Page 55 of A Murder, a Marquess, and Miss Mifford
"Er, is there any way we could do this quietly, do you think?" he asked, with a nervous glance through the windows. The duchess was clearly visible, laughing and smiling with some of her guests, and Freddie immediately understood that he did not wish to upset her party for a second time.
"Leave matters to me," Lord Crabb offered, "I'll dash across the square and have my servants set things in motion."
"I'll follow you over," Freddie told the viscount, before addressing the duke, "Return inside to your wife, your Grace, we have stolen you from her for long enough. Lord Crabb and I can handle matters for now."
Looking rather relieved, Northcott acknowledged his statement with a nod.
"Very good," he said, "I shall come over when the last of the guests have gone."
Northcott turned for the house, while Lord Crabb indicated with his thumb that he would leave by the gate at the end of the garden.
Once both men had gone, Freddie took Emily's hand in his once again.
"I wish to explain my absence," he began, but she cut him off.
"I don't care that you live in Norfolk half the year," she said, turning her green eyes towards him, "I wish to be by your side, always. Even if it means spending my winters bound in by snow and ice."
"Norfolk's notthatfar north," Freddie could not help but laugh, "I shall buy you a map, my dear, to hang on the wall of my--I mean, our--new house in Plumpton."
"W-what?" Emily stuttered, clearly confused.
"Norfolk's not that far north," Freddie repeated, deliberately misunderstanding her for his own amusement, "It's easterly, more than northerly, in fact."
"No, you beast," she said, as Freddie earned himself a slight thwack on the chest, "What did you mean when you said that you own a house in Plumpton?"
"Just that," Freddie smiled, proud of himself, "I realised that you might be reluctant to accept my proposal, if it meant that you might be separated from your family. So I remedied matters."
"You bought the house before I said yes?" Emily raised a brow, "That's rather presumptuous of you."
"If you had not gathered by now, my dear," Freddie grinned, snaking an arm around her waist to pull her close, "I'm a confident sort of chap."
"Arrogant, even," Emily corrected him, her eyes glinting with amusement.
"What say you then?" Freddie cleared his throat, "I won't presume you're agreeable to the idea of shackling yourself to me, unless yousayyou are. I'm notthatarrogant."
Emily paused before answering--it was her turn to tease him now. Freddie tried to hide the brief feeling of panic, as he momentarily wondered if, perhaps, he had completely misread every interaction they had shared.
Mercifully, Emily noted his unease, and gave a delighted laugh.
"Of course I will," she said, allowing him to wrap his arms around her, "There's nothing I want more."
As they were not completely alone, the kiss that Freddie bestowed upon his wife-to-be was rather chaste, but thrilling none the less. So thrilling, that Freddie realised he could not wait three weeks to have the banns read--he wished to marry her at once.
"What say I nip over to Canterbury Palace, and see if the archbishop is home?" he whispered, as he gently stroked her hair, "If I procure a special license, we could be married by noon."
"That does sound like a dream," Emily agreed, "But aren't you supposed to be in Crabb House, assisting in the capture of a murderer?"
So he was. Dash it, but she was awfully distracting.
"Er, yes," Freddie conceded, with a rueful smile, "Perhaps we should hold that thought until tomorrow."
"I'll still be here tomorrow," she assured him, "And you'll find my mama less hysterical if she's given notice of the wedding. She would be most put out if she did not get a day or two to gloat over our engagement to anyone who'll listen."
"Ah-ha," Freddie laughed, but he faltered somewhat, when he realised Emily was being factual.
"You might yet regret offering to move so close to my family," Emily smiled, giving his hand a squeeze, "Though I will shield you from the worst of it, I promise."
"We will protect each other," Freddie agreed.
