“You don’t know your own mind,” Crawford said.
Will arched his brows. “Sir, I beg to differ and must insist that you do not make derogatory comments about my fiancée.”
“Do not twist my words,” Crawford said. “You have clearly turned her head. Miss Hardwick, end this engagement now. Even though he has tainted your reputation, I will gladly marry you.”
“Maybe they should fight for her,” Aunt Hester said. “You know, like those stags that lock horns.”
“Hester, please,” the dowager countess said. “They are not animals.”
“They’re men; not much difference,” Hester said.
“Why must you say such things?” the dowager countess said.
“Because it’s true,” Hester said. “I’ve had five husbands, you know.”
“Crawford, you might want to make your apology now,” Mr. Hardwick said. “Darcett is a big fellow and likely to squash you.”
“Mr. Crawford, will you accompany me to the balcony?” Amy said.
Will gritted his teeth. “Amy, may I speak to you?”
“Sir, how dare you address her in such a familiar manner?” Crawford said.
“I dare, because she is my fiancée.” Will narrowed his eyes. He didn’t like anyone interfering with his life, especially not some puffed-up vicar. He wished Crawford would insult him so that he’d have an excuse to bloody his holier-than-thou nose.
Amy regarded Will with an alarmed expression. “I need to speak to Mr. Crawford.”
Will patted her hand. “I would prefer you did not go off alone with other men.”
“Sir, I am a vicar,” Crawford said.
“I don’t care,” Will said. “You’re not taking her off alone.”
“William,” Amy said with a tight smile. “May I speak to you for a few moments?”
He grinned. “I thought you would never ask.”
She took him aside. “What is the matter with you? You are acting as if you’re jealous of Mr. Crawford.”
He scoffed. “I’m not jealous, but I’m not letting any man go off alone with my fiancée—especially that sanctimonious pri—Never mind. I don’t like him.”
She released a sigh. “I only want to speak to him privately to prevent wounding him in front of the others. He will listen to me, and I must insist that you allow me to take care of this matter.”
He hesitated. “I don’t like it.”
“This conversation will end in probably less than ten minutes. Now, please excuse me.”
With more than a little effort, Will squelched the urge to follow Amy and throw “his holiness” over the balcony.
Fifteen minutes later, she returned to the drawing room with a serene expression. Mr. Crawford was not so tranquil. His face could easily be described as almost purple, and his expression was decidedly mulish. Hawk took the vicar aside and spoke to him. Crawford made a curt bow, muttered something, and followed a footman out of the drawing room.
Will crossed the room to speak to Amy. “What happened?”
“Nothing happened. I simply reminded him of all the reasons that we did not suit, and I wished him well in his search for a bride,” she said.
Will narrowed his eyes. “You did not tell me everything,” he said. “He tried to persuade you to throw me over.”
“I told him that I would not have married him, even if I were not already affianced to you,” she said.
“Mr. Hardwick, please be seated,” Will said as he led Amy’s father inside Hawk’s study. “My brother is making arrangements for Crawford’s departure.”
“He insisted upon accompanying us.” Hardwick shrugged. “Crawford seemed a sensible fellow until my daughter rebuffed him. If you want the truth, I think his pride took a hit, and from that moment on, he was determined beyond all common sense to win her. Went about it in a stupid manner, but there you have it.”
“Can I interest you in a brandy?” Will asked.
“I suppose so,” Hardwick said.
Will poured two fingers in each glass and brought one to his future father-in-law. “The solicitors will arrive shortly, and we can deal with the settlements then. But I wish to formally request your daughter’s hand in marriage.”
Hardwick swirled his brandy. “I have questions for you first.”
“Fire away, sir.”
“My daughter insisted in her letter that the two of you accidentally got stuck in that wine cellar. Frankly, I find that rather suspicious.”
He explained the circumstances. “We had planned to leave separately and ended up locked inside.”
