Page 29 of Every Rake Has A Silver Lining

Charlotte insisted on wearing a new gown for the wedding. And when Madame Treadwell assured them the gown would be ready the following Wednesday, Simon called on the vicar and set the wedding for Thursday morning next.

Lady Miranda agreed to be Charlotte’s witness for the ceremony. And although Simon had written to Drake to inform him of the startling development, he held little hope his friend would be at his side to support him in his moment of . . .joy.Lady Miranda suggested her brother, the Viscount Montgomery, would be happy to act as a proxy.

Charlotte refused to contact her brother, so Simon wrote on her behalf, appealing with the man to put aside his personalfeelings and, as her closest living male relative, give her away. The marquess’s answer came in the form of several large trunks containing all of Charlotte’s clothes.

Ripped to shreds.

Thank goodness Simon had taken her to the modiste after they had met with the vicar—which resulted in a rather large bill. Simon’s sympathy for his father increased. How could women’s clothing cost so much? As he’d rather not be bothered with bills for fripperies, he’d have to increase Charlotte’s pin money allotment. Let her manage her own purchases.

On Frampton’s suggestion—perhaps instigated with encouragement from Charlotte—the remaining staff was called back into duty. The house bustled with activity as if the wedding were a cause for celebration. Flowers arrived, filling the house with fragrant scents of hyacinth, peonies, and lilac.

As Simon turned sideways, narrowly missing a footman carrying a vase with an enormous arrangement of pink and white peonies into the large parlor, Frampton announced, “Your family has arrived, sir.”

With the words barely out of Frampton’s mouth, Simon braced himself as his sisters launched themselves at him.

“When can we meet her?” Frannie asked.

Kate swatted his arm. “Why didn’t you tell us you were courting?”

Georgie bounced on her toes as she clasped his arm. “What’s she like? Is she pretty?”

“Of course, she’s pretty, Georgie! Simon wouldn’t marry someone who was plain.”

Beth frowned. “You’re being shallow, Rebecca.”

“Girls, girls,” his mother intervened. “Let Simon catch his breath.” She kissed him on the cheek and whispered, “But I want to know all of those things as well. I read the scandal sheet but didn’t tell your father.”

His father stood silently by, grinning at the scene. The knave!

“Father, come get these females off of me,” Simon said, still hugging three of his sisters close to him. He needed either more arms or longer arms to wrap around them all.

“You’re on your own, son. That will teach you to find a sweetheart without so much as a by-your-leave to your family.”

Simon extracted himself from all the feminine hands and strode to his father. “It’s good to see you’re in fine health, Father.”

His father’s blue eyes widened. “Why wouldn’t I be? Fit as a fiddle.” He patted his midsection. “Although a little wider in the middle.”

“Still speaking in rhymes, I see.”

With a hard swat on Simon’s back, his father let out a huge guffaw.

Lord, how he loved his gregarious family.

Frampton remained in the doorway, his typically stoic expression one of a man who had been run over by a coach and four. When the Beckhams gathered in toto, they had that effect on people. “Shall I bring tea, sir?”

“And sandwiches. Georgie has the appetite of a horse.” He slid a glance at his youngest sister.

She pouted, much like twelve-year-old children do. “I do not!”

“Very well. Frampton, no sandwiches, then.”

“Wait!” Georgie called. “I didn’t say I didn’t want them.”

After Frampton bowed and left them, Simon’s mother pulled him toward the sofa. “You said so little in your letter. Tell us about Charlotte.” Her eyes told him she would have more questions when they could speak privately.

“First, it’s Lady Charlotte, and I would advise you all to be respectful.”

His father settled into a wingback, away from all the women. “Her family is of the peerage? Judith, you failed to mention that.” His father sent his mother a chastising glance.

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