Page 109 of The Truth About Lord Stoneville
“And now,” Oliver said, “if you don’t mind, I wish to take my fiancée for a stroll in that park. We’ll see you at the inn.”
“Certainly,” Mr. Pinter said.
Maria and Oliver walked together, her arm in his and her heart filled with love. She still couldn’t believe the things he’d said to Nathan about her. She would cherish them always.
As soon as they were under the trees, Oliver said, “I have this special license burning a hole in my pocket, so I was thinking we might go find a vicar and use it. Pinter and Freddy can act as witnesses.” He looked anxiously at her. “What do you think?”
“Don’t you want your family present when we marry? I thought you lordly sorts had to have grand weddings.”
“Is that what you want?”
In truth, she’d never been one to dream of her wedding day as a brilliant spectacle. Clandestine weddings were always what captured her imagination, complete with a dangerous, brooding fellow and mysterious goings-on. In this instance, she had both.
He said, “Let me put it this way: we can spend an untold number of days sneaking around just to steal a kiss, being chaperoned every minute while my sisters and Gran plan the wedding of the century. Or we can marry today and share a bed at the inn tonight like a respectable husband and wife. I’m not keen on waiting, but then, I never am when it comes to you. So what is your opinion in the matter?”
She couldn’t resist teasing him a little. “I think you just want to punish your grandmother for her sly tactics by depriving her of the wedding.”
He smiled. “Perhaps a little. And God knows my friends are never going to let me live this down. I’m not looking forward to hours of their torment at a wedding breakfast.”
He stopped in a little copse where they would be hidden from the street. “But if you want a big wedding, I can endure it.” His expression was solemn as he took her hands in his. “I can endure anything, as long as you marry me. And keep loving me for the rest of your life.”
Staring into his earnest face, she felt something flip over in her chest. She stretched up to brush his mouth with hers, and he pulled her in for a long, ardent kiss.
“Well?” he said huskily when he was done. “If I had any sense of decency, I would give you a chance to consult with a lawyer about settlements and such, especially since you’ll be coming into some money. But—”
“—you have no sense of decency, I know,” she teased. She tapped her finger against her chin. “Or was that morals you claimed not to have? I can’t remember.”
“Watch it, minx,” he warned with a lift of his brow. “If you intend to taunt me for every foolish statement I’ve made in my life, you’ll force me to play Rockton and lock you up in my dark, forbidding manor while I have my wicked way with you.”
“That sounds perfectly awful,” she said, gazing at the man she loved. “How soon can we start?”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
A month had passed since Oliver married Maria before a rector in Southampton. They’d taken their time about returning to Halstead Hall, sending Freddy ahead with Pinter to inform the family of their marriage while they enjoyed the seaside on a honeymoon trip.
Hyatt had gone back to America to negotiate with Maria’s trustees. A lengthy letter from Oliver detailing the man’s deceptions had preceded him. Convinced that the men her father had appointed to oversee her funds were honest, Maria assured Oliver that they would hold Hyatt’s feet to the fire regarding the sale.
Though Oliver hoped so, he was taking no chances. He and Maria were to leave for America in a few days so she could consult with the trustees and make sure her aunt was well provided for. Freddy and his new bride, Miss Kinsley, were traveling with them, since he wanted to bring her home to meet his mother. But it was only to bea visit; Freddy had decided to live in England and work for his father-in-law. Oliver rather pitied Mr. Kinsley for that.
Now there was only one thing left to do before Oliver and Maria could depart for Massachusetts. They’d been back at Halstead Hall a week now, and he’d put it off as long as he could.
“Are you ready?” he asked Maria as they stood outside the library.
“As ready as I’ll ever be,” she answered with an anxious smile.
He knew her anxiety was for him, and he shared it. For half a second, he was tempted to return the way they’d just come—climb upstairs to the master bedchamber and spend the rest of the day forgetting duty to the estate and his family while he made love to his wife. But he doubted Maria would let him. For an American, she had quite a keen sense of aristocratic duty herself. To his surprise, he found it highly arousing.
“They’re going to hate us both, you know,” he said.
“I doubt that,” she replied. “And if they do, it won’t be for long.”
He wasn’t so sure, but he opened the door and ushered her in.
His brothers and sisters were ranged about the table much as they had been on the day Gran gave her ultimatum, but today they were in a more jovial mood.
“So, Oliver, what do you think?” Jarret asked as Oliverheld out a chair for Maria. “Now that you’re leg-shackled, will Gran relent?”
“Why else would she have called this meeting?” Minerva said. “She’s got what she wanted all along—Oliver married and running the estate.”
