Her Perfect Gentleman: A Regency Romance Anthology

by Gina Dana, Collette Cameron, Ella Quinn, Marie Higgins, Jenna Jaxon, Louisa Cornell, Elf Ahearn, Lauren Smith

  It Takes a Hero: Chapter Eleven

  By the end of the second day of their journey they had reached York, and Anna was hardily glad to be able to stop early. She had never traveled so hard or so fast. Still, she should not complain. The weather had remained dry if overcast making their travel easy. She had decided to accompany Quartus when they visited the Archbishop of York’s office for the license, and they set out early the next morning.

  “Do you think he will remember you?” As they strolled along the street toward the Vicar General’s office, Anna gazed around at all the ancient buildings. Nowhere she’d been had seemed as old as York. Though, Quartus had told her that most of the earliest buildings in London were now in sections of town that were not safe.

  “The bishop?” He guided her across a busy street, heading confidently through a square.

  “Yes. You mentioned that you had met him at Oxford and again when you were ordained.”

  “I cannot think he would. I was one of several young men.” Glancing up at a street sign he turned right. “He is most likely not even in York. His residence and office is south of the city in Bishopsthorpe, when he is there.”

  They entered a building, walked down a corridor, and he knocked before entering.

  “Good afternoon.” Quartus spoke to a man sitting behind a desk. “I am Lord Quartus Trevor.” She almost laughed as the gentleman popped to his feet. “I require an ordinary license to marry.”

  “The Vicar-General is busy at the moment, but if you will give me the information I shall fill out the license.”

  Once they were seated, Quartus provided his name and birth information, then said, “Anna Elizabeth Amelia, Duchess of Wharton, born in Tortola, British West Indies on . . .”

  The clerk jumped up. “Excuse me Your Grace, my lord. I will be right back.” And dashed through the door to their left.

  “That was surprising.” Anna had never had anyone react to her in quite that manner. “I wonder if I should be concerned.”

  “I think”—Quartus smirked—“he decided that getting the Vicar-General might be a good idea after all.” Quartus smirked.

  A few short moments later, two men entered the room from the same door the clerk had run through.

  “Lord Quartus.” A gentleman above average height with a straight patrician nose and heavy black brows addressed her betrothed.

  “Your Grace, it is a pleasure to meet you again.” He bowed holding his hand out to Anna as she rose. “Anna, allow me to introduce his grace, the Archbishop of York. Your Grace, my betrothed, the Duchess of Wharton.”

  “I’m afraid you startled Mr. Younger, the young cleric who was here.” The archbishop chuckled. “If you will have a seat, I shall sign the license. When and where is the wedding to take place?”

  “In about a week at Wharton,” Anna replied, pleased that Quartus had made such an impression on the archbishop.

  “I believe Mr. Sutton is your rector. Am I correct?”

  “You are, indeed.”

  “If you do not mind”—the archbishop glanced at Quartus then Anna—“I would like to assist in the service.”

  Even though he gave no obvious indication of his surprise, Quartus’s hand tightened around her fingers, and she nodded. “Thank you. Your presence will make our wedding that much more special to us.”

  The archbishop slid the license across the desk to Quartus. “Very well. A week from today. Shall we say ten o’clock?”

  “Thank you sir. Ten o’clock will suit us well.”

  The man spoke as if he would simply pop in for the service, but her home was still a two day drive from York. “We will have a room prepared for you, Your Grace.”

  “Thank you, Your Grace.” The corner of one lip lifted and he bowed. “If you will excuse me?”

  Quartus took a large breath and blew it out. He had never dreamed that he would come across the archbishop or that the man would remember him, never mind offer to help officiate at his wedding. For the past few days, he’d felt the need to keep looking over his shoulder, but now that fear was gone. With the archbishop at his wedding to Anna, nothing could stop them.

  “That was unexpected,” she said taking his arm.

