Mr. Myers shook his head. “That description could be any number of my guests who come and go from my place but I haven’t heard ofthe name being registered as someone who has rented a room. Clearly he’s not a friend of yours,” he muttered coming to a conclusion that wasn’t hard to dismiss.
A grimace lit Gideon’s face while another flash of memory unfolded before him of he and Dawkes on the battlefield in France. It was fuzzy inside his head but he could remember arguing with the man until they were pushing at one another. What was he forgetting? He shook himself from the past to focus on the future. “That, kind sir, is an understatement. We had a run in back in London and it’s my belief that Miss Barnet is bearing the brunt of our dislike of one another and our altercation.”
A snicker left Mr. Myers. “And if my wife was correct after you left the last time, you’re doing your part to protect the young lady.”
“Yes, I am,” Gideon confided with a smile. “In fact, I went home to London to get a bishop’s license so I could marry Miss Barnet without further delay.”
“Heard some rumors that someone was getting themselves hitched but as I mentioned a few ago… I don’t pay too much attention to gossip let alone happenings in the next town over.”
“I’d appreciate it if you would send word to the Raven if you hear or see anything unusual or that might be useful to the constable’s investigation.”
“Of course. And if a Major Dawkes comes snooping around, I’ll let you know that too.” Mr. Myers stood and the two men shook hands. “Now let me find the wife so you can say a proper hello before you go. I can then go check on that door.”
After a pleasant but short visit with Mrs. Myer, a promise to return with Violet, and enough food to see him fed for at least two days, Gideon was back in the saddle making his way to Bracknell. He could only hope that the wedding would go as planned without any further incidents and nothing else had happened while he and Violet had been apart.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Violet looked upas the bell rang out announcing another customer.Gideon!A wide grin spread across her face as she threw down the satchel of herbs, ran around the counter, and threw herself into his arms.
A chuckle came from Owen who came from the back of the room. “I can see Violet will be safe now that you’ve returned,” he said, happily. “I’ll just go to the back and…er… see about what supplies we might need from our storage room. But mind you, I’ll be back shortly.”
As Owen left them to have a short moment of privacy, Violet held Gideon tightly.
“You’re back,” she murmured into his neck before he gently pulled her even closer so she could receive his kiss. She was lost for several stolen moments and reveled in the fact that her judgment of this man had not been misplaced. From the affectionate kiss she was now receiving, he had missed her as much as she had missed him.
“Now, that is a welcome any man would be happy to accept,” Gideon said, grinning, as he studied her closely at arm’s length. “You appear none the worse for wear, Angel. Has everything been quiet?”
“Quiet? When I had no more than a little over a week to plan for an impromptu wedding?” she answered, swatting his arm playfully. “And what took you so long? You did say you’d return in a week.”
“Scolding me already and we’re not even yet wed.” Hetsk tskedher with another roguish smirk. “Is this what I have to look forward to in our upcoming state of wedded bliss?”
She gave a light laugh. “If you were looking for some shy society wife who will only do your bidding, then you best look for another bride, Captain Tyler, because you won’t find any of those traits with me.”
She gave a gasp when he pulled her into his arms and soundly kissed her again. She melted into him and gave in to feeling him this close. Her arm wound around his neck while her other hand rested on his firm, muscular chest. She couldn’t wait to become his wife so they could spend every moment together.
“I want no other woman but you as my bride, Angel.” He began nuzzling her neck and she sighed in pleasure as her knees became weak.
“I’m certainly glad to hear that you still want me, Sir Knight,” she murmured quietly, enjoying the moment of being held in his arms.
“Never doubt it, Violet. Now… tell me the wedding plans were only waiting for the groom to arrive,” he murmured huskily as he placed tiny kisses up her neck, to her cheek and then once again her lips.
It was hard to concentrate on his question when he was doing everything in his power to distract her. “Yes, everything is as ready as could be on such short notice, but, again, you are late,” she reminded him, placing her hand on his cheek. She caressed the prickly stubble that had grown throughout the day with her thumb. “Were there problems getting the license from the bishop?”
He took her hand and raised it to his lips. “I was delayed trying to purchase a new house. One just happened to be put up for sale withina day of my arrival in London. Asher and Patience agreed to help close the deal while I returned here to you.”
“They won’t come for the wedding?” she said, sad that her cousin wouldn’t be in attendance. She frowned.
He kissed her brow. “No need to be so upset, my dear. They both promised to be here in a few days. I thought you’d agree to the short delay since I knew it would be important to have Patience here to witness our nuptials.”
“And your brother, of course,” she added as her frown became a smile. What were a few more days of waiting when she would have the rest of her life with this man at her side?
“I hope that you don’t mind that I also invited a few other friends to the wedding,” he said quietly. “I thought it might be prudent my mother was there along with a few close friends.”
“Yes… of course.” She hadn’t thought of his mother the dowager countess and she could only worry that the woman wouldn’t accept her, an apothecary and business owner, as Gideon’s wife. She raised worried eyes toward him and it was as if he had read her thoughts. He took her chin between his fingers.
“My mother and friends will adore you as much as I do, Violet. There is no need to worry,” he said calmly and whether that was to reassure her or just himself she couldn’t say.
“If you say so,” she replied, and thoughts of who she thought she had seen flashed through her mind. “Gideon, I must tell you that I think I saw Dawkes here at the apothecary.”
