She clung to that thought.
A little past midnight, Elspeth entered the room with a quiet knock on the door. “Genevieve? This came for you.”
“For me?” She turned—and stared at the pile of boxes Elspeth carried. “What on earth…?”
“They’re from Kendrick.” Elspeth piled the boxes of all different sizes and types on the side table and handed her the note.
Jenny,
If you are agreeable, we can be married before dawn. I have made all the arrangements. Be ready an hour before daylight. Here are some things I hoped you might like. I will see you then.
K
Genevieve blew out an incredulous breath. How high-handed of him. But—efficient.
Will I really get married? Tonight?she thought a bit wildly.
But logic and reason intruded.As Kendrick said, why wait? Change requires it. And he understood your reservations. Kendrick won’t push you into things you aren’t ready for.
Genevieve crossed to the boxes and lifted the lids. A stylish hat, in blue. A dress in the fashions of this year, in blue as well. All the underpinnings such a dress would need. A new pair of soft kid boots. And?—
“Gloves,” Genevieve said, swallowing. Several pairs of gloves in silk and cotton, white and black and dyed to match the dress.
“He has a good eye,” Elspeth said softly. “The clothes will fit like a dream. And there are boxes for Sparrow and me, too. That was kind of him.” Her voice had a strange note to it.
Genevieve’s eyes flew up to meet hers. “I saidyes, Elspeth.”
Elspeth took her hand. “If there’s one thing I’ll say for the man, once he sets his mind to something, he moves fast.”
“What on earth shall I do?” Genevieve asked a little helplessly.
“Well, first, I think you should put the dress on.”
“It’s blue.” Genevieve swept her hands over her streaked, black skirts.
“A dark blue, one you’ll look lovely in. And every woman should look well at her wedding.” Elspeth hugged her. “I’ll sit with the boy. Go on.”
“You’re bringingthat?”
Kendrick raised an eyebrow and left off adjusting the sword baldric over the cut of his morning coat. “Why not?”
“Your prospective bride might not want the bridegroom bringing a sword to the wedding,” Etienne said, adjusting his cuffs.
“I’ll ask her, then. Are you ready, Dominic?”
“Explain to me again how you managed this,” Dominic said, smoothing his cravat. He had pulled out his best embroidered silk coat and hose for the occasion. Etienne had kept his comments about the anachronism to himself so far, but Kendrick could tell it was a struggle. Etienne hated being seen as a man out of time.
“I’m charming and people like me,” Kendrick said.
“Not the arrangements with the vicar. With the woman.”
“I’m charming and Genevieve likes me.”
“No accounting for taste,” Etienne said dryly as a knock came on the door.
“Are you all decent? Moonset is not far off,” Addie warned.
Kendrick had sent a note to Etienne and Addie as well as Dominic before he had left on his rounds, warning of his intentions and his timetable, and asked if they would stand up with him. They had gathered at Fernside, Dominic’s home, to get ready. “All dressed.Decentis debatable,” Kendrick called.