  “It was. I’m honored by his offer.” Quartus drew her a little closer. His need to have her in his arms had been growing by leaps and bounds. Making riding his horse difficult at times. Still, the decision not to make love with her was the right one, even if his body didn’t agree.

  “As am I.” She smiled at him, and it was as if a ray of sunshine was breaking through the clouds. “I cannot wait to get home. I do hope Mr. Sutton will not be made nervous by the archbishop coming.”

  “Does he normally have an anxious disposition?”

  “Not that I have seen. He was a sea of calm when I was there learning how to be a duchess.”

  “In that case, there is no need to worry.” Quartus quickened his pace just a bit. “We must be on our way again.”

  Two days later their party arrived in the Lake District. Earlier, he had joined Anna in her coach rather than appear before their dependents on horseback.

  People came out of stores and houses as they passed through the village. Many of them waved and Anna returned their greetings.

  “You must wave as well.”

  Quartus felt foolish, but he did as he was told and soon people began to cheer.

  After the town, they passed a large lake that gave views over the gently rolling countryside, and he immediately fell in love with the area. “It is more beautiful than I expected it to be.”

  She ordered the coach halted on an old bridge. “Look out this window and you can see the house. This stream runs by the house. My gamekeeper tells me the fishing is excellent.”

  He glanced out and was stunned. Built out of a pinkish-gray stone, it resembled something out of a fairy tale. Even his father’s house was not as large or grand. “You didn’t tell me it was a castle.”

  “I wanted to surprise you. Isn’t it marvelous?” she grinned. “At sunrise and sunset the windows seem to be made of fire. Is your home anything like this?”

  “Ours is newer, only dating back a little over a hundred years. It is full of Greek symmetry. So, no. Nothing as wonderful as this.” He wanted to explore, as if he was a boy again.

  “You cannot tell it from this view, but the house has been added on to over the years. Wait until you see the gardens. I do hope you like them as much as I do.”

  “I am sure I will.” He stared out the window a bit longer. This would be a change for him, but he had lived in England, and in a great house, and had visited even older houses. But for Anna all this had been completely new. “It must have been even more of a change for you than I’d thought.”

  “Yes, at first.” She nodded thoughtfully. “Our house in Tortola was of wood and not even a tenth as large. I was concerned about the castle being cold and drafty, but one of my ancestors hated being cold as well and insured it could be kept warm. The duchess before me, added new windows, and bathrooms. The one we’ll share even has piping. She did not entertain much, and thought it would be a waist to add piping though out. We shall have to see if we think it will be worth the expense.”

  And the inconvenience of the remodeling. Though, he supposed, they could arrange to be elsewhere during that time.

  By the time they drew in front of the house, the servants were lined up to greet their mistress. He wondered what they’d think of him.

  Anna’s jaw dropped. “How did they know to expect us?”

  He scanned the area near the front door. “Your aunt is here.”

  “But . . . but she couldn’t be.”

  Kissing her on the cheek he grinned. “Yet, she is.”

  “I feel like a naughty child about to get her knuckles rapped.”

  Grimacing inwardly, Quartus agreed. “Just remember, you are the duchess.”

  “Then why don’t I feel like one now,” she retorted, pulling a face.

  He gave a ba
rk of laughter. “Come, Your Grace. It’s time to pay the piper.”

  The door opened and steps were let down. Quartus jumped out, then took Anna’s hand as she came down the steps.

  When they turned to face the servants, he saw two elderly ladies flanking Anna’s aunt. “I think I know how Tatiana came to be here. You are about to meet the Dowager Lady Featherton and the Duchess of Bridgewater.”

  “Meg’s grandmother?”

  “One in the same.” The concern about how Aunt Tatiana would respond to his obvious place in Anna’s life dissolved. If anyone was on their side, it was her ladyship and the duchess. He straightened his shoulders and rose to his full, not inconsiderable, height. “Ready?”

  She smiled and nodded. “Never more so.”

  “Your Grace.” Her butler bowed.

