Chapter Twenty-Four
The next few days were a whirlwind of activity.
Rather than see his bride to be, he was forced to settle a million details to make the final finishes possible for that event to take place.
As he met with his solicitor, Henley, and then housekeeper to make all the necessary arrangements, he decided the business of it all was the only salvation to his sanity. So close, and yet so far.
Thankfully, Henley and Edwin had agreed to the shortened timeline of the wedding to allow the special license. Though Edwin had been initially concerned that talk would circulate, Henley had implied that it was a wiser choice to not tempt fate, or their sister, to extreme measures.
Gabriel chuckled as he remembered the resigned expression on Edwin’s face at Henley’s words.
It was settled that the wedding would take place merely two days later, and at Hawthorne House, utilizing their small family chapel.
That very chapel hadn’t been opened in quite some time, at least by himself, but he decided this was a rather delightful way of reopening it.
Odd, how so much of his adult life had been in the shadows, avoiding the light of honesty and truth. He’d even damn near boarded up his family chapel, forgetting its existence and now, everything had shifted. And its cause had a name, Lady Peregrine Rosewood, who was soon to be Lady Hawthorne.
His lady.
And he wanted everything perfect.
The wedding would be a small affair, intimate and unpretentious, made possible by the special license Gabriel had procured from the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Such licenses were a rarity, reserved for those with influence or urgency, allowing a marriage to proceed after a mere three days’ notice rather than the customary reading of banns over three Sundays.
More crucially, it permitted the ceremony to unfold in a private location like this chapel, unbound by the strictures of a parish church.
Gabriel had moved heaven and earth to secure it, pulling strings through old acquaintances in the clergy, all to spare Peregrine the spectacle of a public event amid the whispers of scandal that still lingered from their unconventional courtship.
But just because the ceremony would be less ostentatious than one taking place at St. Georges, didn’t mean it would carry less weight or be remarkably more intimate, personal, and, dare he say, romantic?
He never thought of himself as one for romance.
Charm? Yes, but romance? That took too much effort, too much vulnerability, and yet all he wanted to do was romance his wife-to-be.
Inspired, he stood from his study and went in search of a maid, or the housekeeper herself. Halfway down the hall, he was greeted with a familiar face being led by his butler.
“Ah, Henley!” Gabriel greeted, giving his butler a dismissive nod.
“Hawthorne,” he replied and strode forward, offering his hand.
“What brings you here, not that I’m complaining. Honestly, in the past few months you’ve been at my house more often that I’d dare admit,” Hawthorne joked.
“Agreed, and I do not have a specific errand, more or less escaping.” Henley chuckled.
Hawthorne rocked on his heels and chuckled. “Brandy?”
“Bloody hell, yes,” Henley replied.
Hawthorne turned and led him back to his study and then started to pour two snifters of brandy. “So, what’s causing your exodus from your own house?”
“Your soon-to-be wife.” Henley accepted the brandy and took a long sip.
Hawthorne couldn’t help the wide grin that bent his lips at the mention of the word wife.
“Your smile alone is sickening. Was I ever like that?” Henley took a seat, but his expression was amused and relaxed.
“You were worse,” Hawthorne replied, teasing his friend. “And you still are. Don’t think you’re any different, my friend.”
Henley gave a dismissive wave of his hand. “How go the arrangements on your end?”
Hawthorne took a sip of brandy. “Good, nearly finished. I have a few final details to see to, and my solicitor sent this over yesterday.” Hawthorne set his glass down and lifted up a leather binding of papers.
“The settlement, if you wish to review it once more. I was intending to show this copy to Lady Peregrine.”
Henley nodded. “I trust all is in order, but it’s a good idea to show Pere.
It’s not usually done that way but … she’s not the usual woman.
She’ll want to know, if for no other reason than to be assured that Edwin and I did things properly.
” He gave a chuckle and raised his glass.
“She’s soon to be managing your life, no longer mine. ”
Hawthorne raised his glass. “It’s about time.”
“It is indeed.” Henley leaned his head back.
