“I saw George earlier, he told me you are planning on giving up the criminal trade. Following him, Harry, and Stephen, into an honest life. I came to ask you where that leaves Evangeline and me?” said Gus.
Monsale closed up both boxes and cradled them in his arms. “Come up to the company offices and let’s talk.”
He had never been comfortable spending more time than necessary in the room under the stables. His greatest fear had always been that someone would happen to discover its existence and decided to conduct a raid while he was inside. If they did, he wouldn’t stand a chance. He was far too young to be left for dead in a hole in the ground.
Upstairs in the office, Monsale and Gus each took a seat at the big, old, weather-beaten table. Monsale gently set the boxes down.
Gus stared at his hands for a moment, then cleared his throat. “I think we should seriously consider closing up the smuggling operation. These days I am spending a good deal of my time on the rebuilding of the château, and the new men living on the estate are busy planting crops. The former members of the Lamballe smuggling gang are keen to forge new lives as farmers. Evangeline and I have talked about investing more of our money in developing the land.”
Monsale could understand where his friend’s mind was at, and also his heart. He wanted the same. A life without constantly looking over his shoulder, of wondering if and when it might all come to a sudden end.
“When the Prince of Wales started being friendly to me at the cookbook launch, the first thing I thought was that they were coming for me. Adan had my yacht moved to Dover, and our contingency plans were ready to be put into action,” replied Monsale.
Through his sources at Carlton House, he knew that the prince regent was still sore over not getting his hands on the treasure which George and Jane had uncovered a few months earlier. The court had ruled that they had the right of finders keeper and had thrown out the royal claim. Monsale’s initial thoughts had been that the prince was looking for revenge.
Tapping his finger on the top of the flee box, he met Gus’s eye. “I don’t want to live like that anymore either, I’ve had a lifetime of thievery, blood, and danger. I need to get out. And so do you and your new bride. That’s why the RR Coaching Company will be holding an extraordinary meeting before you and Evangeline leave at the end of next week.”
Monsale’s long-held plans would finally be revealed.
Gus frowned. “Won’t you be on your honeymoon?”
“The honeymoon will have to wait. The oath needs to be made before the prince on the twenty-fourth. Only after my fortunes have been secured will I even think about the post wedding arrangements.”
“I am sorry that this whole business with Prinny has meant that you are being forced into a marriage with someone you barely know. To be honest, I don’t think I could do it. I just hope that in time the two of you can find a way to live together. To create a comfortable existence where you can raise a family.”
Monsale closed up the box and got to his feet. The next few days were going to be difficult.
“Lady Euphemia seems a nice enough girl. We should all give her a chance,” he replied.
Gus said nothing, but it was clear he wanted to say more. Monsale had a horrible suspicion it had a great deal to do with Lady Naomi Steele.
“What else do you have to do before the wedding?” asked Gus.
“A few more minor things. I’m leaving for Monsale Castle this afternoon. Adan will be accompanying me. It’s only right and proper that everything be perfectly arranged for the arrival of the new Duchess of Monsale.”
If everyone was going to have to make the best of a bad situation then it should be done in comfort and splendor.
If he was any sort of honorable bridegroom, he would be sending gifts to his intended, paying her attention before the wedding. But he wasn’t. His agreement with Euphemia was based purely on business and the protection of his family’s future.
Euphemia deserved more than he could ever give her.
She deserves to be with someone she loves. And who loves her.
He headed for the door. “I will see you at my buck’s turn.”
And while the wine and whisky stocks of Monsale Castle were sure to take a hammering the night before the wedding, he was certain that in the morning there was going to be more than one painful headache for which he was going to have to find a cure.
Chapter Eighteen
Being forced to attend the wedding of the man she had always thought she would marry, while he took another woman as his wife, was a particular form of cruelty in Naomi’s opinion. She had offered to remain in London, and avoid the trip to Deal, but Kitty wouldn’t hear of it.
“You played the game and lost. Now you have to face up to the consequences. I’m sorry if this wedding is going to be difficult for you my dear, but you only have yourself to blame.”
Her mother’s words were cold, but true. Somewhere she had made a grave mistake; she had assumed Monsale felt more for her than he actually did.
Standing hands on hips paying the barest of attention while her maid packed her travel trunk, Naomi considered the developments of the past week.
Where did I go wrong? He wanted my name on the list. He kissed me.
