“Yes and a waste.” Gavin turned again to the smithy. “Well, shall I go witness your marriage?”
“I would be honored.”
“Then let us do it.”
Side by side, they walked toward the building. Jack felt compelled to say, “My actions have never been against you, Gavin. Ever. I was just trying to be my own man.”
Gavin nodded. He might not have been convinced. Jack would have to give him time.
But a new thought struck him. “Mrs.Pettijohn is a widow. Do you not find her attractive?”
Gavin’s answer was a sharp bark of laughter.
“Well?” Jack pressed.
“You would wish on me an old actress with the tongue of a harpy?”
“She’s our age, brother.”
“No, she is older than we are. I know because at one point I made her so angry she said that never in her four-and-thirty years had she met a man who made her want to bite through nails. I took it as a victory of sorts.”
Jack shrugged. “She is a redhead. They are known for strong personalities.”
“True, but I’m not going to marry one. A man needs peace at home.”
And on that note, they entered the smithy together.
Charlene had been watching for them. She approached them and Gavin took her hand and apologized for all that he had done.
“If it wasn’t for you, Your Grace, I would not be here marrying the man I love.”
Gavin released her hand. “You are lucky, Jack.”
Jack clapped a hand on his brother’s shoulder and said quietly. “It will happen to you in good time. Have faith, brother.”
Gavin’s smile turned rueful. He looked to Mr.Lang, who sat on a stool waiting. “I’m ready to witness my brother’s marriage.”
The vows were said quickly. Sarah and the duke signed as the witnesses, and Jack and Charlene were legally married.
There was one awkward moment when Mr.Lang asked for the groom to place his ring on the bride’s hand as a sign of his commitment. Jack didn’t have a ring.
“You need a ring,” Mr.Lang said, with Scottish bluntness. “It is part of my ceremony.”
Of course, the Langs had rings he could buy. “We are always prepared,” Mrs.Lang said cheerily.
The problem was, Jack was very low on funds, something he didn’t want to admit in front of everyone, and still needed to pay for passages to Boston.
Gavin seemed to divine the situation. “Here, for the ceremony, you can use this.” He removed his own signet ring. “The blessing is over the two of you, not the piece of jewelry.”
Mrs.Lang appeared ready to argue but a shake of her husband’s head reminded her that no one countered the Duke of Baynton.
The signet looked heavy and bulky on Charlene’s hand, but it served the trick. After the ceremony, she happily handed it back.
Gavin then hosted a delightful meal at the inn in honor of his brother and his bride. Jack could find no rancor in him and was not only astonished but deeply grateful.
Later, Gavin stunned Jack and Charlene when he announced that his wedding present to them would be passage to Boston from Glasgow, a sure sign that his blessing had been given to their marriage. He even settled the accounts at the inn for their entire party and also generously paid for Mrs.Pettijohn’s trip home by private coach.
That night, Jack opined to Charlene that Gavin might have done that for some peace for his own trip.
