The Marquis held up his hand and interrupted. “Yes, Your Grace, you have always watched my daughter, nearly as dutifully as I, to see no harm came to her person. Truthfully, you have Miranda to blame for my taking notice of you. Had she not been involved in a few minor . . . incidents . . . I would likely not have taken measure that you failed to chaperone your own sister while you quite studiously monitored her friend.” Juliet's father dropped his hand and turned again to face the window. “Suffice to say, I have known for quite some time now that your interest in my daughter was no longer definable as the attentions of a friend's brother. Your attentions, Your Grace, were less nobly engaged.”
Jonas felt the wind rush out of him and subsequently dropped unceremoniously back into his chair. He ran his fingers through his hair with agitation and a bit of alarm that these marriage settlement negotiations were starting so poorly that they might end up even worse. He blew out a long breath and raised his eyes to the Marquis only to find that the man had moved quietly away from the window to stand at the corner of the desk. Lansdowne's gaze again pierced him before his eyes slowly softened and a smile began to twitch at the corners of his mouth.
“Oh, Jonas, think! You must come to the only conclusion available as to why, if I have known of your growing attachment to my daughter, did I never do anything to interfere?” He paused for a few meaningful seconds before continuing. “I am delighted, my boy!” he almost shouted, slapping a hand down forcefully on the desk.
Jonas jumped at the sound and slowly felt his heart began to beat in a normal rhythm again before blurting out the first thoughts that came to his mind. “You have an odd way of showing your delight, my lord. So odd, that I would have sworn you were instead displeased to the point of calling me out.”
The Marquis laughed out loud as he retook his seat across the desk. “I have long planned how to torment Juliet's suitors when they came to ask for her hand, and this 'compromise' quite nearly took all my fun away. I could not let her go without making some sport at the end.” Lansdowne smiled for the first time since arriving in the study, his eyes glittering with triumph at his successful ruse. “Come, let us bang out the settlements, then. You, of course, get the dowry, but I have a stipulation that Juliet keeps her house and that you settle a tidy sum on her in the event of your early demise. I shall also tell you right now that you would do well by your wife-to-be if you change your testament to similarly take care of any females you should sire. She is quite the reformist when it comes to entailment and property rights.”
The Duke's head was swimming from this abrupt change in the manner and subject of their conversation, but he felt the tension begin to leach from his body nonetheless. “At this point, after the dread I was feeling during our earlier words, I would agree to nearly anything offered, my lord. In fact, after hearing Juliet's plans for her future just a few days past, I fired off a note to instruct my man of affairs to realign Miranda's future in a similar manner.” Jonas shifted in his seat. “As for Juliet's dowry, I should like it to remain in her control. She may use it to fund charitable projects or mend her manor house – whatever she desires. I will of course take care of her daily necessities; her dowry will be hers to use or save as she sees fit.”
This news brought an even bigger smile to Lansdowne's face. “My man is currently at Belle Rêverie. I shall have him draw up the settlements and bring it round for us tomorrow. What of the wedding date? I know we left the ladies embroiled in all matters matrimonial when we adjourned here, but when and where had you thought to have the ceremony?”
“Sooner rather than later is preferable to me,” began Jonas before he realized how his words must sound to the father of his affianced. “I mean, for the sake of the rumors and innuendo, I should think not waiting would be most preferable. I do not think we should return to Town unless we are man and wife. I feel I must tell you that Juliet was not persuaded of my sincerity in offering for her. As such, she only consented to let me court her this week, then she may decide if we will marry.”
“She will what?” thundered Lansdowne. “She will marry you regardless!”
Jonas leaned across his desk with an earnest expression on his face. “That was my promise to her, but rest assured she will be in agreement by week's end.” He smiled wryly. “Evidently I hid my affections quite well from your daughter as she is not convinced I am a willing participant in this marriage. She merely thinks me caught, and too honorable to do other than the right thing under the circumstances. I have pledged to show her otherwise this week.”
The Marquis processed this new information swiftly. “Juliet had too many friends marry with ennui and disaffection. Several were miserable before the ink dried in the wedding register. Likely her mother and I indulged her idea of individuality too convincingly as well. I've seen her studying you this week, trying to make sense of your increased attentions. You have caught her notice; I have seen her studying you covertly as well. She will come around.”
“I admit I am unsure just what I feel for Juliet, and I feel deuced awkward discussing it with you, my lord, but I am completely committed to this – to her. I will be a faithful and attentive husband, I swear to you.” Jonas made his declaration uncomfortably, but sincerely, and was rewarded with a broad smile from the Marquis before he chuckled slightly at the Duke's discomfiture.
