“So for a price you could allow a canal to go through that parcel in question.”
“Damnation, I suppose we could.” He feigned shock, then grinned. “Come to me in a month with your proposal. It might be better received if in addition to a payment, you gave us a share of that company.”
“I already have five partners.”
“So now you will have six.” He stood. “I must prepare for this journey. I trust you have a horse for your return, or another carriage down the lane.”
Nigel did not care for being thrown out. He rose in a huff and marched to the reception hall. At the door he paused. “The girl—”
“She will be well cared for. And I will see that your child is educated and raised properly, whether Amelia marries or not.”
Chapter 12
Gretna Green was not the closest Scottish town to Crestview Park, but the roads meant it was the easiest and fastest to access. Two mornings later Nigel’s best coach rolled into the center of the little town and its passengers stepped out.
Old Tom needed help from Thornhill, but Mrs. Hoover, excited by the day’s event and by her first real journey in years, simply jumped down. She tugged Caroline aside. “I’m still thinking we shouldn’t have left them alone together. Jason has been giving her some long looks. I am afraid he is smitten.”
“I am sure they will be fine. We couldn’t all come, and Jason is of more use there than Tom would be.” Caroline had not said one word to Amelia to insinuate she had any concerns about Jason, but she had asked Thornhill to speak to Jason himself. He had refused and insisted that Jason would know what to do. Considering Thornhill’s history, she wondered whatknow what to domeant.
The man in question came toward them with Tom.
“So do we find the anvil?” Tom asked with a big grin.
“I think we can do better than that,” Thornhill said. “Every village has a church. We will find it.”
That did not take long, since it was a small town. Thornhill returned with the vicar in tow, after finding him in a nearby tavern.
“We don’t get many this time of year,” the vicar said. “I’m happy to witness your vows if you want, though.”
They entered the little church, cold and damp and dark on this overcast day. Evergreen boughs rested at the base of each window and around the sanctuary. Caroline removed her muff and handed it to Mrs. Hoover. Hand in hand, skin on skin, Caroline and Lord Thornhill faced the vicar to say the vows.
When it was done, Tom and his wife clapped while Caroline and Thornhill kissed. Then all of them filed back out to the open air.
“Did I hear tell there’s a tavern around the corner?” Tom asked. “Seems to me this calls for a drink of good whiskey to celebrate.”
“You two go,” Thornhill said. “We will be there soon.”
The Hoovers ambled off, arm in arm. Two snowflakes drifted down in front of Caroline’s eyes. Then several more. “Snow,” she said.
Thornhill took both her hands in his and faced her in the churchyard. “I hope it snows every year at this time, to remind us of taking hay in the wagon and the views from the house.”
“I look forward to any future we have together. At Crestview I hope, but wherever you go I will go.”
“Of course we will stay at Crestview. And I can predict the future for you. Crestview will soon be as great as it ever was, and once more that kitchen table will feed fifteen hands and servants. You will have at least two children, a boy and a girl. Amelia will have a son; then she and Jason will have five more. As steward he will live in that cottage, and our children will play together. When the Hoovers pass, we will bury them near your father.”
He believed every optimistic word. Her throat burned on mention of her father. “Won’t you miss London? Your life was there.”
He kissed her. “London is in our future, too.” More snow fell now, dusting their garments. He took her hand and they followed the Hoovers’ path. “We will make long visits, so I can attend Parliament and you can enjoy the theater and parties and have time to order new wardrobes.”
He continued describing a life very different from what she had known, especially the last few years. An impossible life. She allowed his fantasy to sweep her up, however, and she laughed over the details as he continued giving them.
They found the tavern and heard the sounds of cheer within. He reached for the latch, then paused. “I forgot! How careless of me. I meant to tell you that my cousin gave us a wedding gift.”
“He did? What is it?”
“Galahad for two months in the spring.” He opened the door as if he had spoken nothing of consequence.
She could not move.Galahad.Suddenly all the predictions about Crestview and London and new wardrobes became real possibilities.
He smiled at her. “Come inside and get warm, darling, and I will tell you the rest.”
