He accepted that with a nod. “When would you like to start on your lessons in shooting and self-defense?”
He really was serious about granting her requests. “There won’t be much time this week, so better to start after we’re married,” she decided. “Are we going to have a honeymoon? It’s not necessary.”
“I thought after a day or two in town to recover from the wedding, we could visit my estate.Ourestate. White Horse Manor is in Berkshire, not far from London.” There was a smile in his voice. “You can try out the horses and learn to become dangerous.”
She laughed. “The perfect honeymoon! Yes, please.”
“Tomorrow I’d like to take you to the house again so I can introduce you to the Merciers as their new mistress.”
“I don’t think they’ll be surprised at the news. I assume more servants will be hired now that the house will be occupied?”
“Yes, several. A groom, a footman, several house and kitchen maids. A lady’s maid for you and I suppose I need a valet.” He looked hopeful. “As mistress of the household, hiring staff is surely your job?”
She smiled at his reluctance. “I expect it is. I’ll ask the Merciers what they need for the household staff, but I have some thoughts about our personal servants.”
She glanced up at him. “Two of the older women at the boardinghouse, Mrs. Brown and Mrs. Parker, are both widows who have been longing to set up a small shop for sweets and baked goods. With the gifts you’ve agreed to settle on them, I expect they’ll do well.”
“Isn’t there another woman?” he asked.
“Yes, Jenny Dunne. She’s younger, about my age. We were both supporting ourselves doing piecework and sometimes we’d sew together. She has a lovely hand with a needle.” Suzanne bit her lip. “I wonder if she could work for me. She was a lady’s maid, but she was turned off without a reference.”
“Did she say why?”
“She was assaulted by the son of the house and her mistress blamed her,” Suzanne said, unable to suppress her anger.
“It’s a common story,” Simon said, his expression grave. “If you want to hire her, by all means do so. If she was exaggerating her experience as a lady’s maid, we should be able to find something else for her in the household.”
“Thank you, I will. I’m sure she’ll do a good job. But there’s more.”
Simon raised his brows encouragingly, so Suzanne continued, “I’d like to give her some time to visit her family in Dorset. She hasn’t seen them for years. She’s also desperate to see her sweetheart, who recently returned to his home village. He was in the army, an officer’s batman.”
Simon grinned. “I think I see where this is going. Are you recommending him to be my valet?”
“Yes, but there’s a problem. He was injured in the Battle of Toulouse. Jenny was told by her mother that his face is scarred and his left hand was damaged and isn’t as strong as it was. His own mother is very worried because he feels worthless, like a burden on his family because he can’t do any kind of heavy work anymore.”
“Most valet work isn’t heavy. If he’s been a batman, he should have a good idea of what’s needed. Have her bring him along when she returns to London. Unless he and I hate each other, he can work for me.”
“You are being so kind to me!” she exclaimed. “I don’t deserve so much.”
“Ah, but you do, milady,” he said softly. “You see me as an individual, and you’re willing to take me on even though I’m a war weary Anglo-French soldier with too much history. You can’t know how much I appreciate that.”
She hadn’t fully realized that before. But she did now.
Chapter 8
After a busy week of rain, meetings, rain, fittings, rain, and gatherings with her new friends, the day of Suzanne’s wedding dawned bright and clear. A dusting of snow veiled the city with a brief moment of white purity. Suzanne had hardly been able to sleep from a combination of excitement and alarm. She didn’t fear Simon, but the thought of marriage still made her skittish.
Then Rory arrived with the dawn, her bright enthusiasm dispelling doubts. Suzanne heard the knock at the front door and hastened down the steps to find Mr. Potter admitting Rory and her husband to the sitting rooms. Seeing Suzanne, Rory explained, “Since I’m standing up with you, I thought I should arrive early to help you dress, hold your hand, and soothe your nerves.”
“Thank you! I need all those things. Captain Hawkins, I see you have been enlisted to carry the wedding gown.” She gestured at the long canvas-covered bag that was draped over his arm. “Or are you here to defend your lady from the perils of early morning London?”
He smiled at her. “Some of both, but my main reason is to ask if you’d like someone to walk you down the aisle. Rory made it very clear to me that no man is giving you away—you’re giving yourself of your own free will. But would you like having a friend at your side?”
She bit her lip as her eyes teared up. “What a lovely idea! Thank you, Captain. I’d like that very much.”
He gave her a warm hug with the arm that wasn’t encumbered by the gown. “So would I.” Carefully he draped the canvas bag over the back of the sofa. “I’ve also brought a basket of cakes and biscuits and sausage rolls to provide breakfast for everyone in the house.”
“You are a saint!” she said, hugging him back.
