She patted his arm as they walked toward the door. “Bon. I will tell her.”
When he opened the door for her, she let go and faced him, her smile wide. “I will be here for the wedding. Oui?”
“Yes. I will have an invitation sent today.”
She gave a single nod then waved on Gibson to show her the way out.
He watched her as she reached to open the door and Gibson quickly yanked it open first. His new butler must think him a lord with strange happenings. But he wouldn’t have it any other way.
Walking back into his study, he gathered the papers on Cobby and returned them to the drawer. He couldn’t put Mariel in harm’s way. The threat from his past needed to be put to rest. He must find Cobby and soon. In four days, he was to start a new life with the woman he loved. He planned for it to be a safe life.
Chapter Nineteen
Wedding Day
Mariel sat inthe coach before the parish church not far from Blackmore House. It was half past ten, but no one had come to tell her to alight. Surely, they realized they couldn’t start the ceremony without the bride. Tired of waiting, she opened the door and the footman helped her down. She lifted the hem of her new green dress, the color of spring leaves that Marcus had suggested for the wedding when she’d told him she’d had it made, but had yet to wear it. He said it must match her eyes beautifully.
A warmth filled her chest at the memory as she walked to the back of the coach to check on Zephyrus. Her stallion would be going directly to Blackmore House after the ceremony, so she could ride him in the morning. Just the thought of waking up in Marcus’ London home as the new Viscountess of Blackmore had her stomach jumping. She couldn’t believe she was finally marrying him.
After giving her horse a pat on the neck and some reassurance that he would not be there forever, she walked around the coach to find her family standing outside the church. She hurried forward. They should be inside by now. “Joanna. Amelia. You and your husbands need to go in. We’re late.”
Her sisters looked at her worriedly.
Frowning, she turned to her parents. “Mother, why are you out here? The plan was to be inside by now. Is the vicar not here?” He was an older man, but he didn’t seem to move particularly slow.
Her mother took her hand. “Mare, my darling Mare. We are just waiting for the groom.”
“Marcus? He’s not here yet?” She didn’t want to have an argument on the first day of their marriage, but if he didn’t arrive posthaste, she wasn’t sure they could avoid it. “I do hope whatever it is, is very important. Has his mother arrived?”
Joanna answered. “She arrived before we did. She’s very excited.”
“And did anyone ask her what delayed Marcus?”
“We did.” Amelia nodded toward her husband. “She said when she left, he’d called for Merlin to be saddled.”
She nodded. “Yes, we planned for him to ride Merlin and Mr. Taylour would bring the phaeton, so we could ride back together after the breakfast. Is Mr. Taylour here?”
Joanna’s husband, the duke, shook his head. “Neither Mr. Taylour nor the conveyance is here.”
“Then it appears they’ve been delayed. There’s no hope for it, but to wait.”
The church door opened and the vicar joined them. “Oh, I’m so pleased we have a bride.” He smiled kindly at her. “Do we have a groom?”
She returned his smile. “Not yet. It appears he’s been delayed.”
The vicar scanned her family. “But we have all the family?”
“Yes.” She did have all her family. Or rather almost all. Teddy was still about on the continent and Belinda was gone. She glanced skyward, or perhaps Belinda was watching from above. She liked that thought. “Please tell the guests we will begin shortly.”
There were only a score of people including the six who were her family. She fervently hoped Marcus hadn’t acted impulsively and become hung up in a bind. Marcus being late for his own wedding was not acceptable.
The vicar gave her a slow nod, scanned her family, then returned his attention to her. “I will do as you request, but you should know I have another event to oversee in a short while.”
“Of course. Thank you for waiting.” Even as the vicar disappeared inside the small church, a foreboding crawled up her spine, but she staunchly ignored it.
She strolled over to a stone bench in the front walled-in yard of the church and sat. The day was warm and pleasant. Perfect for the wedding she’d waited years for. Why would Marcus make her wait longer? She’d seen him just three days past, and he’d seemed ready to whisk her away to Gretna Green. So why was he late now?
Unless he’d decided to disappear again. She shook her head. He’d been a bit distracted as they strolled through the arcade, and it was strange that he’d left her to ride home in his coach alone as he went to take care of some business he wanted completed. But he’d been as excited as she, even suggesting that they forgo the obligatory tour of his estates to simply enjoy each other’s presence for an entire fortnight. She blushed at the thought of what he’d meant by that. No doubtThe Illustrated Pleasures of Seductionwould be used to the utmost.
