Page 93 of Tempted By the English Marquis
“You told me that All Saints’ chapel doesn’t have a full-time minister, but you must have people who lead the services each week,” Gideon said.
“Yes. Sometimes it’s a lay preacher, so it’s not a real Sunday service. The rest of the time we do manage to find travelling priests. Now that Napoleon has gone, a lot more English are making the journey to Rome.” Flynn’s face lit up with the hint of a smile. “And quite a few of them stay here in this very hotel. Let me go and see if your luck has finally decided to change for the better.”
I am likely to die tomorrow, so it can’t get any worse.
Flynn headed over to the small front desk. A few words were exchanged, most of which Gideon didn’t understand. He was content to only half listen, but when the word ‘Scalford’ reached his ears, he snapped to attention.
The hotelier and Flynn exchanged a few more words. When the viscount turned away from the desk, he had a huge grin on his face. Gideon’s friend hurried back to his side.
“I don’t know how many dozen prayers you have been saying since last night, but it looks like one of them might have been answered. The vicar from Saint Egelwin the Martyr in Scalford is staying at the hotel. He and his family arrived last night.”
“Scalford? That’s close to Mowbray Park. I’ve visited that church quite a few times. I wonder if the vicar is still here this morning.”
He didn’t have time to go running all over Rome’s many tourist spots, trying to find an English priest.
“He’s downstairs in the dining room having breakfast,” Flynn replied. “Come on.”
* * *
Gideon couldn’t quite decide who was more excited to see the other—the minister from St Egelwin or himself. Father Morris almost fell off his chair as Gideon approached him in the dining room. He shot to his feet and bowed low. “Lord Holwell. What an honor. What are you doing in Rome?”
News travelled slowly in the countryside, and for that Gideon was most grateful. By the way that Father Morris and his family behaved, it was apparent that they had not heard about the scandal with the Duke and Duchess of Mowbray.
“I am visiting family friends. Might I have a quick word?”
He, Flynn, and Father Morris retired upstairs to Gideon’s room, where Gideon quickly gave a brief and highly edited version of events.
“I see. And you wish to marry this young lady?” said Father Morris.
“Yes. Today, if it can be arranged,” replied Gideon.
He didn’t want to go into the sordid details of the duel, but if push came to shove, he was prepared to offer a sizeable donation to the church’s restoration fund to ensure Father Morris’s cooperation. His father had already paid for some new roofing, but with St Egelwin having been built in the twelfth century, there were always things that needed repairing.
The minister stood a few feet away from Gideon and Flynn. His hands were clasped together, and his head was bowed. He looked as if he might be praying.
“You of course understand the situation if you marry someone of the Catholic faith. For it to be a legal marriage in England, you will need to be married by me first. But you will need special dispensation if you are going to have the marriage recognized as being valid in the Papal States. Without an exemption the young lady’s family will not accept the marriage.”
Gideon sighed. It seemed every time he had managed to clear one obstacle out of the way, another one popped up. “How do we go about getting the dispensation?”
Father Morris bowed his head once more, and Gideon’s hopes took a deep dive. The man was an open book. When his shoulders sagged, Gideon feared the worst.
“You would need to speak to the Pope. For this marriage to be accepted in the Papal States, you need permission from the highest church official that there is in Rome.”
Gideon was capable of many things, but this might just be beyond his reach.How on earth am I going to get an audience with the Pope? Today?
“I will go and speak to the hotel manager about shipping timetables and coaches. We might need to look somewhere like Naples to find you a safe passage back to England,” said Flynn.
With Flynn gone, Father Morris and Gideon put their heads together. “I can perform the marriage service for you here in Rome. I can write you up a certificate and you can take that to England with you and have it registered by the Archbishop of Canterbury. When I return home at the end of June, I will come and sign the relevant documents,” said Father Morris.
In doing so, there could be no doubt as to the legality of his and Serafina’s marriage. As the future Duke of Mowbray, he needed that certainty for the continuation of his bloodline and title. For their children to be legitimate in the eyes of English law.
“Thank you. I appreciate your kindness,” Gideon said. “The service will likely be late tonight as I have to get the bride to be able to attend. As you may expect, some members of her family are not in favor of the union. In fact, some are most vehemently opposed to it.”
Father Morris hummed. “Yes, I had gathered that. I just hope it’s only a wedding that I have to officiate at because if things go awry, I should hate to have to conduct a funeral service.”
Gideon gave a wry chuckle.You have no idea of the mess I am in.“Rest assured, Father Morris, I am doing everything in my power to get married and not die in the process.”
His words sounded hopeful, but Gideon’s greatest fear was that the sharp end of Matteo de Luca’s sword might alter the success of his plans.
