“We wish you joy,” Jasper said softly in her ear. “But if you ever have a need for us, for any reason, send word. You are our sister, and we shall always love you.”
“I know.”
She gave Jasper’s broad shoulders a final squeeze, then turned away. The marquess was looking at her expectantly.
“I am ready, my lord.” Meredith straightened her shoulders and lifted her chin.
“Then come, my lady. The hour grows late and we have a very great surprise to bestow upon my noble father.”
Nine
Any regrets the marquess had felt over his impulsive, hastily orchestrated marriage to Meredith increased tenfold as their carriage pulled up to his father’s front door.
“Is the duke expecting us?” Meredith inquired curiously as an army of footmen and underfootmen, dressed in formal livery, scurried to assist them from the coach.
“I do not believe so,” Trevor replied. “There was no opportunity to inform him of our arrival. Or marriage.”
The last statement was uttered in a dull whisper as they crossed the threshold of the mansion. Trevor heard his bride catch her breath. Then she turned to him, her eyes wide with astonishment.
He held her gaze with a steady, lazy look, almost daring her to create a scene in front of the many curious servants. She studied him hard, then had the audacity to appear amused.
“Coward,” she muttered.
The marquess found himself swallowing a smile as he trailed obediently behind his wife. They were led directly to his father in the green salon, so named because of the many shades of that color dominating every scrap of fabric, inch of carpet, and length of drapery in the room. As a child Trevor had found the effect caused his head to swim, just like the light-headed feeling he achieved when holding his breath for a long period of time.
He bowed in polite greeting to the duke and admitted reaching adulthood had not altered his reaction to the sea of green dancing before his eyes.
“You’re early,” the duke said impatiently. “Though I suppose it is better than being fashionably late. Or not coming at all.” The duke moved forward, then stopped suddenly. The look of surprise on his father’s features told Trevor the duke had only just noticed his son had not arrived alone. “I was not informed you were bringing a guest to my dinner party.”
The blasted dinner party! How could he have forgotten that stellar event was being held this evening? Trevor nearly kicked himself at this unlucky turn. The timing for announcing his sudden marriage could not have been worse, for this was the very night his father expected to introduce the marquess to the woman the duke deemed to be a suitable bride for his son.
Trevor never had much use for panic, but it was the dominant emotion that now embraced him. Until he resolutely pushed it aside.
“We have not come to attend your dinner party, sir,” Trevor said.
“Why not?” the duke bellowed in an exasperated tone. “I told you of its importance three days ago.”
The marquess shrugged, conveying clearly that the duke’s dictates meant little to him.
“Beg pardon, Your Grace,” the butler interrupted the escalating tension with a respectful bow. “Mrs. Pritcher would like to know to which chambers you wish the luggage be brought.”
“Luggage?” The duke’s brow lifted and a slow smile spread across his face. “You brought luggage with you? Are you planning on moving back home?” Darting a joyful glance at his son, the duke continued, “I feared you might never come to your senses and return where you belonged. Now, don’t go all pucker-faced on me, Trevor. ’Tis splendid news, my boy. Splendid.”
Trevor tried to hide the edge of panic that once again crept forward. The situation was rapidly deteriorating. “We shall decide about the luggage later,” the marquess said, waving the butler to the door.
The moment the servant left the room, Trevor stepped over and grasped his wife’s hand. Despite the pleasant warmth of the room, her fingers felt cold. “We have come to share some rather important news. Lady Meredith and I were married a few hours ago.”
“What?” The duke’s eyes were round and horrified. “You have gone and married this woman after I expressly told you to leave her alone? Are you incapable of heeding my advice on any matter? Or are you determined to drive me to my grave, a broken and unhappy man?”
“I am no longer a boy, sir, but a man of thirty years. Your approval is neither sought nor necessary for any of my actions. I thought only to give you the courtesy of hearing the news from my lips instead of reading of it in theTimes. Perhaps I was mistaken in my judgment.”
“Well, perhaps not only your judgment has been hasty in this matter.” The duke’s eyes dropped pointedly at Meredith’s stomach. “What is the real reason you married so swiftly? And in secret?”
Trevor felt a sudden clenching in his gut. For an instant he worried that Meredith might flounder before the duke’s obvious disapproval, but the sparkle in her eyes revealed only her pride and determination.
“It might be wise of you both to remember that I am neither deaf nor dumb and standing but a few feet away, hearing every disagreeable word spoken about me,” she declared in a steady voice. “Fortunately, I am a practical woman who did not expect a welcoming embrace from my new family.
“However, I would appreciate it if you would at least do me the courtesy of ceasing to discuss me as though I were across the ocean and unable to take offense at your numerous unkind remarks and unfounded accusations.”
