Will gave a short laugh. He’d almost forgotten about the main reason he’d left England.
“You were hiding in trees?” Eugénie’s eyes rounded. “Why would you do such a thing?”
He slipped his arm around her waist. “Believe it or not, I’m considered quite the catch in England.”
Andrew grinned. “For the sole purpose of becoming his viscountess, young ladies used to plot to be found in compromising positions with his lordship.”
Eugénie’s jaw dropped for a brief moment. “Did so many fall in love with you?”
If she hadn’t led him such a chase, he might have been a bit insulted by her astonishment. “Not me”—Will tightened his hold on her—“my title.”
Her expression quickly turned to fury. “They will not do so again.”
That was one of the things he loved about Eugénie. “See what a good viscountess you will make me?”
“I shall make you a good wife.” She nibbled on her bottom lip. “I will request lessons from your maman for the other.”
“Nonsense,” Cicely said firmly. “You will be perfect.” She glanced at Andrew. “If only we could be wed as soon.”
Whitecliff set his glass down with a snap. “You shall be. Eugénie, my dear, if you don’t mind, we’ll take theSong Birdinstead of theSidonieand all travel together and hunt down the vicar.”
Cicely clapped her hands. “Papa, this is famous. What a wonderful idea! We shall have a double wedding.” She stopped and her face fell. “What will Mama say?”
Whitecliff’s jaw firmed. “She will, for once, do as I ask her. Now, if you children will see to the packing, I shall send a message to the ship. Eugénie, I imagine your mother will wish to accompany us.”
She squeezed Will’s hand. “And the children.”
He rose. “I’ll tell Tidwell he’ll have to launder my cravats.”
“Yes,” Eugénie said. “He must do that, or he will answer to me. Yet, I think he and I understand each other.”
Will had no doubt his valet did not wish to be on the wrong side of her temper.
“What the deuce is this about your neckcloth?” Andrew studied Will as if seeing him for the first time to-day. “What happened to it?”
“Too much starch. What did you think?”
A wide grin split Andrew’s face. “I thought perhaps Eugénie had tried to string you up.”
Whitecliff groaned and both ladies giggled. Will did his best to frown. “It was a near thing, I can tell you.”
“Yes, it was,” Eugénie retorted. “Now come, we have much to accomplish.”
“Meet back here for dinner,” Whitecliff said. “There is strength in numbers.”
“What time will we leave, Papa?” Cicely asked.
“We sail at first light. Which means we need to be on board before then. I’ll send the baggage down this evening.”
Cicely rose up on the tips of her toes and gave him a kiss on his cheek. “Thank you, Papa.”
He patted her on the back. “Let’s just hope we can bring your mother around, or she’ll be in a taking for quite some time.”
Will had never thought he’d look forward to being married so much. Now he knew how his friends felt and the reason all of them, even Beaumont, were happy to wed. Once they were in England, Will would introduce them to Eugénie. His friends’ wives, Phoebe, Anna, Serena, and Emma would take his wife under their collective wing. He pressed his lips to her head, happy to finally have everything settled.
On the covered terrace of the house in which they were staying, Yves listened to the boy he’d had keeping a watch on Eugénie. The problem was the child’s patois was so strong, he had trouble understanding what the child was saying.
“Dem old ladies, go wi’ dem little ones. Nothin’ else. Den that big one, he ask what I doin’ an’ I leave.”
