“Yes, thank you. I have an appetite this morning,” James said, taking a seat. Jemma made up a plate of food for him and served it with a cup of coffee. She added more coffee to her own cup and reseated herself at the table. She fiddled with the cream and sugar while James ate his food.
“I wonder, James,” she said after a pause. “Since we have the house to ourselves and you are feeling better, might it not be a good time to discuss our situation? Do you feel up to it today?”
James laid his fork on his plate and took a swallow of coffee. “I am more than ready to talk if you are, Jemma.”
“Well then, I will start, if you do not mind.”
“Please.”
“I hope that you will not be offended if I treat your marriage proposal like a business proposition, James. Since we are accustomed to discussing business together, I would feel more comfortable addressing our relationship without letting too much emotion intrude. Is this agreeable to you?”
James pushed his plate away and folded his arms across his chest. “I agree with you, Jemma. By all means, let us sweep romance under the carpet and deal with our problem in a business-like, judicial fashion.” Jemma studied him suspiciously, but could not detect any irony in his face.
“Very well. You have proposed marriage to me, James. Does your offer still hold?”
“With all my heart, Jemma.”
“Good. I am inclined to accept you. No, please wait a minute,” she interjected as he rose from his chair and started around the table. “I will accept your offer if we can agree upon the terms first.”
James froze, and sank back into his chair. “And what are these terms, my love?” he asked warily.
“They have to do with my autonomy, James, and with the business. I would marry you, but not at the cost of my freedom. This is what I propose: should we marry, I will perform my wifely duties, including supervising the household and entertaining your clients and friends, and I will do them gladly, but in return, I wish to continue working. I will manage the business on your behalf, including a visit of approximately eight weeks’ duration to the continent each year. There, those are my conditions. What do you say, James?”
“Only, will you let me come to the continent with you, Jemma?”
Relief flooded her face and she beamed at him. She rushed to his side, sat upon his lap, and threw her arms around his neck. He clasped her to his chest as if he would never let her go. “I would welcome your company with all my heart,” she said. He hugged her for a moment before drawing back.
“Am I hurting you, James?” she asked, stiffening.
“Not at all, but there is something in my room that I wish to show you, if you will excuse me for a moment.” He left her waiting in the kitchen while he headed down the hallway to his room. Overcome with curiosity, she followed him and watched from the doorway. He was removing some papers from his case when he heard her step behind him and looked up in surprise.
“What is it?” she asked. He shrugged and said, “Why don’t you sit here at the writing table while I show you the papers?”
She yanked out the chair and sank into it. When he didn't move, she looked up to see him grinning down at her.
“Really, James, what is it?”
“Forgive me for saying so, but I knew that there were advantages to marrying an experienced woman over a blushing, innocent girl.” He nodded toward the bed.
Jemma rolled her eyes. “I was alone with you many times when you were ill, James. You realize that you will not be getting a blushing innocent without a mind of her own when you marry me, don't you, James? Or is that what you want?”
James bent to kiss the nape of her neck. “Blushing girls without minds of their own are boring, darling. I had always hoped that after a period of, say, three to five years, my bride would develop into an interesting companion. You, on the other hand, are already a seductive, fascinating woman.” His lips raised goose flesh on the back of her neck, and she leaned her head back onto his chest. He trailed kisses along her throat and lingered on her lips. Suddenly, he drew back. She sat up, her eyes dazed.
“You try my self-restraint, Jemma, but there is something important that I wish to show you first.” He picked the papers up from the floor and spread them on the table before her. With a quizzical glance, Jemma picked them up and read them.
When she had finished, she said, “What exactly does this mean, James? I think that I understand most of it, but I am not expert in the language of legal documents.”
“It means, Jemma, that in the event of our marriage, I revoke all right to your property and to your business. As my wife, you will continue to own your business without any interference from me. Now, look at the date beside my signature.”
She turned to the last page. “It is dated over a month ago.”
James nodded. “That’s right. I drew up the papers just before I left Bath to come in search of you.”
Jemma stared at him. “It is very unusual for a wife to retain ownership of her property after marriage.”
James drew her to her feet and wrapped her in his arms, murmuring into her ear, “It is unheard of. My legal associate thought that I was mad. But I know how important your business is to you, darling Jemma, and I would not ask you to give it up.” He sighed and leaned his forehead against hers. “I will meet each and every condition that you lay before me, Jemma Greene. I will share everything that I have with you and ask for nothing in return but yourself. You have my heart, beloved. Do I have yours?”
“Yes, James,” she said with tears in her voice. “You have all my heart. I give myself entirely to you. I will marry you tomorrow, if you wish.”
“Maybe not tomorrow, but as soon as possible, my angel. We can be married by Christmas and honeymoon beside the Mediterranean this winter.”
“Have you been making plans, James?” she asked, smiling through her tears.
He grinned back at her. “Yes indeed. I began writing to the Italian authorities before I left England.”
“That was very confident of you, James.”
“I had every confidence in you, Jemma.”
“A honeymoon by the sea will help you to regain your strength, darling.”
