Chapter 2 #2
Besides, he'd never saved anyone before.
It felt rather nice to be a hero.
And he got a wife out of it, to boot.
His friends would call it the devil’s own luck, but the luck was all Matthew’s.
Using the hand not holding Lady Johanna’s, he quickly took his coin out and flipped it. The flip confirmed his thought, and he tucked the coin back into its pocket.
“I think a quick wedding would be best,” he said, looking at Lady Johanna and giving her hand a squeeze.
He liked holding her hand. Very husbandly.
She was a beautiful woman, if a trifle delicate in her appearance.
Surely regular meals would help with that.
Likely some kind of fashion makeover. Matthew was certain he could leave that in the hands of his grandmother or perhaps Lady Astrid and the other duchesses.
“Quick and quiet. Once you’re my duchess, you’ll have the protection of my name, so even if anyone recognizes you from this evening, they’ll hold their tongue.
If they have a chance to do so before the wedding, they may not.
I would marry you anyway, but it will make things easier. ”
“Yes, that sounds best.” Lady Johanna nodded her understanding. She seemed very serious-minded, which was not surprising after the tale she had told.
He wondered what it would take to make her smile. Likely, seeing her mother and siblings safe and well would be a good start.
“I would not want any rumors or scandal to touch your family name nor burden my brother and sisters. Though it will be several years before my sisters’ come-outs.”
The ton could have a long memory, but he did not point it out. He did not particularly care why she agreed, so long as she did.
“Good then. I’ll acquire a special license as quickly as possible so we can be married without the banns being read. Once I have that, we can have the wedding as soon as your family arrives in London. My grandmother will be pleased to play hostess to them.”
“Your grandmother is going to murder you,” Christian commented, sounding more amused than anything else.
Now that things were in motion, he was falling in line with Matthew’s plans.
Matthew was rather relieved it was Christian with him instead of one of their other friends. Christian was always good for a lark.
Gregory, the Duke of Clarence, might have gone along with things without protest, but he’d become much more serious since marrying.
His duchess, Tiffany, was likely to influence his thoughts on the matter, and Matthew could not guess what she might think of his unusual method for procuring a bride.
Her presence at Gregory’s side was why it was just Matthew and Christian who had been following Drake instead of the three of them.
Matthew was uncertain what Drake would think.
He’d been happy to see that Matthew had saved Lady Johanna, but proposing to her?
Lady Astrid would likely approve, at least. Matthew knew she’d invited Lady Johanna to her house party with an eye to matchmaking.
Unfortunately, Lady Johanna had had to leave rather precipitously, and now Matthew knew why.
At least her mother was still alive. No woman should have to starve herself for her children’s sake.
His mother had died in childbirth, and his father’s second wife had not produced a child before she died of consumption a few years before his father’s death. By which time his father had been searching for a third bride but had not found one to live up to his exacting standards.
Knowing his son was marrying the sister of an impoverished earl, who Matthew would be taking under his wing, would have had his father rolling in his grave. Another good reason for his choice.
“Will… will your grandmother not approve?” Lady Johanna asked in a soft whisper, sounding very worried. He had not realized she might think Christian was speaking of approval of her.
Neither had Christian.
“No, no, she’ll approve of you, certainly,” both of them rushed to reassure her.
“She will be very happy I am getting married, and she will have no qualms over your lineage nor your family’s current situation,” Matthew said quickly.
“You are not the reason she’ll disapprove,” Christian piled on. “She’s going to be very annoyed with Matthew for rushing things, even if she understands the reasoning. She’ll want the big church wedding and all the pomp and circumstance.”
“I am hoping that having your sisters to take under her wing will improve her mood.” Matthew grinned, giving her hand another squeeze.
He glanced out of the carriage. They had finally reached Mayfair and were nearing his London home.
“And the satisfaction of having me married off before this Season is over. Besides, we can call it an exclusive wedding. I’ll tell her that Nathanial and Kalina set the precedent, so she cannot even blame me. ”
Christian rolled his eyes but did not disagree as the carriage came to a stop.
“I will make straight for Falmouth Heath in the morning,” Christian reassured Lady Johanna. “With plenty of footmen and stableboys. I’ll have your family to you as quickly as possible.”
“Thank you, Your Grace,” she said with heartfelt fervor, causing Matthew to frown.
He was the one making it possible. Stepping out of the carriage, he wondered at the small twinge in his chest that her gratitude toward Christian had caused. He’d never felt anything like it before. Turning back to the carriage, he held out his hand to help his new fiancée down the stairs.
She smiled at him, the light of the streetlamps making her violet eyes glow.
“Thank you, Your Grace.” It was a shyer expression of gratitude than Christian had received, yet it felt deeper. That little twinge in Matthew’s chest settled immediately.
“It is my pleasure,” he said with satisfaction before giving Christian a nod. As they stepped away, the coachman closed the door and got back into position to take Christian to his own home. Matthew had no doubt he would be up early tomorrow to ride to the rescue of Lady Johanna’s family.
The house was not as dark as he’d expected, but that was a good thing. Sometimes his grandmother had difficulty sleeping. Perhaps she was still up. Then he could get the introductions out of the way immediately.
His luck held, as it often did.
Holt, his butler, opened the door to admit them and did not blink twice at the fact that Matthew had a rather disheveled young lady on his arm.
The man was rather used to Matthew arriving home in all sorts of situations.
Grandmama was just coming down the stairs, and she came to a halt, her mouth dropping open at the sight of him.
She was not as used to dealing with Matthew’s more unusual appearances, as they had not occupied the same household until this Season.
“Hello, Grandmama,” he said cheerfully. “You wanted me to tell you the moment I found my bride. Lady Johanna has done me the honor of agreeing to marry me.”