Page 60 of Ironvine

“Ah. Thank you. I have a question. I need you to perform a wedding. My wedding. Tomorrow night.”

“Tomorrow night, sir?” He took off his spectacles. “There are banns—”

“I have the dispensations from the Archbishop himself.”

The vicar’s face folded in a scowl. “I’m sure you do.”

“Is there a problem?”

“No, my lord. What time would be best for your lordship?” They settled on the hour for the service.

A tall dark figure appeared. “Charles?”

Brandon.

“My lords.” The vicar left them, Charles’s servant escorting him off.

“My condolences, my friend.” Brandon hugged Charles and pain thundered in his upper arm, a grunt escaping his lips.

He released him. “What is the matter?”

Charles told him about Hugh shooting him, the duel, and how his cousin William died. All of it.

“Amanda wrote to me. I cannot say I am sorry about the loss of my cousin. Killing William was something I’d always wanted to do, but I held myself in check because I did not want his foul blood on my hands. My family was far, far more important.”

“They most certainly are. You were right not to pursue that line of vengeance,” said Charles. “Now William got what he deserved.”

“Indeed. But for Hugh to have shot you?”

“My brother and I, as you know, were never very close, but this action of his was most unexpected.”

“And most foul,” muttered Brandon.

“And now he too is gone.” Charles’s gaze remained fixed on the coffin below. “I know he would have wished an evening burial complete with the pomp of a procession as befits his station, but I find I cannot give him more than this.”

“He is in the earth with his family. The rest is meaningless.”

“And William?”

“Amanda arrived last night, and I brought William’s body to the church cemetery and had it buried alongside his father. Surprisingly, she did not insist on any pomp or ceremony. ’Tis done.” He rubbed his hands together. “Now you will live your life with much freedom, Lord Ryvves.”

“Not knowing who killed Hugh and why is not affording me great ease.”

“It was most likely another jealous man. Hugh always had quite a reputation, and it had only renewed itself during your time in town this season.”

“It certainly did.”

“Let us focus on thoughts much more deserving than these two soulless bastards who lost their lives by their own doings. Whatever is left of them, cold and dank, is now deep in the ground below us. Earth to earth, dust to dust, and all that.”

“That, my friend, is a far better eulogy than the one I just heard.”

Brandon chuckled as he led Charles away from the grave. “Georgina arrived safely at ours this morning.”

“I’m glad. She was so looking forward to seeing the two of you again. Thank you for taking her in until we marry tomorrow.”

“Of course. Is everything set then? The ladies will ask me the moment I return home.”

“It is. Tomorrow at eleven. We shall have a wedding breakfast directly after at home.”

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