“I can put a name to your feelings, having fallen under the same affliction, but I will leave it for you to sort out yourself. However, I think an announcement to The Times should be sent and invitations issued posthaste. I see no reason to postpone. In fact, you could publicly pursue the angle that this was your intent all along – to propose to Juliet and marry her at your estate at the conclusion of the house party. Fully betrothed in public, you are free to woo her in private, but mind you, be proper about it.”
“Those were my thoughts, exactly,” agreed Jonas, “and I will of course respect your daughter at all times. And although I will need to procure a special license, I still think to have the banns read this Sunday would be a nice way of announcing our intentions to the locals.”
Her father's eyes lit up at this and he leaned forward in his seat. “That is a splendid idea! Juliet will love that special touch. Let us send Marcus after the license. He has mentioned the need to ride to London for some such military thing, so he could easily dispatch his errand and yours.” Lansdowne broke to take a breath. “Plus, I think he is more amenable to your marriage than Bristol at this moment. The shock to his lazy system will no doubt serve him well, however. Mayhap your wedding will inspire like ideas in him.”
Jonas scoffed aloud at this suggestion. “More likely harden his resolve not to wed any time soon. He and Aylesford are almost demonic in their goal to avoid matrimony until the last possible minute.”
“Those two will not grow up until maturity is forced upon them. Hopefully, it will not be a poor fit when it occurs.” The Marquis stood up and Jonas rose to join him, moving from around the desk as they walked toward the study door. His future father-in-law stopped, abruptly turning to face the Duke. “In all sincerity, Jonas, let me say I could choose no finer man for my Juliet. You will be good for each other and together. I am proud to soon be calling you 'son.'” The two men clasped hands briefly before Lansdowne enveloped Jonas in a fatherly hug. They broke apart and again made for the door. “Now for the true entertainment: telling your guests that they came for a party and will now be attending a wedding!”
Chapter Thirty-Six
A friend should bear his friend's infirmities.
William Shakespeare, Julius Caesar, Act 4, Scene 3
Jonas dispatched Hastings to find Juliet's brother, Major Lord Marcus Quinn, asking him to come to the study. As he waited, he stood at the windows looking over the lawn without seeing anything, so deep in thought was he. The deadline of one week yawned before him as he began to sketch mental plans of just how and where he would woo the fair Juliet. He was encouraged by the Marquis's suggestion that Juliet was not as unwilling t
o marry as she professed, and Juliet's own words earlier this morning gave him hope as well. She agreed to a courtship, and she felt comfortable enough to jest with him again. He blew out a relieved breath and turned from the window at the light tap at the study door. It opened, revealing the Major.
“I am glad to see you smiling after your meeting with my father. I trust all is well with the Quinn-Leighton alliance?” Marcus questioned in his quiet baritone.
“Your father gave me a brief moment of worry when his opening gambit was to question my motives and plans for Juliet. I had forgotten how fiercely he scowls. For a moment I felt a young lad again such as when the three of us were caught using your father's prized apples for shot in our makeshift catapult to the sea.”
Marcus laughed and crossed the room, his hand outstretched toward the Duke. They shook, with the Major prolonging their greeting while he spoke. “That was one of the more inspired inventions of our youth, and my father was indeed upset at the ruination of nearly a third of his crop that season. We have many good memories to look back on with fondness; I look forward to the new ones that will be created as we welcome you officially into the family.” Marcus dropped Jonas' hand and took a seat near the hearth. “I may be Juliet's brother and loath to think of her grown enough to marry and start a family, but I am strong enough to admit that I am glad in her choice of you, Jonas. I trust you implicitly – always have. I know I can trust you to take care of my sister.”
Jonas took a seat opposite his friend, settling into the chair before replying. “I thank you for your trust and vow to be worthy of it. We may be starting out under a cloud of speculation, but I felt not one moment of hesitation in offering for her. In fact, I had the most peculiar feeling of peace when all was settled this morning, as if something was found that I had not known I was searching for.” Jonas flashed his friend a half-smile and raised his brows sheepishly. “But I did not ask you here to tell tales of your sister and me. Instead, I ask a favor. Your father states you ride to London on business. Will you ride to Doctor's Commons for the special license? Your father and I agree that a wedding to close out this house party will help squelch the innuendo surrounding the surprising discovery in my chambers this morning, so we cannot wait three weeks for the banns to be called. I cannot leave, and hope I can persuade you to do me this favor.”
“I was about to offer the same so you have saved me the mention of it. I need to check in at Horse Guards, so it will be no hardship. I should warn you that travel is most uncomfortable to me at this time, so although I ride, I will most likely be gone until the day before the ceremony. I shall return, it will just take more time.”
“I have noticed you favor your left side, arm and leg. Have you news to share?”
