Upon arriving in London, Garrett went directly to Burtis Hall, one of the more imposing manors in Mayfield. He’d visited Ravensdale before, but only on business, and with much less at stake. He and the earl were to sort out the marriage contracts.
Unless, of course, Natalie had come to her senses and decided to call the entire thing off.
Each time he expressed his concerns, they fell on deaf ears. When he sat down with Ravensdale that morning, the earl merely lit a cigar and shrugged. “Nothing to do but wait and see.” His future father-in-law showed a surprising lack of concern.
Garrett felt as though he was falling off a cliff.
In drawing up the marriage contract, Lord Ravensdale insisted on including the same dowry he’d promised the Duke of Cortland. Garrett agreed, only so long as the majority was put into trust for Natalie and their children. He would not take her property. The earl did not argue this point. The dowry encompassed considerable wealth, and Garrett refused to benefit in any way monetarily from this marriage.
After agreeing upon and signing the contracts, Garrett had no legitimate reason to wait around. The ladies had gone out that morning. They had left earlier for some fittings on Bond Street and whatnot. Lord Ravensdale jovially slapped Garretton the back and told him that with women, there was no telling how long they would be out. “Get used to it, my boy,” he said, walking Garrett to the door.
Garrett had hoped to spend a few moments alone in Natalie’s company. He’d not spoken with her for over a month. He wanted to behold her smile, hear her laugh. And then he would give her a tongue-lashing for planning their very public farce of a wedding, which promised to be the social debacle of the decade. He still wasn’t sure what to think of it all. What the hell were the Spencers thinking allowing Natalie to go forward with such plans? Would it not have been better for them to tie the knot in some obscure church in the country?
He was going to marry her.
It still seemed unreal.
Since arriving in London, Garrett had spent as little time in public as possible. He attended his duties at Parliament and then usually returned to his townhouse. He did not attempt to visit White’s, Brooks’, or any other club. On the three occasions he’d endeavored to visit his betrothed, she had been away from home. Apparently, wedding apparel required a lady to make several visits to hermodiste. As usual, he turned to work for a distraction.
He’d contracted construction of a new manor to begin as soon as possible. There were a few months of warm weather left, and he did not wish to delay. He was also considering some new investment possibilities. Turning his attention to such details and decisions created a convenient, albeit temporary, diversion. It allowed him a sense of control over his business affairs, at least. He’d long abandoned any semblance of control over his personal affairs.
Just as he was putting away some reports, his butler entered the room to announce a guest.
The Duchess of Cortland?
Garrett directed the butler to escort Her Grace into thedrawing room where he would attend to her shortly. What could possibly be the reason for such a visit? In a vague memory, he recalled she had been a friend of Natalie’s and then married Natalie’s betrothed. Whatever the reason, Garrett found himself both annoyed and intrigued. Was she to give him a piece of her mind for daring to marry such a lady as Lady Natalie Spencer? Pinching the bridge of his nose, Garrett prepared himself for an unpleasant encounter.
He donned his jacket and checked his cravat. Inspecting himself in a conveniently placed looking glass, he then stepped into the front drawing room. He’d had no cause to use it before today. Glancing around, he was pleased to find the room tidy and fresh. The servants who’d chosen to stay on after his father’s death cared for the townhouse impeccably.
A woman, presumably the Duchess of Cortland, sat primly on a brocaded love seat. She was not tight-lipped, and she did not appear to be full of reprimand. She was, in fact, very pretty. She looked quite pleased with the world and herself. Of course, Cortland would not have married a homely woman.
“Cousin Garrett?” she asked tentatively. “If I may be so bold?” She smiled and actually appeared a little nervous. The duchess, nervous? And then he registered her words.
Cousin?
Garrett bowed formally. “I am Garrett Castleton. As to the other, perhaps. Stranger things have happened lately.”
“Please do sit down,” the duchess implored him. “Lady Sheffield is my aunt.”
Her aunt…?
Befuddled initially, it took a moment for him to recall that, although Natalie referred to Lady Sheffield as her aunt, the woman was, in fact, her godmother.
But Lady Sheffield was the duchess’s aunt, in truth.
Her Grace went on to explain, in detail, the family connection.Although a beautiful woman, the duchess aroused not even a stirring of attraction in him. She was his cousin?
She was his cousin.
“And so we are family,” Garrett said. Ah, hell, but this was awkward. He’d not made enough small talk in his lifetime for this sort of thing. Should he discuss the weather? What was the social etiquette for conversing with a lost relation? But then he realized he need not worry. His newfound female relation had no such qualms and went about insisting he attend an event she and the duke were hosting. A water party to launch the Little Season. Hemustattend with the Spencers. She would accept no excuses. It seemed he had no choice.
Feeling as though this just might be the beginning of the end, he agreed. Natalie would see the impossibility of his social position when the guests at Cortland’s party openly shunned him. He hoped she would not receive the same treatment.
And then, as Garrett escorted the duchess out the front entrance, she placed her hand over his.
“I am so pleased for Natalie—and for you.” She spoke softly, but then her voice took on greater conviction. “I will not allow the two of you to be anything butecstaticallyhappy. You see, I attribute Natalie’s intrepidity to my own happiness. She is a courageous and generous lady. And now she is to marry my very own cousin. Thank you so much for your promise to attend. I am most eager to see the two of you together at the party.” And with that, she turned and a footman handed her onto a very elegant crested carriage. A duchess indeed, and his cousin at that!
TWO DAYS LATER
