was a long pause. “That would do.”
Richard rose and turned a chair to face the window.
As she came into the room, he caught a hint of dark hair and a gray dress in the windowpane’s reflection.
As Jane passed Michael, he judged her to be shorter than Philippa, but not so short as to be diminutive.
Try as he might, he had not been able to conjure her face in his memory.
Philippa’s or Alexandra’s always came to mind. Fair enough, they were sisters.
“Oh, that is bad,” said Michael in his honest bluntness.
“It should be healed in three weeks, in time for the wedding.” The voice that was Jane’s was much clearer now. At least she was not afraid to talk around him with Alexandra and Michael present. That was more than he had hoped for from Alexandra’s description.
“I hoped not to wait that long.” Time was not in his favor. A quiet wedding at the chapel at Redbridge before any society gossip could catch wind of the plan would be best.
“But the banns…” said Jane.
“I plan to obtain a special license. Banns mean more people know. And it is important that my half-brother Duncan not know of this marriage lest he try to move against me.”
“Would he try to stop your wedding? Will Jane be in any danger, do you think?” asked Alexandra.
“Unlikely. He has no reason to suspect that I would marry so soon after becoming a widower. However, the chances are not zero that he finds out. If your imposing footman is around, it will be for the better. When I send my best carriage to convey you to Redbridge House, I will send more than adequate guards.”
“When shall we wed then?”
“Michael worked out a schedule last night. A week from Saturday is possible, allowing even for poor weather and all the travel.”
“That is less than a fortnight.” He wasn’t sure if Alexandra or Jane spoke. “Are you sure?”
Michael cleared his throat, and the pages of his ever-present notebook rustled. “With the coach we have, it will take us a day and a half to make it back to London. Then Richard must send a coach back.”
Alexandra interrupted. “Michael, I am sure your calculations are correct.”
“They could be wrong. Instead of sixty miles a day as Richard will travel, I only planned on thirty to forty for you and Jane since I know traveling can be difficult, um, because…”
“Yes, thank you for considering my injuries. Peggy is a bothersome traveling companion.” Laughing, Alexandra spoke of her leg as if the prosthesis were a friend.
“We planned on you traveling from here to The Willows to collect your grandfather. I assume you wish the earl to be present at your wedding?” said Richard.
“Yes, I do.” This time he was sure Jane answered.
“That is eleven days, with four of them traveling.” Michael pointed out the obvious.
“When you send the carriage for us, could you also send Phil?” asked Jane.
“With or without little Lawrence?” asked Michael.
“If she can be parted from your son for a few days, it may be best that Lawrence stay in his own nursery rather than traveling all over the country for a wedding,” said Alexandra.
“Oh, quite right.” Michael’s answer was accompanied by the sound of pencil to paper. He no doubt was making a note of the request.
“Would it be possible to fetch Rose from school? She would be very disappointed to miss my wedding and to a duke.” The last three words carried the faintest note of disbelief, as if Jane still could not quite credit that the wedding was hers. Her request was more than reasonable.
“She will be there.” Richard would use whatever authority he needed to fulfill that request. Oddly, he had no problem picturing the youngest Lightwood sister, the fairest of the five.
Why could he only see Georgiana in his mind and a faceless woman in a grey dress that never looked at him?
Alexandra said she was shy… and he had met those who had been overwhelmed by his title.
At least she seemed secure enough to talk to his back.
“Then the only problem I see is Father,” said Jane. “Since I am but nineteen, he must agree to my marriage, and Grandfather has sent no news that he has been located.”
How had Richard missed that complication? Of all the blunders in his plan. Alexandra was of age and would not need her father to sign wedding agreements. Jane on the other hand would need his approval. If the man could not be located…
“Have you any idea where he went?”
Alexandra spoke. “Our father’s mistress, Marguerite DeLuc, lives somewhere north of London.
We assume he lives most of the time with her.
There is a chance he went to York to Lightwood Manor, but in her last letter, our aunt, Lady Banbridge, who lives close by, says she has not seen or heard from our father in months.
Grandfather has been searching for him since he broke into Kellmore attempting to steal Jane’s jewelry. ”
“I will send an express to your grandfather before we quit Bath. If Lightwood cannot be found, I may still receive permission to marry you with the Earl of Whitstone’s blessing.