“Yes, it certainly will. I intend to be good as new, even better than before.”
After kissing each other with mounting fervour, James drew back once more and held her at arm’s length. “Jemma, there is one other thing that I must have answered before I marry you. It has been bothering me for months now, and I must have my curiosity satisfied.” He seemed uncomfortable, and Jemma smiled.
“Really? This sounds ominous. What is it, my love?”
“‘My love’ – I like the sound of that. I feel a little foolish asking you this, but never mind, I will ask anyway. On the night that my father proposed to you, Jemma, you told him that you would not marry him because you loved me. Was that true? Did you love me all the way back then?”
Jemma stared at him. “I never told your father that I loved you, James,” she said.
“What?”
“No, I told him that I held his friendship in high esteem and cared for him dearly, but that I did not love him and could not marry him.”
They stared at each other for a long moment. “Well then, why did he tell me that you loved me?” he asked. Jemma could only shake her head.
James puzzled over it for a moment, and his face broke into a wide grin. “The old goat, he knew that saying you loved me would help me to see you in a new light.”
“Indeed,” she said, straightening, “in what respect?”
“Well, my father’s desire to marry you made me consider what you would be like as a wife and lover. So, when he told me that a woman as charming and desirable as you loved me, I was flattered and intrigued.”
“I see. So, if your father had not told you that I loved you, you might not have seen me as a romantic possibility. Is that what you are saying, James?” She turned away a little, frowning. He clasped her firmly ag
ainst his chest and imprisoned her in his arms.
“I would not put it quite in those words, darling. Let us just say that I was thick-headed and unimaginative in the beginning. I had not met you under the usual romantic circumstances, you see.”
“Well, James, I can only say that it is fortunate that your father is more imaginative than you are,” she said in a huff.
“Come now, Jemma, I was acting as your solicitor at the time. It would have been unprofessional and disrespectful to have approached you as a lover.” Jemma refused to meet his eyes. “You know that my father thinks very highly of you, Jemma. He said that he wanted to keep you in the family even if he could not have you for himself. It would appear that he expected me to pick up the baton.”
“And it worked, the dear, wonderful old goat,” Jemma said, laughing and kissing him.
Chapter Twenty-Four – Reunion
It was springtime in Bath. The trees were in blossom and the tulips and daffodils had poked their green heads out of the earth. Birds flitted about their business and the new hatchlings squawked for their meals. Fashionably-dressed residents spilled out onto the sidewalks, chattering as noisily as the birds.
Patricia Larke's marriage to Edward Brooke was one week away. Victoria and David had arrived in Bath the previous fortnight to help the family with their preparations. The house was busy at all hours of the day and evening with people coming and going on important errands. Only the engaged couple seemed calm in this whirlwind of activity, quietly planning their future together on the drawing room sofa.
“Hurry, David, we do not want to be late for the mail coach,” Victoria called, her heels tapping quickly down the hallway as she tied her bonnet ribbons under her chin. She stopped abruptly as David rose from a chair beside the front door.
“There you are. Have you been waiting for me all this time?” she asked.
David put on his hat, which had been resting in his lap, and offered his arm to his wife. “I have been trying to compose my wedding toast, Victoria. This seemed the only quiet spot in the house, unlikely as it seems. Do you think that I should tell the story of the besotted young man who was so eager to speak to your sister that he tripped and fell down the Assembly Room stairs just as the Prince Regent arrived?”
“Oh do, David. I love that story. Only, hurry or we’ll be late.” They scrambled into the waiting carriage and instructed the driver to hurry.
Victoria leaned back in her seat and gazed about the neighbourhood. “It’s a beautiful day, James. I am glad that we are having a break from the rain. The streets were looking so wet and dirty, and I did not want James and Jemma to see the city at its worst. What a change it will be for them after all their time by the Mediterranean. I can hardly wait to see them again.”
“I can hardly wait, too. I want to see if James looks any different now that he has become an old married man. Perhaps he has grown some whiskers in an effort to appear more respectable?”
“James would have to change more than that to achieve respectability. He always had a wicked eye.”
“Really, I can’t say that I ever noticed.”
“That is because you are not a woman, my dear,” Victoria said with a wicked grin of her own.
“Oh, do you mean just like that?” he asked, pointing at her. She laughed and entrapped his hand in both her own.
They arrived at the coach yard just in time, and instructed the driver to wait for them. Running toward a small group of people with cases piled at their feet, David shouted, “Here they come!”
The coach and horses came swinging smartly into the laneway and stopped next to them. The men sitting on top climbed down hastily and caught their bags as the driver tossed them down. When they had cleared away, the carriage door swung open and an elderly clergy man was helped out. Jemma popped out next and flung her arms around Victoria, with James climbing out last of all.
“You old rascal, it’s wonderful to see you again,” David said, pumping his friend’s hand and pounding him on the back. James, accustomed as he was to his friend’s enthusiastic greetings, winced at the pounding before clapping him on the shoulder.
