“Thank you, considering how beautiful you look, I’m glad I made an effort.” He took her hand. “Now lead on then, my Amazon, and we shall see what Monty wants.”
She towed him around the building to a small annex. Monty, in full Lord Plunge regalia, stood there.
“I had to bring him, Monty. He found me sneaking down here.”
“Well, he is to be your husband shortly, so I guess that’s acceptable. You are ravishing, my dear.”
Zach had gotten used to the relationship between Mary and Monty in the months until their marriage. He was a brother to her in every way and fast becoming so with the Devilles also.
They were very careful when they visited his house. It was always in the dark of night or early hours of the morning. Two days ago, they’d played cards with him until the sun rose. The man was fiendishly good with numbers.
“As do you. That shade of lemon is really something,” Mary said, moving in to kiss him.
Monty, Zach had noted, did not like to be touched by anyone but Mary and then only briefly.
“What is so urgent our wedding is to be delayed?” Mary asked him.
“I had not thought to do this, but this morning I woke and felt it was right I did so,” he said in a solemn voice.
“What has happened?”
“Nothing has happened, goose, and I would be grateful if you were quiet until I have said everything I want to. This kind of speech is never easy for me.”
“Good luck making her keep quiet,” Zach said. Mary huffed out a breath.
“My mother was the very best of women, Mary. She loved me and my father deeply, as we loved her. She adored jewelry and had a great deal of it when she passed. I locked it away, never wanting to see it again in my grief after she died. But I kept a box of it with me wherever I went. It was the small box she held on her dressing table with her most precious items.”
“Monty—”
“Shut up,” the man said, smiling. “You came into my life and changed it, Mary. You became my friend and sister. I have not had either in many years. You have also now given me Zachariel and his brothers and cousin. You gave me something I’d never thought to have. Something to be hopeful for, and I doubt I can ever fully express how much that means to me.”
Mary let out a sob. Zach wanted to go to her, but this was their moment.
“Our friendship has helped me more than you will ever know, Mary, and for that I want you to have this.” He held out a black velvet box.
Zach watched as Mary took it with shaking fingers. She then opened it.
“I can give you this now, because if asked, you can say Zachariel had it made for you. I hope you do not mind I am giving your wife-to-be jewelry, Zach?”
A look of understanding passed between Monty and Zach as their eyes met.
“It will be an honor for Mary to wear your mother’s jewelry, Monty.”
The man nodded.
“Oh, Monty, it is beautiful. I want to wear it now. It is right I carry part of you and your mother with me today.”
The man did not show emotion when he was Viscount Montgomery, but it was there in his eyes. He took the bracelet from the satin lining and fastened it around Mary’s wrist over her long cream gloves.
Diamonds and emeralds entwined with gold. The delicate bracelet was beautiful and perfect for Mary in that it was not ostentatious or fussy.
“I will be honored to wear it with love for your mother and you, Monty,” Mary said, hugging him close. “Thank you.”
He was the first to pull back, and when he spoke, emotion choked his words.
“Go now and marry this fool. I will be there in all my finery.” Monty bowed to Zach. He returned it with a deep one of his own, and then the man disappeared.
“Zach.” She took his hand.
