“I think we’ve had enough questions answered for one night,” interrupted the dowager. “You’ll have ample time in the future to become better acquainted with your nephews. But for now”—she raised her empty glass—“I suggest that Tyler pass around the bottle so we may raise another toast—and then toddle off home. It’s way past my bedtime.”
Henning waited for the libations to be poured before clearing his throat with a gravelly cough. “To upholding the noble ideals of truth and justice.” He ran a hand over his unshaven chin. “We don’t always make the fight look pretty, but we get the job done.”
Tyler grinned, and then winced. His bruises were turning a very unpleasant shade of purple.
“I have just one remark to add,” said the dowager, waggling her cane to get everyone’s attention. “On no account are any of you allowed to trip over another dead body untilafterthe wedding ceremony.” The waggle turned into a warning swoosh. “Slay my plans for a festive celebration and it will beyouwho is going to the grave.”
CHAPTER 30
The next fortnight passed in a dizzying blur. There were fittings for her wedding gown, menus to go over with McClellan and Wrexford’s cook, and sketches for the decorative flowers and bridal bouquet to review with Hawk and the dowager . . .
“Lud, an elopement was so much simpler,” muttered Charlotte as she tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and hurriedly added the last section of cross-hatched shadows to her drawing for Mr. Fores. “I wonder if Wrexford would consider. . .”
But the thought quickly yielded to a rueful smile. The earl would likely leap at the idea, but she wouldn’t dream of disappointing Alison for a second time. The boys, too, had become increasingly excited by the idea of the pageantry. Indeed, they had taken it upon themselves to design a procession for leading her down the aisle.
A soft laugh tickled in her throat. The procession included Alice the Eel Girl, Skinny, One-Eye Harry, and Pudge—their urchin friends from the stews who now were part of the earl’s country estate—carrying bouquets of flowers designed by Hawk. Raven and Hawk were going to lead the way, with Harper, Wrexford’s wolflike Scottish deerhound, walking between them, draped with a floral garland.
After putting the finishing touches on her drawing, the last one due before departing for the earl’s estate, Charlotte consulted her list of the things left to do before their traveling party left for the country first thing in the morning.
“Good heavens.” Her eyes widened in dismay. “Surely, there can’t bethatmany!”
“M’lady, m’lady!” called Raven from the foot of the stairs. “Aunt Alison has arrived!”
“I’ll be down in a moment . . .”
* * *
Dawn’s pale light was just giving way to brighter sunshine as Wrexford helped Charlotte into the carriage. He quickly climbed in after her and closed the door, shutting out the shouts and laughter from the rest of their party, who were piling into the dowager’s barouche. Tyler was bringing up the rear with the baggage wagons.
“I was beginning to fear that you had eloped,” he quipped after sitting beside her and settling his shoulders against the soft leather squabs. They had hardly seen each other during the past two weeks. But thankfully, Alison had offered to have the boys and McClellan journey with her, allowing the two of them some quiet time together.
Her laugh warmed the still-cool morning air within the shadowed interior. “Oh? With whom?”
“Actually, I was thinking that the impending prospect of being leg-shackled to me might have made you run off on your own,” he replied.
“Sorry, but I’m afraid you’re stuck with me.” Charlotte shifted closer, her body fitting comfortably—nay, perfectly—against his. “Alison would have both our heads on a platter if we didn’t show up for the ceremony.”
He brushed a kiss to the top of her head. “And heaven forfend that we displease the dowager.”
“I let her down in the past,” replied Charlotte softly.
“I think you’ve more than made it up to her, my love.” He drew her into the crook of his arm. “I’ve missed you. What with all the demands on our time, we’ve had so little time together.”
“And I have missed you.” She slipped her hand beneath his coat, her fingers playing over the folds of his linen shirt. “Have all the complications of the murders been resolved with the authorities and the investigation deemed officially closed?”
“Yes,” he answered. “The government was relieved that it wasn’t necessary for Lyman to stand trial. It would have been awkward for them to admit America’s involvement in bringing the miscreant to justice for his many crimes. In private, however, Daggett received a medal, and sails for home tomorrow with the assurance that the Foreign Office will redouble its efforts to make peace between our two countries.”
“The captain should be pleased,” mused Charlotte. “He is a hard man, but a fair one. I hope Lyman’s demise helps put to rest his own personal demons.”
“He sends you his best regards,” said Wrexford. “However, had he made one more mention of how fetching you look in breeches, I might have had to darken his deadlights.”
Her fingers stilled on his chest. “Oh, come, Wrexford, you don’t have a jealous bone in your body.”
“Are you quite sure?” He turned just enough to look down his nose at her. “I don’t think you’ve explored my body thoroughly enough to come to an accurate conclusion.”
Is that a blush darkening her cheeks?He smiled at the thought of it.
“Perhaps you’re right.” Her eyes were now twinkling with amusement. “After all, you’ve explained to me ad nauseam that the scientific method demands that assumptions must be proved by empirical evidence.”