Mr. Hardwick took a deep breath. “Look me in the eyes. Did you violate my daughter?”
The question shook him, even though he hadn’t. “No, sir.”
“You spent the night with her.”
“It wasn’t a choice. The temperature dropped. It was cold enough that our breath frosted in the air. There was nothing but the hard floor and two wooden chairs. I knew she was exhausted and overset. So I held her on my lap, and covered us with my coat. She was able to sleep.”
Hardwick narrowed his eyes. “What are you leaving out?”
“I kissed her.” Hardwick didn’t need to know the details.
“After many years of marriage, my wife and I had given up on children. And then one day, Mrs. Hardwick told me the stunning news. We were both in our early forties. We call Amy our little miracle.”
“I know. She told me.” Her parents obviously adored her.
“I daresay there is a great deal about her you don’t know,” he said. “And frankly, I am worried. You’ve got a bad reputation.”
“I’ve definitely sowed wild oats,” he said. “I traveled on the Continent for four years, three more than most men on their grand tours.” He looked out the window, remembering. “I met Amy not long after I returned to England. It was at my brother’s wedding.”
“You conceived a partiality for her a year ago?” Hardwick said.
“No. She didn’t much care for me, I’m afraid.”
“And why was that?” Hardwick asked.
“I teased her and followed her about for my amusement.” He turned to Hardwick, feeling a bit abashed. “It was sort of a game, I suppose. I would say something to annoy her, and she would retort.”
“Amy?” he said. “She’s always shied away from that sort of thing.”
“Well, I was very annoying.”
“Do you have a profession, Mr. Darcett? Or are you a gentleman of leisure?”
“I will take over as land steward for my brother shortly after the wedding.”
Hardwick finished his brandy and stared into the empty glass. “Amy is a grown woman, but she will always be my little girl.”
“I understand, sir.”
“I doubt you do.” Hardwick regulated his tone, but his expression was fierce. “I’ll be honest with you. The very thought of allowing my daughter to marry an infamous rakehell makes my stomach curdle.”
Will set his brandy aside. “It is beyond my comprehension to really understand how you feel. I cannot change my past, but I will not abandon her.”
“To be clear, I’m only granting you permission to marry her because the scandal would destroy her reputation,” Hardwick said. “If you ever hurt her, you’ll have to answer to me.”
“I will treat her with the respect she deserves.”
When Hardwick regarded him with obvious skepticism, Will realized his words probably sounded hollow to the man. He leaned forward with his elbows on his thighs. “We barely know each other. She’s scared.”
“Those are the first words you’ve said that don’t sound glib and cocksure,” Hardwick said.
Will’s face actually heated. His aunt Hester had always said he was a born charmer. God knew he’d used it to his advantage all his life. He hadn’t fooled Hardwick, and Will found himself respecting the man. “I’ll admit something to you.”
“Oh?” Hardwick said.
Will gave him a wry smile. “She’s the
one woman who saw through me.” She’d probably learned more than a little wisdom from her astute father.
Hardwick laughed. “Good for my daughter.” He paused and added, “I meant what I said, Darcett.”
“I know, sir.”
“Well, I’ve held your feet to the fire, and you passed the test—barely.”
Will huffed. They both knew Amy deserved better than a rake like him.
“You have my blessing.” Hardwick fumbled in his coat pocket, withdrew a handkerchief, and polished his spectacles.
Will walked over to the window to give the man a moment to compose himself. As he stared out at the familiar, rustic landscape, he recalled Amy’s stunned expression yesterday when he’d told her he was relieved. Thank God neither she nor her father would ever know the reason for it.
Amy followed her future sisters-in-law upstairs to a bedchamber. “This was my room before I married,” Patience said. “There is something I wish to show you.” She opened a wardrobe and held up a white embroidered gown with a train.
“The lace is beautiful,” Amy said.
