Adela patted the chair beside hers. “Sit down and we shall all wait together. Shall we review today’s events? Perhaps we will come up with some leads?”
Ambrose laughed. “Here’s a novel idea. How about we discuss our wedding? Do you have any notion what Eloise and Phoebe are planning?”
Adela shook her head. “Oh, yes. I am quite aware.”
He arched an eyebrow, dubious as to her response.
She sighed. “They’ve selected the gown I am to wear and I’ve already had two fittings for it. They’ve reserved the church. They’ve gone over the wedding breakfast menu with my friend, Viola. She is Lady Ardley, recently married to Alexander Dayne, Viscount Ardley.”
Ambrose nodded. “Go on.”
Adela cleared her throat. “We are very fortunate to have Viola’s assistance. Her culinary skills are astounding, and she has volunteered to plan the entire menu with your cook. Phoebe and Eloise have also retained musicians to play. I hear they are excellent. Are you sure you wish to turn our wedding into something as grand as a state affair?”
“Adela, I am a duke. It is expected.”
“It is an awful lot of fuss for just one day,” Gory commented.
“Indeed,” Adela said, “but I shall go along without objection since it is obviously important to you, Ambrose. Eloise completed the guest list early in the planning. It was easy for me to provide my part since I had only my two best friends and my parents to invite. Well, of course I included Eloise’s grandson, Viscount Ardley, and his wife, Viola. I insisted Eloise invite her entire family as well as all the Farthingales. Do you mind, Ambrose?”
“No, it is the right thing to do. They have all been extraordinarily kind to you and very helpful.”
“Then there are your friends and family. I saw the list you gave Eloise. It is quite extensive.”
“As I said, it has to be. Most of the guests are already in London so they will not be put out by the hastiness of our wedding plans.”
She cast him an affectionate smile. “I still cannot believe you are marrying me.”
He grinned. “I should be angry as blazes, but I am relieved you are all right. I suppose eventually I shall have a good chuckle over the sight of you hanging onto that bounder’s cloak. But not yet.”
“Yes…well, about the wedding.” She resumed ticking off the remaining chores to be done, and then took a soft breath. “So you see, there is nothing for us to do but find your book.”
He groaned. “I do not care if we ever find it.”
Adela’s widened and she frowned at him. “Never say that. Yes, you do care. As does every scholar who has made it their life work to discover everything they can about cave drawings, extinct animals, and our ancient origins.”
He leaned back in his chair and sighed. “Do you know if Eloise has ordered a wedding cake?”
“Who cares about–” She stopped as Gory kicked her foot. “Um, yes. Wedding cake is also to be taken care of by Viola. She assured me there is to be an entire table of sweets in the Viennese style in addition to the cake, puddings, ice carvings, and jellied molds. It will be a royal banquet and you will choke when you see how much this simple wedding is going to cost you.”
Julius laughingly groaned. “Adela, he can afford it.”
Ambrose nodded. “The royal family will likely attend. I am not going to stint on a single aspect of our wedding. Nor should you dismiss it as just another party. On this day of all days, I need you to look and act like a duchess and not as some straggling soldier who just wandered off a battlefield.”
He glanced at Gory and the bruise to her jaw to make his point. His brother and Syd happened to walk out of the examinations room just then, further making his point. Octavian had a cold cloth pressed to his eye and Syd had her hand bound and resting in a sling on her arm.
Ambrose rose. “Are we done? Good, let’s drop off Adela’s friends then head to Mr. Barrow’s office.”
Gory cast him the most pitiful look. “My uncle is my guardian and he truly does not like me. Must I go home? Why can Syd and I not join you? We may have helpful information to contribute.”
Syd nodded. “Truly, my family will not even begin to worry about my whereabouts until at least midnight. Besides, my parents are going to the theater tonight and I shall be left home alone. How is that safer than my being with all of you?”
Octavian stared at Ambrose.
He knew what his brother was thinking, that he ought to put his foot down and bring the matter to an end immediately. But Adela was casting him a pleading look and her friends looked so pathetic. Where was the harm in allowing them to join in the discussion?
“Oh, Lord help us all,” Octavian said with a groan. “Ambrose, are you going to let them wheedle their way into your investigation?”
“We are involved already,” Adela retorted.
