That didn’t sound promising. “How has your morning been going?”
She came as close as a lady could to rolling her eyes. “Our mothers are about to make me mad.”
Crewe gave a sympathetic look to his betrothed. “If they get everything they want, we won’t be wed until next year.”
She nodded. “I would dearly love to put my foot down. The problem is that I risk stepping on someone’s toes.”
For the first time, Leo realized how lucky he was in Theo’s family. They knew exactly how to plan a wedding and hold it a couple of weeks later. “This seems to be a common difficulty.”
As they reached Worthington House, Marrow, Sarah, Holland, and Patricia were going up the short walk.
The door opened, and Theo was there waiting for them. “Come with me, I have had our luncheon set up in one of the parlors in the event we take longer than an hour.” She waited until the gentlemen had given their hats to the butler. “Follow me.”
The parlor was a smaller room tucked away next to the large drawing room. There were windows onto a side garden. They all took seats, and Jones led two other footmen bringing soup, various meats, salad, cheeses, bread, and wine.
“Now then.” Theo looked around the table as her guests served themselves. “Chandos has a list of dates that are contiguous with our wedding day. I would like each of you to pick one.”
He passed the paper around, and the couples did as she had asked, then passed the paper to her. Marrow and Sarah had chosen the day before Theo and Chandos’s wedding. Patricia and Holland had chosen the day after, and Felice and Crewe took the day after that.
Theo looked at Marrow, Sarah, Patricia, and Holland. “Have you thought about having a double wedding?”
“No.” Sarah glanced at the other three. “We have not. That is an excellent idea. It would save time and preparation.”
Patricia nodded. “It would allow us to depart earlier. Holland wants to show me some of Europe before we take up our posting.”
“I like the idea as well,” Marrow said.
“Me too,” Holland agreed.
Theo raised a brow at Sarah. “How will you deal with your mother?”
“I honestly believe that once the four of us present Lady Carlisle with our decision, she will make it happen.”
“Mama can be very forceful,” Patricia said. She glanced at Sarah and pulled a face. “She is also a little tired of your mother changing things all the time.”
“She is not the only one.” Sarah groaned. “The sooner everything can be taken out of Mama’s hands, the better.”
Theo looked at Crewe and Felice. “What about the two of you?”
“I have been threatening to elope,” Felice said. “Not that I would, but this is all too much to bear. I understand Crewe is a marquis, but there has been much too much fuss.”
“I agree with Felice.” He glanced at Chandos. “If a duke can wed in two weeks, so can a marquis.”
Theo made the changes to the dates. “Witnesses. Since the four of you are marrying first, Chandos, Felice, Crewe, and I will stand up with you and be your witnesses.”
“Wonderful!” Sarah said. “Then Marrow and I can stand up with you and Chandos.”
“And,” Felice said, “Patricia and Crewe can stand up with us.”
“Now that that has been decided,” Patricia said, “how do we get our mothers to agree?”
“Are your settlement agreements signed?” Chandos asked.
“Crewe and I have agreed to our settlement. We are waiting for the solicitor.”
“Give him a firm date for within the next week,” Chandos said.
“I should have thought of that.” Crewe pressed his lips together. “I allowed myself to be distracted by the less important parts of the wedding.”
