Page 64 of Wicked Rivals
“She is right, you know,” Cedric said. “We all ought to be there. When’s the special day?”
“I thought tomorrow.”
All three women gasped in alarm as if he’d threatened to do something so scandalous that even his reputation could not be salvaged.
“Tomorrow? Oh no, Ashton, that’s far too soon,” Horatia protested. “We need a few days to pack and arrange travel to Hampshire.”
Ashton knew these three ladies well enough to know that he could not fight them on this. Well, not fight them and expect any form of victory.
“You have two days,” he informed them. “I’m not risking anything longer than that in case my fiancée should try to back out of our bargain.”
“Would she?” Lucien asked, half smiling.
Ashton shrugged. “I honestly don’t know, and I certainly don’t want to give her the chance.”
His friends laughed. Godric glanced at Ashton. “Well, should we be off?”
“You don’t have to come.”
“Nonsense.” Godric pressed a kiss to Emily’s lips before he faced the others. “We wouldn’t miss this for the world. Em, darling, you’d best have the servants see to packing, and notify our solicitors where to reach us should any business matters arise while we are out of town.”
“Have fun making Ashton blush. He’s still red.” Horatia giggled and kissed Lucien.
It was all the public displays of affection that were making him blush, not the idea of obtaining a marriage license. It was business and nothing more. Even if Rosalind was equal parts wonderful, infuriating and fascinating.
Ashton waited on the front steps while his friends collected their hats and coats.
“We ought to take the coach. I’ll have it brought around.” Cedric disappeared inside, leaving Ashton with Lucien and Godric.
“Are you sure about this?” Godric asked with true seriousness.
“I am,” Ashton replied. He now understood more clearly the irritation Cedric must have felt when he first announced his engagement to Anne. The League hadn’t embraced the idea at first. Not having the support of one’s friends was off-putting and filled one’s head with doubt. After a decade of being in complete agreement with them on nearly everything, it felt strange to disagree with them on the matter of whether he should marry, and do so without hesitation as to whether they would agree with him or not.
“There’s more to my reasons than my male pride, as Emily puts it,” he added quietly, “For three weeks now I’ve been monitoring Lady Melbourne’s shipping company activities. Hugo Waverly has been using her ships to transport men and supplies to and from England for purposes I cannot yet explain. I don’t know what he is up to, but I’d certainly sleep better at night if I had access to the manifests and passenger lists.”
“But you already own her debts, and the companies are as good as yours,” Lucien said. “I thought you had accountants and solicitors going over her accounts.”
“I do. But I want there to be no question as to the ownership. When I marry her, it will be easier for me to manage all the companies and look deeper into her records.” He turned at the rattle of wheels upon the cobblestones and saw the Sheridan coach pull up the steps.
“Right-o, lads.” Cedric bounded down the steps to meet them as they all prepared to climb inside.
“I feel like we ought to be getting Ashton foxed tonight to prepare him for marriage,” Godric said with a laugh.
“Or a final trip to the Midnight Garden,” Lucien suggested.
“Absolutely not.” Ashton laughed. “The last time I set foot there I was shot. I have no desire to repeat the experience.”
“Touché.” Cedric closed the coach door and slammed a hand outside the window to signal the driver to go.
As the coach jerked forward, Ashton settled back in the seat, smiling as his friends teased him, but he didn’t mind. Rosalind was going to be his, and that was all that mattered.
Chapter Seventeen
Nelson Lewis, a footman in the Sheridan household, lingered in the doorway to the servants’ quarters, straining to pick up any bits of conversation from the three ladies still standing in the hall.
“Emily, why did you stop pestering once he admitted Rosalind was wonderful?” Lady Sheridan asked.
The Duchess of Essex played with the pearls around her neck. “I don’t believe Ashton has ever said that about any woman. I believe he has stronger feelings for her than he admits, even to himself.”