“We are delighted to be back, David,” he said. They were interrupted by the unloading of their luggage. David and James carried the bags to the waiting carriage with Victoria and Jemma following them arm-in-arm. After depositing the bags with their driver, David turned to Jemma and embraced her.
“Well, Mrs. Wovington, you look wonderful,” he enthused, kissing her cheek.
“As do you, David. I think that you have filled out a little since last I saw you. Victoria has been taking good care of you,” Jemma said, inspecting him at arm’s length.
“And let me have a look at you, James,” Victoria said, grasping his hands. “You are as handsome as ever, while your wife is positively glowing. I cannot wait to hear all about your honeymoon trip.” The ladies were helped into the carriage, the gentlemen took their seats across from them, and they set off for Jemma’s home. The Wovingtons had decided to retain Jemma’s residence until they had time to find something larger.
“What a thrill you two created when your letter arrived saying that you were married and honeymooning in Italy,” Victoria said. “Actually James, your father came to see us after receiving the letter telling him that you were going to Italy in search of Jemma. That was quite a thrill for all of us. But when your letter arrived about marrying Jemma, I thought your father would burst. You never saw him so ecstatic, I'm sure. He invited us and Mother Ladbrook to a party over the Christmas holidays, and it seemed as if all of Salisbury was there to celebrate with him. You two have certainly made him a happy man.”
“Yes, we will be going to him directly after Patricia’s wedding. Jemma has been writing weekly to assure him that I am fully recovered from my injury. We would have entertained him here, but he thought it too great an imposition so soon after our return,” James said.
“James, I am all agog to hear how a rogue like you managed to catch this wonderful lady," David said. "I especially want to hear about the duel. I do not believe that I have ever heard such a fantastic story in my life.”
“Ah, David, you forget that the Italians are a hot-blooded people whose men are willing to kill for the love of a beautiful woman,” James said, his eyes twinkling. “I escaped with a bullet wound and a broken rib, but it was worth it to make Jemma consent to be my wife. If she had had time to consider it soberly, who knows what her decision would have been? I recommend a life-endangering injury to all men who woo recalcitrant women.”
Jemma leant forward to put a hand on her husband’s knee while Victoria and David laughed. “Do not joke about that, James. It’s not funny, even now. I will never be able to see the humour in that situation until I can forget the sight of you lying on the ground, unconscious and bleeding. The thought of it still makes me shudder.”
“I am sorry, my dear. I forget the shock that you had. I am certain that if the situation were reversed . . . .” The smile disappeared from his face.
Victoria said, “Do not worry, James. I can assure you that Jemma and I will never fight a duel over you.” While the other two laughed, Victoria and David exchanged a glance, silently agreeing to get the newly married couple separated as soon as possible to wring all the details from them.
Later that night, Victoria was alone with David in her old room in her parents’ house. She sighed contentedly as she lay back upon the bed pillows. David had just removed his waistcoat and sat down on a chair to remove his boots.
“What a wonderful day it has been, David. Jemma and James seem even happier together then I had hoped. I could not have chosen a better match for either of them. I must admit that I despaired of Jemma ever marrying again, and feared that she would live alone for the rest of her life. Ah well, I shall not have to worry about either one of them any longer. Plus, the wedding preparations are going well, and I have never seen Patricia happier.”
“I agree with you, Jemma. Edward is as devoted to her
as she is to him. I had never thought of her marrying a clergyman, but they seem a perfect match.”
“Not just because he is a clergyman, David. Not every clergyman is an Edward. He is a dear. Patricia has written such glowing, loving letters about him. Mama and Papa love him like one of their own already, and soon they shall have another fine son-in-law in the family. Everything has worked out so well.”
David smiled at his young wife as she stretched her arms over her head and yawned. “I have never known such a tender-hearted person as you, Victoria. You could never truly be content until the happiness of the people you loved was assured. Really, I hope that you will find some other interest to occupy yourself, or I fear that you will be bored when we return home.”
Jemma turned her head to gaze at David and said, “Oh, I have another little project to keep me busy, David.”
“Yes, what is that, my dear?”
“Our child,” she said, laying a hand upon her waist and smiling.
“Our child? Victoria, are you sure?” She nodded. “That is wonderful news!” She laughed as David lifted her off the bed and settled her tenderly in his lap. “How long have you known, darling?”
“Not for very long, my love. I visited the doctor a few days before we left Eston House, and he confirmed my suspicions. He told me that I was fine to make the trip, but I wished to wait until after our arrival to tell you because I feared you might worry.”
“You’re right, I would have worried – the trip can be strenuous. But never mind that. How are you feeling?”
“Very well, David. I am lucky, but then my mother always had an easy time with her confinements, so I expect that I will, too.”
“When is the baby due?”
“Sometime in November.” She watched her husband as he worked to digest this unexpected news. “So, you see, I will have quite enough to keep me occupied for many years to come.”
David nestled her against his chest and rested his cheek against her hair. “Victoria, I am the luckiest, happiest, most blessed man in the whole world. God truly smiled upon us the day that we met. Soon we will have this child to treasure, too. Thank you for sharing your life with me, my angel.”
The Marriage Market Page 20