“No. No. We almost killed our parents. I am not embarking on another matchmaking scheme. Especially since we can’t marry off their parents to make sure they can be together.”
“Again, you’re thinking small,” Gwen says, feeling a little giddy with the idea.
Not that she’d have anything against living with their parents forever. But this would give them true security, no matter what gender the baby is. Real autonomy. Running two adjoining estates? The possibilities are endless.
“All right, what, then?” Beth asks, sounding a little exasperated. It makes Gwen want to shove her up against the wall and make her really exasperated.
“If we get James and Bobby together, then you marry Bobby, I marry James, and...”
Beth gapes at her, eyes moving rapidly. She takes a breath, and then shakes her head. Gwen watches as she plays it over in her mind, a quick journey from preposterous to possible if ever she’s seen one.
“Where would we live?” she asks slowly.
“Your old estate. Bobby has a property not far down the way.”
“Convenient,” Beth mutters. “And you’d be all right with... James?”
“I wouldn’t be with James,” Gwen says quickly. “It would be in name only. They’d live in one, we’d live in the other, and make appearances when necessary. The perfect disguise.”
Beth purses her lips, twisting her fingers for a moment before she looks up and meets Gwen’s eyes. “Our own house?”
“To run exactly as we please,” Gwen entices. “Close enough to visit our parents, but not with them. Our own money. Our own lives entirely. With good friends just up the way for the manly things.”
“Husbands,” Beth says.
“In name only,” Gwen repeats.
“Our own house,” Beth says, a smile starting to stretch over her face.
“We’ll build you that tree house,” Gwen promises. “All four of us.”
Beth’s smile turns into a grin and she leans up and kissesGwen impulsively. Gwen loses herself for a moment and then gently pulls back, glancing around. They’re alone, but they shouldn’t tempt anything outside of the hedgerows.
“So that’s a yes?”
“To trying to convince two young men, who we’re not actually positive have that inclination, into a farce marriage so we can live up in the country?” Beth confirms.
“Basically. It worked the first time.”
Beth bobs her head. “We have the season.”
“The whole season,” Gwen agrees. “And if we fail, we’re at home with the baby.”
“Better stakes than last time,” Beth says with a small laugh.
“So?”
Beth considers her for a moment. “You want to marry me through James?”
“I’d marry you without anyone,” Gwen says quickly. Beth’s look softens. “But since that’s not an option, yes. I’d like to take empty vows with James and get you in exchange, forever.”
“Me too,” Beth whispers. “The marrying you part, not James.”
“That would be actually wrong,” Gwen agrees.
Beth laughs and takes a deep breath. “Okay.”
Gwen feels her whole body brighten, possibility and love and excitement buzzing through her.
