by Abigail Agar
Edward gave a small cough. “I need to leave for a doctor’s appointment. I expect everyone in this room can play nice?”
Nash rose from his seat and bowed. Edward bowed back and left the parlour.
Henry sat. Penelope passed Nash a teacup and a plate of cookies. He took one and thanked her. Cecilia sipped her tea as Henry sat. Nash winked at Penelope, and she stifled a laugh.
Finally, Penelope couldn’t take it anymore. “Mother, could we go shopping in the morning? There are a few special items I’d like to see.”
Nash asked Penelope, “When did you say we are going to the theatre?”
Penelope breathed out a growl. “I told you not ten minutes ago. We are going tomorrow evening and will need to leave at half past seven. And if you feel up to it afterward, the Bennetts are having a ball.”
“Do we want to go to the Harrington ball?”
“Yes, Nash, we do.”
“All right. Theatre then Harrington ball. Half past seven. See? I can remember.”
Henry said, “What’s wrong with Edward?”
Cecilia sat up, “Pardon?”
“He said he had a doctor’s appointment. What is wrong with him,” Henry said testily.
Nash broke in, “Cecilia, don’t answer anyone who speaks to you in that sort of voice. It’s rude and not respectful.”
Henry gave Nash a withering look. “Enjoy yourself, Finch. You won’t be around here much longer.”
Nash leaned forward and looked at Henry. He held Nash’s gaze. “Until then, Henry, you will speak to your aunt with respect.”
Henry looked at Cecilia. “Dear Auntie. Why did Edward go to the doctor? Is he well?” Penelope thought she swallowed a sugar cube; Henry’s voice was so sickeningly sweet.
Cecilia smiled at him. “I don’t know, Henry. He didn’t tell me, and I didn’t ask. I’m sure if it’s something serious, he’ll tell me. I’ll let him know you were concerned for him.”
Henry stood, “Don’t bother,” he said, leaving the room.
There was a collective sigh of relief. “That man is evil,” Cecilia spat out.
“If he were not nobility, someone would have taken him to the docks, stomped his face in, then rolled him into the water. He can thank his title for being alive.”
“Nash! Would that really have happened?” Penelope put her hand to her heart.
“It happens every day, love.” Nash got up and shut the parlour door. He didn’t trust Henry at all. Cecilia and Penelope sat close together on the settee, and Nash sat on his heels in front of them.
“Edward and I are going to the club listening for anything we can pick up. He’s going to his third doctor’s appointment tomorrow so that will be complete. Are you able to begin to pack your things?” Both nodded.
“It can’t look as though you’re packing. If you cannot pack anything without tipping someone off, just leave it. I’ll make sure you have as much time as you need after the fact. You ready?” They both smiled and nodded.
Nash stood then leaned down and kissed Penelope’s forehead.
“Nash. Did you forget my mother is sitting right there?”
“No.” He smiled then turned to Cecilia, “She’s beautiful when she’s mad at me, isn’t she?”
Cecilia laughed.
“I am so happy.” Nash smiled. “But I need to leave. Too much to do. See you tomorrow at one?”
Penelope groaned, then lowered her voice, “I can’t wait to move.”
“There are two other people in this room that feel the same. Go shopping this afternoon. Goodbye, ladies.” Nash bowed and left.
***
“He was bouncing my head against the wall until Cecilia told him to stop. He threatened to tell everyone in White’s how Penelope got her scar.”
Avery paced. This had gone on long enough. He needed to eliminate Nash from his life and from Henry’s life.
“What are their plans?”
“There isn’t anything going on tonight, no ton events at all. Tomorrow night, they are going to the theatre then to the Harrington ball.”
Avery nodded. “We’ll make our move at the Harrington ball. In front of that many guests, she won’t say a word.”
***
Chapter 13
“Good afternoon, Your Grace,” Cecilia and Penelope rose and curtsied.
Nash bowed to them, then looked around. “Is Edward joining us?”
Cecilia nodded, “He is. He must be running late from his doctor’s appointment.”
Henry strolled into the room, “Another doctor’s appointment? You must be worried sick, Cecilia. Why aren’t you on your bed sobbing?”
“Hello, Henry. Edward is not ill. He is being checked out, is all. I’m not in the slightest bit worried.”
Henry smiled broadly. “Well, he’ll miss my wonderful news. Father is going to make an exciting announcement this evening around midnight. I trust you all will be at the ball then? It’s important you are there.”
Penelope looked at him suspiciously, “What is this about, Henry?”
“Oh, I don’t want to spoil the surprise, but let’s just say it has to do with your future.”
“My future?” Penelope said. “I don’t understand.”
“And you won’t until midnight tonight. It’s really wonderful news. Father and I are thrilled. Just remember tonight at midnight. It will be the talk of the ton.”
