“Mrs. Greedy wanted me to put this in your jacket pocket, Mungo,” Charles said, arriving with Violet, who was wrapped in a thick velvet cloak. They were to have their first baby in five months, and the couple were ecstatic. “She gave it to me this morning, but I just remembered now.” Charles tucked a sweet-smelling flower into his jacket.
Mungo had never thought he’d have children, but he wanted that now with Eliza, and she in turn wanted a family like she’d once had.
“Why are we not using the rotunda, surely it would be warmer?” Alex said.
“This is tradition,” Bram said.
“Your brother-in-law has arrived, Charles. He is with Miss Wilson, and they’re already arguing,” Leo said out the side of his mouth as a loud shriek of outrage filled the air. “I’m not sure if they truly loathe each other or the opposite.”
“Trust me, it’s loathing,” Charles said. “Ambrose’s gentleman’s club is close to the women’s club Miss Wilson is nearly finished setting up with the Pavlov money, and it’s a disaster waiting to happen.”
“Apparently all the women in this family have entrance without having to be vetted,” Alex added.
“God save us all,” Mungo muttered.
Charles wandered off to take his seat next to Violet, and Mungo shot another look to the beginning of the aisle. Still no sign of Eliza.
Her friend Sylvie arrived with her fiancé and gave him a smile before they slid onto a pew. Two days ago, she’d told Mungo that if he hurt her friend, there would be nowhere he could hide from her. He had to admire that kind of loyalty.
In the month since Eliza had agreed to marry him, both of them had changed. He was still gruff and rude, but according to his future wife, there was a softness to him now. He’d been horrified at that, which had made her laugh.
She still worked with the Nightingales to shave off their sharp edges and get them ready for society, and he still worked in the household and drove the carriage when needed.
But tonight they would spend their first night as husband and wife in their new home, and he couldn’t wait to wake with Eliza in his arms.
It was a wonder to him that she was his. That their life would be spent together. They would still argue because bothof them were strong willed in their own ways, but she would never doubt he loved her.
“I heard that Ellington is being stripped of his title and will rot in jail,” Leo said. “Couldn’t have happened to a better man. That witch Mrs. Holton will not see sunlight again for a while either.”
Gray and Scotland Yard had tracked down some of the women who had been abused by the agency and the Baddon Boys, and none of them had ever gone to the authorities with what had taken place. Instead, they’d just been going about their lives, with deep scars and dark secrets. Some of the women had found a place to heal at the Pavlov estate, and yet more in two houses they’d set up.
It wasn’t enough, but it was a start. Out there somewhere were abused women who needed to be found, and Eliza wanted to locate every last one, and Mungo would be at her side to help.
“Don’t look now, but the residents of Crabbett Close are dressed in matching clothing,” Alex said.
Of course they all looked, and there they were. The Greedys and the Alvins were dressed in identical deep magenta with gold braiding down the fronts, the women in cloaks, the men in long coats.
“There are no words,” Leo whispered, awed. “They look very regal.”
“Clemmie has a matching hat,” Bram said.
They watched as the guests moved down the aisle to take their seats.
The Sinclair and Raven families were present, clearly excited to be at another Crabbett Close wedding. Mungo watched the Duke of Raven bow over Tabitha Varney’s hand. She was showing off her chest again and fluttering her lashes.
She’d told Mungo that even though she liked Eliza, she was devastated he was to marry her.
“Sit down, you lot!” Bram called out.
The guests all did as he asked and settled, like hens roosting.
A piano then started playing.
“Where the hell is that coming from?” Mungo looked around them.
“We had it placed in the rotunda. As it turns out, Mavis is an excellent piano player, which none of us knew, and?—”
“Oh Lord.” Mungo sighed as Clemmie started singing.
