A sudden memory of Gideon’s bare chest while recovering from his head wound at Dr. Thornberry’s residence flashed through her mind. Her mother had already had the discussion with Violet of what went on between a man and a woman, although she was well aware of the act of making love. She had just resolved herself to remaining a spinster before her trip to London. Now, all of that had changed and she welcomed becoming a wife to Gideon in every way. She smiled again with thoughts of her marriage night. The sudden blush creeping up on her cheeks was an indication of exactly how her body was reacting to such intimate thoughts about being with Gideon.
Arianna laughed gaily again. “No need to answer, my dear friend. I think your expression tells me all I need to know. You’re one lucky woman to have found love.”
“I hope love finds you, too, some day,” Violet replied, knowing how much she would miss her dear friend.
But at the same time, Violet couldn’t agree more that she wasindeed a lucky woman. And as she continued working on the waistcoat for Gideon, she could only count the hours in the day until they were reunited and became man and wife.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Gideon entered hisbrother’s home and was escorted to his study, not that he needed to be led and announced since he was perfectly aware of its location. But Harrington was nothing less than holding onto the old ways and naught would change him at this stage of his service to the family.
“My apologies for disturbing you, my lord, but your brother is here to see you,” he droned as he stepped back to allow Gideon to enter.
“My thanks, Harrington,” Gideon said with a short nod.
“Of course, Captain Tyler,” the butler said politely.
Gideon would have teased the man but, in the past, asking him to call him by his given name had only had the poor man stammering the inappropriateness of what such an action might cause. The butler had known him all his life and yet, he still refused to drop the formalities that had been drilled into him from his successor when he’d first served their father.
Asher set aside the work he had been pursuing and came from around his desk. He nodded toward a sideboard holding a variety of drinks but Gideon declined.
“Was your trip to Bracknell successful?” Asher asked, moving to sit in one of the chairs near the fireplace and gestured for Gideon to sit down.
“Yes, but there’s more going on than just receiving Violet’s forgiveness I’m afraid,” Gideon replied taking the other vacant seat.
Asher raised one of his brows. “Oh? What could possibly be occurring in such a small town?”
“Someone is trying to kill my soon-to-be wife,” he answered honestly. He didn’t have long to wait for his brother’s reaction. “We plan to wed as soon as we’re able.”
“What?” he bellowed, sitting forward in his chair. “And why the rush?”
He chuckled although having someone out to hurt Violet wasn’t anything to be laughed about. “Which one are you more concerned with? That she said ‘yes’ or that someone is trying to kill her?”
“Both!” Asher said before shaking his head. “If you’ve forgotten, Violet is already related to me by marriage so of course her wellbeing is of the utmost concern. But marriage so soon? Why is that happening so quickly?”
Gideon shook his head. “I would think that answer would be obvious, brother. I can protect her better if she has my name. I already went to see my godmother yesterday afternoon when I arrived back in London because her husband is a bishop. After I reassured him that both Violet and I were amicable to marrying, he agreed to give us a bishop’s license by the end of next week.”
“A seven-day cooling off period, eh?” Asher smirked knowingly.
“Better than trying to get the Archbishop of Canterbury’s approval. Even with your and mother’s connections that would still take longer than I can wait. I’m worried, Ash.” He decided he needed a drink after all, and rose. After pouring brandy into two glasses, he returned to his seat and handed a glass to his brother who raised the drink in a salute.
“To your upcoming wedding,” Asher said as they clinked their glasses together. “Now, tell me what’s happening with Violet and your concerns for her safety that has you asking for a bishop’s license.”
Gideon began to tell his brother everything that had happened to Violet both at the Lyon’s Den that involved Cosmo Dawkes and all the small accidents that caused his concern once she left London. He paced Asher’s study, glass in hand, becoming more agitated the more he told of the story. “So, you can see why my main concern is to keep her safe.”
“She will certainly benefit with everything the family name can provide. As long as you have some feelings for the lady, I’m certain Patience won’t take you to task for having a marriage of convenience with her cousin on whom she dotes.”
“I can’t honestly saw we’re madly in love but I believe in time our relationship will develop and our feelings will deepen,” he replied, thinking he most certainly had deep feelings for the lady he had yet to say aloud. “It’s Dawkes I’m mostly concerned with at the present. He was seen at the coaching inn she was forced to stay at when she left town. Honestly, Ash, that man has been a pain in my side since Waterloo.”
“Doesn’t mean he had anything to do with what’s happening with Violet without proof,” Asher said, frowning. “Why does he hold such a grudge against you anyway?”
Gideon shrugged. “I moved up in rank faster than he did. It’s the only thing I can think of but whatever anger he’s been holding onto for all these years runs deep.” A quick flash of conversation with Dawkes at the Lyon’s Den caused Gideon to halt his pacing.
“What is it?” Asher asked.
“I didn’t think much of it at the time… just Dawkes running his mouth sputtering about how I should have died on the battlefield.” He poured another splash of brandy and returned to his chair as he rubbed his temple. A vision of them both arguing was a hazy blur reminding him he was surely missing something important. “Do you suppose the major had something to do with my injury and memory loss?”
It was Asher’s turn to shrug. “Again… unless you have proof, then everything will be circumstantial. You’d hardly be able to hold him accountable without any substantial evidence.”