  “My love”—her smile broadened as she looked at him—“I’d like to you meet Corbet, our butler. Corbet, Lord Quartus Trevor, soon to be my husband.”

  “My lord, it is the staff’s pleasure to welcome you home.”

  “Thank you Corbet. I am pleased to be here.”

  The butler continued, “This is Mrs. Pennymore, our housekeeper.”

  “Mrs. Pennymore, my pleasure. I am quite sure the children will call you Penny.”

  “And that’s fine with me, my lord. This house needs children running around it, if I may say so.”

  “Indeed you may.” He glanced at Anna and found her eyes sparkling.

  His time as a rector proved to be of aid as he met the other servants. Out of long habit, he remembered their names and bits of information about each one of the maids and footmen. Finally they reached the end he went down the lines of servants where Tatiana was waiting with her ladyship and the duchess.

  To his utter surprise, she smiled at them both, but addressed Anna. “I understand why you did not choose to tell me of your feelings for Lord Quartus. Lady Featherton and the duchess explained the matter to me.” She turned to him. “I misjudged you, my lord. Please forgive me.”

  “There is nothing to forgive. You only knew my father. Many think the apple does not fall far from the tree.”

  “Thank you. My old friends have also related to me some of the actions of the duke with regard to his sons. Be assured that if he tries any of his tricks here, he will not succeed.”

  “Thank you.” He felt as if a pile of stones had fallen from his shoulders. “Lady Tatiana.”

  “You may as well call me Aunt Tatiana.” She smiled at him for the first time and he returned it with one of his own. “Anna, I do not believe you have met her ladyship and her grace. This is Lady Featherton, and the Duchess of Bridgewater.”

  Anna held out her hands. “I have heard so much about both of you that I feel as if I know you already. Thank you for coming and bringing my aunt. The wedding will be in five days. Will you be able to stay?”

  “Oh yes, my dear,” Lady Featherton replied. “We would not miss it for anything.”

  While they had been speaking, the servants had resumed their duties and their friends joined them on the stairs.

  Taking his hand, Anna called out. “Please come in. Tea will no doubt arrive shortly. It will be a few minutes before your rooms are ready.” She motioned to Corbet. “There are three young children with us and more to arrive in the next day or two.”

  “Pennymore has already sent maids to the nursery, Your Grace.”

  Quartus couldn’t wait until his and Anna’s children filled the nursery, the house, and their lives. Waiting to make love to her was going to be the death of him.

  Soon after Anna, Quartus, and their friends arrived, it seemed as if the castle had turned into a mad house. Rooms were turned out, already clean floors, chandeliers, and banisters were so highly polished she felt as if she was in a house full of mirrors. Quartus did his best to help, but Anna ended up telling him to keep the men out of everyone’s way. The benefit of that was the amount of fresh fish the gentlemen caught.

  Two days before the wedding, Viscount and Viscountess Wivenly along with Lord and Lady Stanstead, two couples she had met in Town arrived, as well as Meg’s mother, father, and her brother, Kit and his wife, Mary. Aunt Tatiana remarked that the castle had not been this full in decades. Still, there was plenty of room which turned out to be fortunate.

  “Anna.” Quartus came striding into her parlor.

  They had hardly had a moment together and she missed him, but he seemed agitated for some reason. “What is it?”

  “My mother and the younger children are here. She apologized, but said she could not stay away. She missed Frank’s wedding and she would not miss mine.”

  “How did she find out about us?”

  “The Duchess of Bridgewater and she correspond.”

  Anna could sympathize with Quartus’s mother. She would likely feel the same. Yet if the duchess and his brothers and sisters knew did that mean . . . “The duke?”

  “No.” He let out a breath. “Catherine would never tell him. But he will undoubtedly have discovered that we are getting married. The only questions are what he will do and how long will it take for him to set his schemes in place.”

  She had heard of the horrible things the duke had done—from abduction to attempted compromise—to Meg, Hawksworth, and Quartus’s other brother and his wife.

