Page 94 of The Rogue's Last Scandal
Chapter 24
Charley’sstrong grip on her hand in this crowded carriage calmed her. The Bakeleys and the Gibsons occupied the plain carriage following theirs, and behind them came a third carriage with Lady Jane Monthorpe and the aristocratic vicar who had joined them in the afternoon, and later for the large family dinner that followed. Penderbrook had even squeezed in next to a teary-eyed Lady Jane. The lady, it seemed, loved weddings.
Graciela had been warmly welcomed into their circle. She’d had a chance to speak more with Bink’s wife and felt an instant kinship. Paulette was lowborn, like herself, like her husband, illegitimate. Like Reina. Lord Hackwell’s charming young brother, Thomas, also a by-blow, had joined them again at Shaldon House, but was far too young for this night’s outing.
That morning, while Charley and his father had gone off for the special license that would allow them to marry privately, and while the modiste had fussed with her extravagant new gown, Paulette and Lady Sirena had shared the hair-raising stories of their marriages with the other two sons of Shaldon. Her situation was quite mild by comparison.
Still, her gown had a secret pocket for Papa’s sheathed blade, though to pull such a weapon out at atonball would be reckless indeed, even for one such as herself.
Seated across from them in the formal town carriage, Lord Shaldon was a silent companion. Lady Perry chattered enough for both of them.
Graciela’s stomach danced and fluttered with each start and stop as their carriage crawled with the traffic. The swearing and shouting of grooms and coachmen permeated the thin walls. Beyond their usual guards, she could see throngs of common people crowding to see the great spectacle.
It was exciting and potentially quite dangerous. If Kingsley had learned of Charley’s trip to Doctors’ Commons, or if it had come to Gregory Carvelle’s ears, she could be in very great danger. They were men who did not like to be thwarted.
“It will be worse for the coronation this summer,” Lady Perry said. “I shall flee to the country. Will you come with me, Father?”
“Would that I could.” A rare smile touched his lips.
“What about you two? Surely you would rather honeymoon elsewhere than stay and be crushed by these crowds. Graciela must see Cransdall. And we can look about the county for an estate for sale. Do you think you will buy a house in the country?”
Graciela looked at Charley. They had not had time to discuss their long term living arrangements.
“Well you could certainly afford it, with Graciela’s dowry,” Lady Perry said.
Charley’s loud sigh reverberated in the carriage. He had explained the hurriedly drafted marriage settlement in precise detail to her before Lord Shaldon had signed it on her behalf. Besides the portions set aside for Reina and their children to come, her dowry would be hers. Whether he himself had enough money to buy a house, she didn’t know, but she knew he would not pressure her to use her money.
“Your mother left Charles an estate in the Yorkshire,” Lord Shaldon said.
Charley’s gaze whipped from the window.
As her only active guardian, Lord Shaldon had unhesitatingly agreed to Charley’s marriage terms, so unfavorable to his own son. Now she knew why.
“I had meant to tell you tomorrow, after I retrieved the title from safekeeping, but there you see, your sister is an impatient one.”
“An estate.” Charley frowned.
Her heart slipped down to jostle about with her stomach. An estate would tie him down, as would having a wife and child.
“Yes. All in good order, as you could expect from your mother and Bakeley. There is a substantial bit of cash also. You should garner four or five thousand a year, if you are wise.”
“The same as Bink.”
“Yes.”
Lady Perry extended her arm and touched Gracie’s knee. “Mother was very rich, and a dab hand with investments. What did she arrange for me, Father?”
When he didn’t answer she laughed and turned back to Gracie. “He never told Bink or Charley anything until they settled on their wives. Bakeley of course will inherit everything else.”
She smiled politely. She had heard the story of Bink’s inheritance from Paulette.
“Mother’s family was common and grew rich through mining and banking. She saw to Bink’s education before he ran off, and she required Charley to live on a small allowance and to be productive. Bink went into the army, and Charley here served in the Foreign Office.”
She looked up at Charley and smiled. “Youarea spy then.”
He shrugged. “I told you—I gadded about Europe listening to gossip. Nothing more.”
Yes, he had told her that before. And the scars on his body? They had not gone so far as to talk about those yet.