Patience smiled. “It was my wedding gown. Harmony and Hope wore it as well. Julianne wore a different gown that she had made up.”
“Patience’s gown was much too long for me,” Julianne said. “Taking up the hem would have ruined the embroidery.”
“You are tall enough for it,” Patience said. “My sisters and I hope you will consider following the tradition by wearing it at your wedding.”
Her heart turned over. “Thank you. I would be honored.” Oh, this would be so much better than having a gown made up.
“Let us see if it fits,” Patience said.
At first, Amy was a bit shy about undressing before them, but they kept telling her funny stories about Will when he was a boy while Patience helped her don the gown.
“When he was all of five years old, he ran away from home,” Hope said. “Mama was frantic.”
Harmony laughed. “There is a reason she suspected Gypsies had stolen you and William.”
“Why is that?” Amy said.
“You need a bit of background,” Patience said. “Will was in a snit about something and said we would all be sorry when he left home forever. No one took him seriously. Several hours later, we realized he was missing. Our father sent riders out in all directions. Unbeknownst to us, Will had found some Gypsies on the road. Eventually, Papa found him filthy and happy as a lark mending utensils.”
“Mama has never stopped worrying that Gypsies will steal him,” Harmony said, laughing.
“He was always running away,” Hope said. “One time, he insisted he was walking to China.”
“His interest in traveling started at an early age,” Amy said. Privately, she wondered why a young boy would run away so often.
His sisters exchanged knowing looks but said nothing. Amy wondered if she’d said something wrong, but for the life of her, she couldn’t figure it out.
“The gown fits Amy almost perfectly,” Patience said. “We’ll pin the bodice a little tighter in the back, and then she will be set, except for a bonnet.”
Amy looked at her reflection in the cheval mirror. “I have a length of long lace that I think would make a perfect veil.”
“What a stunning idea,” Julianne said. “You can hold it in place with my gold bandeau. That way, you will wear something that all of us wore at our weddings.”
“Thank you all for making this special for me,” Amy said.
“Of course we want it to be special. You are to be our sister,” Patience said.
Amy knew that having sisters was far more special than any gown.
The dowager countess insisted that Amy and her parents join them for dinner that night. Amy found herself a bit fatigued. She had always needed time alone with her thoughts, but there had been no chance for that today.
Will leaned toward her. “You look a bit done up.”
“I am a little tired,” she said.
“We’ll be husband and wife tomorrow. I still cannot quite credit it.”
“I know. Everything has happened so fast that I haven’t had a chance to really let it sink in,” she said.
“We’ll take a postponed wedding trip to Brighton this summer if you wish.”
“I’d like that. I’ve never been there.” She wondered if he meant it or if he was one of those men who made promises on the spur of the moment and forgot all about them when something more interesting caught his attention. She told herself to give him the benefit of the doubt, but doing so was far easier said than done. When the desserts arrived, Amy begged off.
“Ah, but you must try just a bite of my favorite—almond cheesecake,” Will said.
When he drew close with the fork, he looked at her mouth. “Open for me,” he murmured.
She did his bidding. The combination of almonds and lemon was so divine, she closed her eyes momentarily. After she swallowed, she met his gaze. His dark eyes were intent on her. Then he leaned closer and whispered, “You make dessert a sensual experience.”
“Will,” she whispered. “You mustn’t look at me in that manner.” He regarded her from the corners of his eyes. “I find myself anxious for tomorrow night.”
His words made her even more nervous. She had a rudimentary idea of what happened in the marriage bed, but making herself vulnerable to a man whom she knew so little about frightened her. How could she engage in intimacies with him when there were no tender feelings involved? The clink of a spoon on a glass brought the conversation to a halt. Everyone looked to the head of the table, where Hawk stood with his wineglass. “I wish to propose a toast to Will and Miss Hardwick. May you have a wonderful wedding and a happy life together.” Then he grinned. “And now for something a bit more substantial than good wishes. It occurred to me that a newly wedded couple might appreciate a bit more privacy than they’re likely to find at Ashdown House. As it happens, there is an empty dower house on the property. Since Will and his bride have not had time to purchase their own home, I thought they might make use of the cottage. I took the liberty of hiring servants, and there are some existing furnishings there. A bed, for example.”