  Anna tried to think of ways to keep the duke and his thugs away from her and Quartus. Naturally, they would ensure all the windows and doors were locked at night, but what in Heaven’s name had induced the previous duchesses to fill in the moat and remove the portcullis?

  Something had to be done to make them safe, but she had no idea what. “Make any arrangements you think necessary.”

  “I shall.” He pulled her up, pressing his lips to hers he encouraged her to open to him. Their tongues danced and explored, and caressed with a desperation she had not known before. “Don’t worry.” He rubbed her back, obviously trying to soothe her. “No one is going to stop us from marrying. Meet me in my study an hour before we are to gather in the drawing room. I’ll have a plan in place by then.”

  That was in only two hours. She prayed he was right. Surely neither God nor Fate could be so cruel as to rip them apart now that they had found each other. Breathing in and out slowly, she tried to calm her fears. By tomorrow at this time she and her beloved would have said their vows, and there was nothing the duke would be able to do to stop them.

  At the appointed time, she entered the study she had offered Quartus as his own sanctuary. Hawksworth, Meg, the Eveshams, Huntleys, and Rutherford’s were just settling in with glasses of sherry. Quartus handed a goblet to her, and she noted new lines seemed to have formed on his handsome countenance. He sat behind his desk, and she took her place in the chair he’d placed next to his.

  “Anna and I have a potential problem. My father knows we shall marry. I am not sure he is aware of the date or time, but there is every possibility that he will attempt to stop the wedding.” He motioned toward his brother. “Hawksworth suggested we inform you in addition to the security we have already arranged.”

  She appreciated the way Quartus included her even if she was ignorant about what he had done or what she could do. “You might want to tell them of the plans you have set in place.”

  He smiled at her. “The footmen, grooms, and gardeners are patrolling and will continue to patrol the inside of the house and the grounds on varying schedules. The idea is to make it difficult for an intruder to figure out when the guards change.” He took a sip of sherry. “All the servants have been told to immediately notify their superiors if they see anyone they do not know or who would not normally be at the castle. I would not put it past my father to try to hire locals. People who would not normally be suspect.” Quartus looked at their guests. “Does anyone have any other suggestions?”

  “I assume the guards are armed.” Phoebe Evesham said. “What have you put in place to guard the coaches for tomorrow and on the way to the church?”

  “The younger groo
ms are sleeping on top and under the carriages, not just Anna’s, but the others as well.”

  “Marcus and I will loan you our servants as well, if you have the need.”

  The lines that had formed in Quartus’s face began to ease. “Thank you. That will help.”

  The others offered their servants as well, assuring him and Anna that they would be armed.

  “I have a question.” Meg focused on both of them. “Where will you put anyone you capture?”

  “The dungeon.” Quartus grinned.

  “We have dungeons?” Anna had never considered the matter before, but the castle was certainly old enough. “I had no idea.”

  “I’ve even had them swept out,” He added. “We may tour them if you’d like.”

  “No thank you.” She shuddered. “Whenever I think of dungeons, I think of mice and other unsavory creatures.”

  “I also notified the magistrate. He was not best pleased to hear there could be a problem.”

  “Surely he does not blame you?” If that was the case, she would have a talk with the man.

  “No, Sir William is upset that anyone would interfere with the nuptials of their duchess.”

  That was more like it. “I think we should tell the archbishop.”

  Raising a brow, Quartus said, “That is a very good idea. Especially if the duke tries to disrupt the service.”

  “What are the plans for the ride to church,” Hawksworth asked.

  “Outriders. Armed, of course. Do you have any other ideas?”

  He leaned forward placing his elbows on his knees. “I assume it is common knowledge that the ceremony will take place at ten o’clock.” Anna nodded. “I suggest that a small party of us, including you and Anna arrive at least an hour early. During our explorations, Quartus and I discovered a secondary road from the castle to the town. We could use that.”