“You have no idea what we are going to do. It may be no fun at all,” he told her.
Isabelle scoffed at that. “Of course, it’s fun. You two always go off to have fun and leave me behind.”
“Well, come along then. We’re going horseback riding.”
“Oh, good!” she exclaimed and was immediately rushing past them down the hall. “Well? Are you coming?”
“We had best go, or she’ll try to steal my horse next,” Matthew warned John.
“Bullion prefers me to you anyway,” she called over her shoulder, and they all made their way quickly to the stables.
A nice ride through the park was indeed just what Matthew needed, and when he finally returned to the study, the work seemed much easier to complete than he had expected.
I could be ready to leave tomorrow morning and, with any luck, have everything arranged within a short period, with the wedding held quickly after my visit.
If he could get there, relay the pertinent information, and leave, he could be home with plenty of time to spare. But there was no guarantee of that happening.
After all, he had no idea what to expect from the woman who was to become his wife.
Chapter Three
Before the carriage had even stopped in front of the door, Matthew was climbing out of it, not even bothering to wait for the driver to open the door for him.
“We won’t be here long, Edward,” he informed the driver, who gave a curt nod and returned to his seat to wait.
Matthew strode to the front door, knocked sharply, and waited for it to open, which did not take long as the butler promptly admitted him and announced that the Earl and Countess of Waterburry were not at home.
“Is Lady Diana here?” Matthew asked, impatient despite making good time.
“Indeed, she is, Your Grace,” the butler replied. “I shall announce you.”
Matthew could appreciate the expediency of the man, especially as he returned only moments later and bade Matthew to follow him.
“My Lady, His Grace, the Duke of Cardan.”
“Thank you, Townsend,” Lady Diana replied.
Matthew couldn’t help but stare for a moment at the woman before him.
This woman was to be his wife, and he found his mind wandering to just what that would mean.
“Your Grace.” Her tone was polite but certainly formal. Certainly not friendly. And neither were her eyes, which seemed to bore straight into him.
“My Lady.” He gave a curt bow and moved closer to her, holding himself stiffly as he observed the woman sitting just beside her.
It was not one of her sisters. Rather, the state of the woman’s dress seemed to indicate that she was a servant, likely her lady’s maid.
She would do as a chaperone for this quick conversation.
“Lady Diana, I have obtained the special license, and the wedding shall take place in one week’s time. You shall be responsible for the remainder of the planning.”
With that, he turned on his heel and started toward the door, stopping only when her voice broke through the thoughts that were now racing through his mind about what he needed to do upon his return home.
“Wait. We still have much to discuss.”
“There is nothing further to discuss,” he replied, turning back to her. “The wedding shall take place without delay, and we shall move on from this business.”
“We shall get married, in only one week, and yet we know nothing about each other.”