“Marc!” Julianne said to her husband. “You are unseemly.”
He chuckled. “And you’re surprised?”
Will winked at Amy and faced his brother. “We’ll take the cottage and the bed.”
Amy clasped her trembling fingers and lowered her gaze to the table. Everyone was trying so hard to make this seem as if it was a celebration. She kept her eyes downcast, because she didn’t want anyone to see how much she dreaded this marriage.
“Oh, dear. We do not speak of such indelicate matters,” the dowager countess said.
Hester snorted. “Never mind your mother, Will. She’s only worried about acquiring more grandbrats.”
Chapter Eight
He was getting married.
Will’s heart thudded in his ears. He stood before the altar, feeling more than a little solemn about the vows he would make this day. His friends would never believe that he felt a responsibility to Amy. He supposed his father had drummed some principles into him, and part of him was a bit sad that his father wasn’t here to witness his wedding. But then, his father had died before even Will’s sisters had married.
“Dearly beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God, and in the face of this congregation, to join together this man and this woman in holy matrimony.”
Will looked at his bride from the corner of his eye and caught his breath at the lace veil caught up with a gold band gleaming in her red-gold curls. His shy bride had a flair for the dramatic.
Lady Georgette looked a bit teary-eyed as she stood beside Amy. Will glanced at his brother, and Hawk gave him an encouraging smile.
Then the rector was addressing him. “Wilt thou have this woman to thy wedded wife, to live together after God’s ordinance in the holy estate of matrimony? Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honor, and keep her in sickness and in
health; and, forsaking all others, keep thee only unto her, so long as ye both shall live?”
“I will,” he said.
The rector turned to Amy. The solemn vows washed over him until she answered in a clear voice. “I will,” she said.
“Who giveth this woman to be married to this man?”
Mr. Hardwick answered, “I do.”
Will took her slightly trembling right hand and repeated after the rector. “I, William Joseph Darcett, take thee, Amy Marie Hardwick, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part, according to God’s holy ordinance; and thereto I plight thee my troth.”
Her green eyes were wide as she repeated her vows. The entire ceremony seemed a little unreal to him, and he suspected she felt the same way.
Will took the gold band and slid it onto her long, slender finger. “With this ring I thee wed, with my body I thee worship, and with all my worldly goods I thee endow.” Unexpectedly, he felt the weight of his responsibility to her. She was his wife.
The rector lifted his chin. “For as much as Amy and William have consented together in holy wedlock, and have witnessed the same before God and this company, and thereto have given and pledged their troth either to the other, and have declared the same by giving and receiving of a ring, and by joining of hands; I pronounce that they be man and wife together, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.”
When the ceremony ended, Will turned to her. Something tender unfurled in his chest as he gazed upon his wife. “Mrs. Darcett, I believe you are the most breathtaking bride in all of England.”
“You look beautiful,” Georgette said after the wedding breakfast at Ashdown House.
“Thank you. Please call upon me soon,” Amy said. “I will miss you.”
“I will call after a decent interval.” Georgette kissed the air by her cheek. “I wish you happy.”
Afterward, Amy fingered the gold band on her finger. It felt a bit heavy, but she knew she would grow accustomed to it. After all of her worrying and a largely sleepless night, she’d felt calm upon the conclusion of the ceremony. She’d worried for years that she would end up a spinster; now she was married. Her skin tingled a little as she recalled the tender look in Will’s eyes and the words he’d said. Mrs. Darcett, I believe you are the most breathtaking bride in all of England. Her husband had made her feel pretty for the first time in her life.
How to Ravish a Rake Page 15