Henry left the room, and the three of them laughed.
“That came sooner than I thought. I can’t help believing I sped things up with my unfortunate outburst.”
Penelope pointed to the door. Nash got up and closed it.
“Are we set? I think I’d like to have my coach drive somewhere quiet and flag down a hack for us. The coach can continue on to the theatre, so it will be seen there. We’ll take the hack to the church. Is that all right?”
Penelope shrugged. She whispered, “It doesn’t matter to me as long as I’m married when I go to the Harrington ball.”
Nash laughed, “Oh, you will be.”
***
Nash arrived at half-past seven. The ladies walked down the stairs to him, and both had beautiful smiles on their faces. Penelope looked beautiful.
Her hair was different. Good for her. There were white ribbons intertwined in it with her hair pulled up and loosely falling like waterfalls on the sides of her face.
Her dress was perfection. The same hair ribbon was woven through her sleeves as well as the top rim of her dress, giving her breasts a little more coverage, pleasing Nash. Her dress fit her perfectly and showed every curve. She made a beautiful bride.
***
Nash helped Penelope and Cecilia into the carriage. He and Edward followed. He had already given his driver his instructions. Two blocks away, the driver would flag down an empty hack, and the four passengers would switch vehicles.
Nash’s coach, empty, would go through the streets in front of the theatre. The hack would deliver them to the church, and Nash’s driver would meet them there.
In the rectory of the church, Father Fallon would marry Nash and Penelope. Edward and Cecilia would witness. Then, they would all go to the Harrington ball.
They sat comfortably in the carriage, quiet and happy. Penelope looked as beautiful as he had ever seen her. Cecilia looked beautiful as well. She wore a plum coloured chiffon dress that was fitted. It made her look ten years younger. Nash was happy not to see her in a baggy brown thing that made her look old. He and Edward wore black with white shirts and cravats. It wasn’t any different from what they wore to any ball, but Nash wore a tan waistcoat that made Penelope think him the most handsome man she had ever seen.
Edward handed the Father the special licence Nash received earlier from the Archbishop. He read it, looked up at Nash, then read it again. Nash surmised he didn’t see many marriage licenses from the Archbishop. The priest put it aside and directed the bride and groom in front of him with Edward and Cecilia on each side.
He started the ceremony,
but Nash couldn’t stop thinking about getting married. It made him grin. They were in a room off the side of the altar, the sacristy, that looked to Nash like a storage room.
It wasn’t large nor was it overly neat, but he didn’t care as long as Penelope didn’t care. When the Father was done, they would be married. That was what mattered. That’s why they were here.
Nash wondered if Avery would ever try to force him to reveal their marriage. Was he making guesses and assumptions that would prove to be true? Was he making Avery nervous? Would Avery never try to force Penelope’s hand? He hoped so.
It didn’t matter if he was overreacting by hurrying the wedding. He wanted to marry Penelope. Today was a good day for it. The big wedding would be soon enough.
***
So many people thought Penelope would never make it to this point. The only people who believed it were all in the sacristy with her. There was a time she didn’t believe it either. Now, she was standing before a priest with the man she loved, a man who didn’t define Penelope by her scar. Penelope was sure Nash loved her, scar and all. Penelope thought she was so lucky to have Nash, Penelope’s mother, and Edward in her life.
Her life had turned around since the beginning of the season. Coming to London from the country estate was the best thing to happen to Penelope. On the estate, the only person giving Penelope any attention at all was Henry. And it was all attention feedback. How did she know it could be different?
Once Penelope’s London friends got a good look that was it. No comments, no embarrassment. It was still hard to meet someone new, but good people who didn’t care about her scar surrounded Penelope. And Nash led the way. He didn’t care, so they didn’t care. Penelope loved him so much.
“I do,” Penelope said.
“I now pronounce you man and wife.”
Nash turned and gave her a deep kiss Penelope tried to disentangle from, but couldn’t. He finally pulled away and looked at her, his eyes twinkling. “Hello, Mrs Finch, Duchess of Norfolk.”
“Hello, you old married man.”
He whispered in her ear, “Can we please go back to the townhouse for an hour then go to the Harrington ball? It’s important to me.”
She whispered back, “Is it that important to you?”
“Yes,” Nash said.
“All right,” she said. “But don’t think you’re going to get your way every time you ask for something.”
Nash looked at Cecilia and Edward. “We’ll all get in the carriage and drop you off at the ball. Then Penelope and I are going back to my townhouse. Will meet you there in an hour?”
Edward laughed. “Should I come with you? Is there any way I can help?”
Penelope laughed. “Go to the ball. We’ll catch up.”
