The life after the wedding night? She had perhaps given this less thought. More of the same, she thought, more dash and more passion?
The great irony was of course that “what came after” actually seized Tessa first. Within one month of Captain Marking and the tree.
Just like that, Tessa’s long idealized romantic love was set aside in favor of survival. In favor of “what came after.”
And then Joseph Chance magically appeared, and she wondered if fate might have actually sent her a savior and a happily-ever-after all in the same man.
The possibility made her doubly determined to extract her parents’ speedy blessing, and for every challenge issued by her parents, she had an answer.
“Mr. Chance is not a titled gentleman, no,” Tessa told her father at dinner, “but his dearest friend, a man he loves like a brother, is an earl of considerable means. The Earl of Falcondale. Many of his friends are highly esteemed, I believe. One of his partners is also an earl. The Earl of Cassin.”
Tessa idly set a copy ofBurke’s Guide to Peeragebeside her mother’s plate. Isobel St. Croix raised her eyebrow and picked it up, thumbing to theFs.
“And perhaps I have known my share of young lords through the years,” Tessa went on, “but the titled men who have called on me have been rather...impoverished, if I’m being honest. Debt-ridden or otherwise sniffing around for my dowry. I abhor the notion that I should be married only for your money, Papa. How much more confident we will appear when I marry for actual affection. Joseph is successful in his own right. His interest in meisme. And me alone.”
“Is he successful?” challenged her father. “I hardly see him refusing the dowry, do I?”
“Oh, quite successful, Papa, as you well know. The boys told me they’ve looked in on his company in London. He’s taking the dowry only to finance his next expedition without dipping into his own fortune. He is a shrewd businessman. All of London will marvel at his wealth when he returns from Barbadoes.”
“But this is another concern,” said her mother. “Why marry a man set to leave the country within days of your wedding? A young couple should devote their first year to establishing themselves in London. You should be seen out, you should start a family. How will society acknowledge his business acumen if he is on the other side of the world? Out of sight, out of mind, as you know.”
“Oh, but this way,” said Tessa, scrambling, “we shall have two opportunities to make an impression. This year, we’ll have a grand wedding in high style, and all of your friends will attend. Next year, Joseph will return with his new riches, and that is when we will make the rounds to parties and society functions. Don’t you see? His travels will forestall the usual slide into matronly obscurity after the wedding. We will wait a year and then burst onto the scene anew.”
Tessa forced her most dazzling expressions, gesturing with her hands to paint the picture of acclaim her mother’s vanity could see. Inside, she was trembling, praying she was convincing them.
“Well, he has impressed us more than any other man you’ve trotted out,” her father finally said.
Tessa cringed at the thought of her old life and “trotting out” men.This,she thought,must end.The men, obviously. But also the flirtation, the coquettishness.
If she managed to marry Joseph, she vowed to become a new woman.
“Heisvery handsome and successful,” conceded her mother. “I should relish the looks on people’s faces, I daresay, when he returns and you may bask in your new wealth. One would never wish to boast, of course, but what is boasting and what is a triumphant homecoming? Can you imagine the ball we might give in London, Wallace?” Isobel St. Croix looked into the distance, fantasizing. “And afterward, you would likely move across town... to Mayfair, perhaps? Or Knightsbridge? New vehicles, of course. And who’s not to say—maybe even a country house?”
“Perhaps,” said Tessa, trying not to think of the reality of Joseph’striumphant homecoming.
“Very well,” said her father, sharing a look with her mother. “Your Maman has taught you nothing if not distinction, Tess. To sparkle. To be special. To beenvied. What could be more distinctive than a marriage to an upstart who is poised to shower you with riches? But you must give us time to plan a proper wedding. We will send you off in high style. There will be no doubt in anyone’s minds that this is a union thatmatters.”
Tessa’s heart caught in her throat. “How much time?”
“Four months?” said her mother.
And now Tessa did stomp her foot. She pushed up from the table. “We shall do it in three weeks,” she said.
“Three weeks?”said her mother, strangled.
Tessa nodded with finality. “Joseph cannot enjoy his triumphant return if he postpones his opportunity to go. His partners are already sailing without him. The wedding must be in three weeks or... or we elope.”
Isobel’s face went white and Wallace’s glass froze halfway to his mouth.
An elopement, of course, would be the ultimate embarrassment. Well, perhaps not theultimateembarrassment, but she dare not threaten that.
Tessa crossed her arms over her chest.
“No elopement,” conceded her father, and her mother said, “We shall see what we can manage in three weeks.”
Chapter Four
“But will you be gone so long as a full year, Joseph?”