” An impossible wish, but Lightwood had assaulted his own daughter and broken into property not his own.
There were judges who would find that sufficient, and hopefully the Archbishop of Canterbury would too.
A giggle bubbled up behind Richard, and he was sorely tempted to break his promise and turn around.
“If not, you can be the first Duke in England to wed in Gretna Green.” The voice was not Alexandra’s. Jane had enough wit to make a joke about the situation.
Richard tried to laugh along with the others, however, the matter was far too serious for him to laugh over.
After the laughter subsided. Richard returned to discussing the preparations.
“I am aware that with so few days and the Season in Bath already begun that you may not have time to have wedding finery made. Still, I would like to give you funds so that you can purchase what you need. Redbridge is much colder in winter than Bath. If you do not own a warm cloak, please add that to your list of practicalities.”
“I wrote a note to Phil asking if she would bring one of the dresses I left at Aunt Healand’s after my season with George.
The gown is not so far out of fashion as to be an embarrassment to you, but I never wore it and I am quite fond of the shade of blue.
Since the wedding will only be family.” Jane’s voice faded at the end.
The fading voice told him more than the words.
She was trying to be brave in all the strangeness of a wedding being discussed in terms of business.
A horse purchased at Tattersall’s might have more dignity.
“If that is what you wish for, Jane, you shall have the gown. Michael, am I forgetting something?”
“The gift.”
“Oh, yes.” Richard removed the box from his pocket.
The pearl and lapis lazuli necklace captured his eye, and Michael’s approval, in the jeweler’s yesterday.
To avoid questions since he was wearing his mourning armband, Michael made the purchase using the story that the necklace was for his wife.
The simple gold band purchased at the same time raised more than an eyebrow.
Jane deserved to have a ring that had not been worn by his late wife, and he had no time to commission a ring.
“An engagement gift. Perhaps your sister would be kind enough to help you.”
Alexandra retrieved the box.
The next sound was Jane’s soft gasp. “It is too fine for me. You did not need to give me anything.”
“Jane, I want to. Though, as I told Alexandra, I cannot promise to give my heart, as I am sure I have none to give, I have hopes that we can live together in peace, fidelity, and friendship. You are doing me the greatest of honors in agreeing to such a marriage. I will not give you any less than you deserve.”
“Thank you.” Sniff. “I am very honored.” Sniff. “Excuse me.” Jane’s last words were followed by quick footfalls that retreated from the room and up the stairs.
“Blast Richard, you made her cry.” Michael sounded quite put out.
Richard turned to face the room.
Alexandra laid her hand on Richard’s arm. “They are tears of joy. All of this is overwhelming, and your kindness is enough that I am almost overcome as well.”
“Your sister’s kindness in accepting my proposal is more than anything I could give her.
” He hoped Jane listened from the corridor.
She needed to know he appreciated her sacrifice in spending her life with a man she did not know.
“We must be off if we are to make London by tomorrow night. Do not hesitate to send an express at my expense if a need arises.”
All the way to London, Richard worried that finding a wife had been far too easy. Considering all Michael told him, Jane would in time be his ideal companion, one he could converse with on topics other than fashion and the weather.
Sometime after they stopped for the second change of horses, and Michael snored in the seat across from him, Richard recalled the note Alexandra had given him from Jane. A rose shape was pressed into the red wax seal. He lifted it carefully to keep the image intact.
Your Grace,
I am sensible of the great honor you do me and accept your proposal with gratitude.
I will endeavor to be worthy of the trust you place in me and to fulfill my part of our agreement faithfully.
Though I beg of you to remember King Henry’s wives and know that much of the outcome of an heir is in God’s hands.
I hope you will forgive a written reply. I find I cannot at present trust my voice to say what my hand may write more steadily.
Your obedient servant,
Jane Lightwood
Servant? Never. She must be his friend at the very least. She must never feel as though she had been nothing more than a kept woman to have his children.
He should be her servant, or so the novels he read to pass the lonely nights of his marriage said.
He may never have the heart to love her as a fictional hero did, but he would act the part of a kind husband and never make her feel less than the gift she was.