***
After the carriage dropped off Cecilia and Edward, Penelope turned to Nash, “I must confess. The whole time the priest was conducting the ceremony, I didn’t hear a word. I was thinking of you.”
Nash laughed. “I did the same. I’m so happy we did this. It’s a relief for me. Now we can have fun planning a wedding.”
The carriage lurched to a stop, and the footman put down the stairs and opened the door. After Penelope and Nash were out, Nash told the driver to wait.
The door opened to a semicircle of servants who curtsied and bowed. “Congratulations, Your Grace,” they said in unison. Nash leaned into her ear and told her the servants weren’t talking to him.
“Oh, how wonderful of you.” Penelope went around the semi-circle, thanked the servants personally, and asked each their name. Then Nash thanked them all and put his hand on Penelope’s lower back, directing her to the stairs.
The bedchamber door closed, and Nash turned. “This is our room. I’ll show you around later.”
He stepped toward Penelope and grabbed her two hands in his. “My wife.”
He kissed her passionately, and it helped calm her nerves. This was her husband, the man she loved.
***
When Edward and Cecilia walked into the Harrington ball, Henry almost immediately greeted them.
“Good evening, Henry,” Cecilia curtsied.
Henry gave a bad imitation of a bow.
“Where are Nash and Penelope?”
Edward gave a quick, knowing look to Cecilia. “I don’t know. You haven’t seen them? Mother, have you seen them?”
Cecilia gasped. “No, I haven’t. What are we going to do?”
Henry turned red in the face. “They’re supposed to be here. It’s important they are here.”
“Why?” Edward asked.
Henry stamped a foot. “I told you it was important.”
“And I asked you why?” Edward said, using a modulated voice for the benefit of others at the ball.
“Are they here or aren’t they?” Henry said through gritted teeth.
Edward talked slowly in case Henry couldn’t understand what he was saying, “I don’t know.”
“They have to be here,” Henry said.
Edward smiled. “Yes, yes, it’s important.” He leaned closer to Henry’s ear and said, “They are probably doing something important. They had a lot going on lately.”
Henry threw up his arms. “Not as important as it will be later tonight.”
“Henry, we just walked in when you assaulted us. Go away,” Edward said weary of the conversation. He and Cecilia walked into the ballroom leaving Henry behind.
Cecilia whispered to Edward, “I’m going to keep an eye on Avery. I may even talk to him. I’m interested to see if there is a young man following him around like a puppy.”
Edward nodded. “I’m going to keep an eye on Henry. Are you going to be all right without me? Do you see any of your friends?”
“Yes, Lady Jennings will keep me company. Don’t worry about me.” Cecilia paused. “I think it’s going to happen tonight.”
“I do too.”
***
Penelope was nervous for no reason. She was very pleased with Nash’s gentle handling of their first lovemaking.
It was a wonderful experience, and she was eager to experience it again.
She wanted to stay in bed for the rest of the night and skip the ball.
“It’s your decision, Penelope. I would like to see you show your life is better than some poor excuse for nobility.”
Penelope sighed. “Me too. You think it’s going to happen tonight, don’t you?”
Nash laughed. “Yes, I do.”
Penelope groaned. “I’d rather stay here.
“I like your thinking, wife. I’ll write a note to Edward and have it delivered. We’ll ask to see Avery tomorrow and tell him the good news. Until then, I think we should pretend nothing has changed. Agree?”
“Yes,” that all makes sense. “I can’t wait to see his face when we tell him, but I don’t think it’s worth getting out of bed to see.”
“I knew there was a reason I liked you.” Nash grinned. He kissed her forehead, and she saw him move to his writing desk.”
She rolled onto her side and pulled her sheets up to her ear.
“Don’t you dare fall asleep. I’ll just wake you,” Nash growled.
Penelope sat up, rolled her eyes, and lay back in bed. Nash laughed.
No sooner than Nash donned his robe than he was back in bed with Penelope. “Remind me, what were we doing before we were interrupted?”
Chapter 14
Early morning after staying at Nash’s townhouse, Penelope took Nash’s carriage back to the Stanton townhouse. She was mortified that she was let down from Nash’s carriage and let in the townhouse wearing the clothes she wore out the evening before.
When she got to her bedchamber, Helen came to her, frantic with worry for her well-being. Penelope smiled, and she asked Helen to sit on the bed. She sat next to her.
“There are going to be a lot of changes for you and me over the next few days. I was married to Nash last evening.”
Helen gasped and then smiled, “Oh, My Lady.”
<
br /> “Yes, it’s wonderful. I’m so happy. I stayed at Nash’s townhouse last evening. I’ve come back to tell Uncle Avery and then pack our things.
“My mother and Edward are leaving here too. Nash has another townhouse that was his mother’s, and that’s where they will go. You will go with me to Nash’s townhouse.”