“Hawthorne, if I have to hear about one more fitting, dress, or something of that sort, I might lose all reason. I had no idea that picking a wedding dress could be so … impossible.” He sighed.
“Anna is just as tenacious regarding the whole situation, and I left for my own safety. But you’ll be pleased to know that she will be radiantly beautiful, as my wife has assured me.
Not that I even once thought anything to the contrary. ”
Hawthorne listened, and he gave a low laugh at the picture it painted. “At least you have two days of this, not five or six weeks.”
“I’ve never been more thankful for a special license than now,” Henley replied with a grave tone.
“Indeed. And to think I had to convince you—”
“Edwin, not I. I want you married quickly so I don’t have to worry about Pere kidnapping you and taking you both to Gretna Green. It was a contingency plan. Don’t ask.”
Hawthorne couldn’t hinder the wide grin Henley’s words incited. “She was threatening to kidnap me? Tell me, how does one kidnap a willing conspirator?”
“Thank you for making my point. Nether of you can be trusted.”
“Thank you for the compliment.”
“It wasn’t meant as a compliment, simply a fact. And you two deserve each other and the mayhem you will create,” Henley joked.
“I will accept all hazards associated with Lady Peregrine.”
“They are many.” Henley chuckled. “But you’ll also have the most fiercely loyal heart ever created. So, respect that, and you’ll live. Trespass on that, and not only will your wife potentially murder you in your sleep, I will be present if she doesn’t finish the job.” Henley eyed Hawthorne.
“I’ll sharpen the knife myself,” Hawthorne answered, his tone ringing with truth.
“Good, now that I’ve properly threatened you, tell me about your sister, the one coming to town.” Henley sat up and drank the final drops of brandy from his glass and set it on Hawthorne’s desk.
Hawthorne took a sip and then stood. “We’ll need more brandy for that conversation. Not because I know so much, but because of all the unknowns, which, I think, are worse,” he answered and then poured two more fingers of brandy into Henley’s cup, and one more finger in his.
“More ambiguity, delightful,” Henley responded.
Hawthorne shrugged. “She’ll arrive next week, or so, and as far as her lodgings, arrangements have been made for her to stay with another cousin, one that she’s acquainted with from where she was raised.
It’s a modest place, just outside of Mayfair, but I’m assuming I’ll be prevailed upon for access to the London ton. ”
“Why is she coming halfway through the season? It’s rather odd,” Henley remarked.
“It is, but I think that was the timing that worked for all those involved. I assume her intention is that of every other lady during their season, to find a husband, but halfway through the marriage mart could prove a difficult task, given shortened timing. I will introduce her to society as my cousin, since that is where she’s been raised, hopefully alleviating any suspicions that could make life difficult. ”
“A wise choice, and any family resemblance will be easily explained.”
“Yes, however, I do not know if Lord Carver is aware that his daughter will be in society, which could be interesting or problematic.”
“Ah, yes, that could prove interesting.”
“Unfortunately, we won’t find out, till we find out.
” Hawthorne gave a dry laugh. “Though I’d imagine Lord Carver isn’t exactly wanting society to discover his indiscretion.
That is to our benefit. And I believe it will be in my sister’s, and my new family’s, best interest to find her a suitable husband quickly. ”
“Easier said than done, I’m afraid.”
“I’m aware.”
“At lease she won’t likely come up with a mad and bold plan to reform a rake, eh?” Henley teased.
“I think the plan worked out quite well,” Hawthorne replied, chuckling.
“I suppose it did, but I’ll never admit that to her.”
Hawthorne took a deep breath and thanked heaven for the camaraderie of a friend who would soon be a brother.
With marriage to Peregrine, he was gaining so much more than a beautiful, bold, and tempting wife; he was gaining a brother, a crazy family, and a future that was certainly going to be filled with wild, unhinged mayhem and fun.
All she was receiving from him was his name and his heart. His fortune as well, but it was unneeded as she was more than generously dowered, but he would give her what money could never buy.
His devotion.