Page 48 of The Marquis, the Minx, and the Mistletoe
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Unless he was mistaken,the atmosphere in the carriage was markedly tense. The men—Gideon, Alex, Callum, and Sheldon himself—had departed shortly after the women. Out of what Sheldon assumed was habit, allowing for Echo, the three other men had crammed themselves onto the bench opposite him, leaving him feeling somewhat like the accused at trial, except that none of the three of them would meet his eye or had otherwise deigned to speak.
"I've a letter from Hawk Hill," he put in, aware at the awkwardness of his voice booming through their established silence. "I imagine it will be an accounting of any damage from that storm we ha—"
"I'm just going to ask him," Alex said to Gideon, clearly not interested in storm damages. "Sheldon, have you compromised Miss Everstead?"
"Alex!" Gideon barked. "That is not what we agreed to ask him."
"Yes, yes," Alex said as he rolled his eyes, "and when do you plan to propose and how and so on." He shifted in his seat, turning as far sideways as he could to face his brother, "I really am more interested in the compromising bit, to tell you the truth."
"For God's sake," Callum mumbled, dropping his face in his hands.
"Yes, I agree. Do shut up, Alex," Gideon said on a sigh, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "It has come to our attention that you have developed a certain intimacy with Miss Everstead. You know that I would generally allow you to attend your affairs how you see fit, but my wife has become rather concerned for the girl's future, after the scandal she caused."
"I hadn't planned anything particular," Sheldon admitted, shifting uncomfortably on the wide carriage bench that he had all to himself.
A bump in the road made all three men sway in unison, a sight that might have been funny if it were not tainted by the current matter of conversation.
"But you do plan to marry her?" Callum prompted, looking spectacularly ill at ease. "Just say you do, and we can lay the matter to rest."
"Oh, bugger that!" Alex protested. "Did you do things out of order, Sheldon, my boy? Be honest, it's not as though any of us here can cast judgement upon the sanctity of a wedding night."
"Alex!" both Callum and Gideon exclaimed, making the subject of their ire chuckle, apparently very satisfied with himself.
"I certainly didn't," he said with a shrug. "We all know Callum here didn't. Gideon, do you expect us to believe you slept chastely on your back next to Rose d'Aubrey for the entirety of your flight north, until the vows were said and done?"
Gideon's neck had reddened, his lips pressed into a prim line. "I do not see how my personal affairs are of any relevance to—"
Even Sheldon laughed at that, for such remonstrations were a certain sign of guilt, insofar as Gideon Somers was concerned. He was actually pleased to hear that Gideon had allowed his blood to run hot for once. God knew he didn't indulge in flights of fancy often enough.
"Let the record reflect that I do, in fact, plan to wed Miss Everstead, but we have not yet discussed it."
"Busy with other tasks, eh?" Alex said, his voice carrying on until Callum reached right across the viscount between them and gave him a thump in the ribs. "Ow!"
"I cannot exactly speak to her family, at present," Sheldon pointed out, "nor do I know how to go about securing their blessing after she jilted the man they chose for her. I'm afraid that letter she got today is a complete disavowal of their kinship, and I'm certain running off with me would only drive the wedge deeper. I am, of course, open to suggestion."
Gideon frowned, steepling his fingers near his chin. "That is a valid concern," he admitted. "Though, I think that at this stage, it would be best to see the lady in a respectable position as soon as possible. If it is believed she ran away from her weddingfor the purpose ofmarrying you, rather than simply to run, people might look upon the entire affair favorably. Her family, sadly, might simply have to be a goal for the later years, when you have some grandchildren to dangle before them."
Sheldon stared at him.Grandchildren?
"You ought to make it properly romantic," Callum said, as though he were suggesting a particularly reasonable approach to a flank maneuver on the battlefield. "For her sake and for Society's. I can't think of a more romantic time than Christmas. Can you?"
All four men sat in consideration of this idea as the carriage took another turn.
"Oh!" said Alex. "I have an idea."
"As do I," Gideon said with a raise of his eyebrows, astonished at his own ability to employ imagination.
"All right, then," Sheldon said with a defeated chuckle. "What do I have to do?"
Chapter 23
Tia had taken to pacing the room thrice now, and only upon telling herself aloud that she must stop did she return to the bed.
It had been an eventful day, and if she had the choice, she'd only remember the happy parts of it. She would be damned if she was going to let her father ruin a rendezvous with her dear marquis. He had ruined quite enough, thank you, and that letter of his was only a sheet of paper.
It was only a sheet of paper.