The major sighed deeply before responding. “As I am sure all can guess, I was wounded. It was nearly a year ago in Spain, at Salamanca. The specific circumstances surrounding my injury are not mine to share at this time, but the abbreviated story is I took several rounds to thigh and shoulder in the thick of the skirmish in July. We suffered comparatively low casualties, but it was a hard-won fight. The field surgeon wanted to take them both. I found myself quite attached to them and refused his kind offer of amputation. It has been a long and painful journey. I fought fevers and other maladies off and on for months. By this past February, the danger of infection had finally passed, but I am not yet fully recovered. Some days are worse than others and I am susceptible to the slightest malady. My body is at war with my determination to remain whole. Time will tell.”
“I have read of Salamanca – we all have – and know it was no small skirmish. It was a resounding defeat for Old Boney. That your injury is a year old also tells me you suffered more than words can convey. I will, of course, keep your counsel, but please know I will help in any way I can, in your convalescence or however I may be of service.”
Marcus flushed slightly but nodded his head in acknowledgment. “Appreciated, Dorset. You can best aid me by doing right by Juliet. My recovery is in my own hands,” he replied gruffly.
“When shall you depart?” asked Jonas, changing the subject that was discomfiting them both.
“Will and I will leave soon as I break my fast.”
The Duke tapped his fingers on the blotter of his desk. “Of course you will not wish to miss the show that is sure to accompany this upcoming meal. After Juliet made her views on marriage quite clear not two days ago, I am sure our announcement will be met with interesting reactions.”
A look of devilment came over the major's face as he smiled wickedly. “Oh, to be sure I would not miss this meal for anything. If nothing else, I anticipate my remembrances of Juliet's responses to entertain me for at least half my journey to Town.”
Jonas stood, straightening his jacket and tugging slightly at his cravat. “Well, gird up your loins, man! I am to collect my betrothed from our mothers' clutches and escort her in to the morning room. You'd best be off to select a seat with the best view.”
Marcus rose and laughed as he followed the Duke from the study. “Upon my word, Jonas, but you offer the best entertainment at this party. You should consider having more just such functions in the future,” he added, ducking the mocking jab thrown at him by the Duke as they went their separate ways in the hall.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Let me not to the marriage of true minds admit impediments.
William Shakespeare, Sonnet 116
Juliet, Miranda, their mothers, and Aunt Catherine occupied the sitting room of the Quinn's guest chamber sketching preliminary wedding plans; the former rolling their eyes and making futile suggestions, the latter ignoring the younger ladies and rapidly organizing the largest wedding event of the Season, despite its hasty nature. Juliet had been allowed a short-lived reprieve for her morning ablutions and to change her gown, but she was summoned to immediately return upon their completion. Sitting still in the room, their voices unheard, they temporarily gave up the effort to make their opinions known and turned to their own conversation.
“Jules, I can scarcely believe that not four hours ago you were as you have always been – unattached and independent. Now you are soon to be yoked to a man you have studiously avoided and find as irritating as I.” She paused dramatically. “It is delicious!”
“You are correct in that I have avoided your brother as much as possible, but not for the reasons you suppose. And I do not find him irritating in the same manner you do, as a brother,” began Juliet quickly by way of explanation. “I have avoided him because I feel so uncomfortable around him, so unsure of myself and tongue-tied. For some reason I have felt flustered and incapable of rational speech when he is around. You would do well, my dearest friend, to abandon your efforts to laugh at me, however. I should think you need to court my favor and refrain from stoking my ire in any manner, else I shall do my very best, as your brother's helpful and dutiful duchess, to refocus his attentions on his marital ambitions for you.”
Miranda looked momentarily alarmed but quickly recovered. “You have scarcely any idea how much you already distract my brother, but no doubt you will learn soon. Give over, Juliet. I know your feelings for Jonas have surely changed, at least of late. I have seen you conversing with him on numerous occasions, both in London and more recently here. In fact,” Miranda added, with a calculating expression forming on her face, “you have been quite in each other's pockets this past sennight.”
“We have been no such thing! I think we have found a kinship in our dislike of scheming ladies and empty gossip that always accompany a house party. I have found your brother to have a sharp wit and wicked sense of humor, so it has been no surprise that we have conversed.”
“Well, get used to it, dearest, because you will be conversing – among other things – with that gentleman for the rest of your days,” tossed Miranda with a shrewd smile.
Juliet cast her eyes down to her lap, clasping her hands as she debated whether to confess the subterfuge behind the betrothal to her brothe
r. They had agreed to keep it betwixt themselves but she felt the need to tell her friend else her mind and mouth explode with the subterfuge. “Your brother and I are engaged in word only, Miranda,” confessed Juliet in a rush of words. “I tried and tried to convince him this betrothal was not necessary, but he would not hear it. After much discussion, I agreed to give him this next week as he wants to persuade me he is not acting with nobility or misplaced loyalty by offering for me.”
“You gave Jonas one week to woo you? To win you over? Famous!”
“Well, in truth I gave myself a week to win him over to my argument, that we need not marry.”
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