ChapterTwenty-Six
They took a full twenty minutes, but the thought of Jamie hovering, aware and protective, dampened passion eventually.
“It’s deuced uncomfortable to be interrupted.We best notcontinue to the conclusion we’re both considering.”
She blushed brightly.“I can wait, I think.There’ll be time to love each other, all the time we want now.”
He started to kiss her again but thought better of it.He took her hand and led her to the stairs.
“Possible, yes.Easy, no,” he said.
She felt her blush deepen when they rounded the corner to the room.Four pairs of eyes met them: Jamie’s dancing, Bailey’s warmed by profound emotion, Dunning’s kind, and Harley’s cheeky as ever.
Harley looked as if he wanted to say, “About time.”Instead, he said, “The wine is getting warm.Thought the major was going to have to fetch you.”
Jamie reached over to pour.“Am I to toast your happiness then?”
“Certainly.Our book is a success.”Andrew gripped her hand as if he feared she would flee.
Jamie lowered his eyebrows.“That isn’t what I meant.”
Andrew continued smoothly.“And my partner agrees to a reprint.A larger one this time, Mr.Bailey.”He grinned down at her.She grinned back like a fool.
“I say!That is splendid.It’s a fine work.”Bailey beamed.
“As to happiness,” Andrew said, pausing to make sure he had everyone’s attention, “yes, you may wish us happy.I have accepted Lady Georgiana’s gracious offer of marriage.”
Jamie exploded with a loud whoop of laughter and clapped Andrew on the back.Dunning looked a bit puzzled by the wording but offered polite congratulations.
Bailey downed the wine Harley offered and quickly made his excuses.“Can just about make London tonight if I travel light.Best get on it quickly while the demand is there.”The little printer rubbed his hands together.“Congratulations again, Mallet.Every happiness, my lady.Every happiness.”
Dunning might have left also, but Andrew asked him to stay.“We have a wedding to plan, Geoff, and not much time to do it.You are welcome to help.”
A wedding!Things were moving too quickly for Georgiana.She felt her stomach flip and the color drain from her face.Andrew squeezed her hand sympathetically.“Weddings are public things, I know, but they must be endured to get to marriage.”He winked again.“I think the sooner we do it the better.Anticipation won’t help.Your family?—”
“Will object no matter what we do.The sooner it is done the better.”
“Good girl.Banns will take too long.”
“I can be ready to travel to Scotland in an hour.”
Dunning looked distressed, and Harley shook his head.Jamie’s face looked insufferably smug.She turned to Andrew, puzzled.
“Actually,” Andrew said, “Jamie had an idea.”
Georgiana gaped at them.The rotten men discussed it before I even had a chance to ask.
“A license, Lady Georgie,” Jamie explained.
“That could prove difficult,” she said.“Only Canturbury can issue a special license.The archbishops are all my father’s relatives or cronies.They’ll put a spoke in our wheel without his permission.”
“Not Ely,” Jamie told her.“Plain bishop, notan archbishop, but he has connections to Canterbury’s staff.He can issue a common license.Doesn’t give a fig about what Canterbury thinks—too old to care.”
“Why Ely?”
“He’s my mother’s uncle,” Jamie said.“If we leave now, we should be back in a few days.”
A bolt of excitement shot through her.That would work.She could go with them, and the bishop could marry them.Then she remembered.A common license meant a week’s wait.
