“That I do.”
Marjorie rose. “Come,” she encouraged. “You could use a long soak before dinner.”
“That sounds heavenly.”
16
CHARLES WALKEDtowards Henrietta’s townhouse with a bouquet of flowers in his hand. He was rather excited to see her and to share the good news that he had secured a special license. He hoped she would be agreeable to have the wedding tomorrow.
As he neared the townhouse, he heard his name being called from behind him. He turned and saw Brixton approaching.
“Good morning,” Brixton greeted. “I assume those flowers are for the lovely Miss Henrietta.”
“That they are.” Charles pointed at the flowers in Brixton’s hand. “And those must be for Miss Whiston.”
Brixton nodded. “I picked them out myself.”
“Well done,” Charles said.
A bright smile came to Brixton’s lips. “I heard that congratulations are in order.”
“Blazes,” Charles muttered. “How did you hear so quickly?”
“I am quite offended that you did not tell me straightaway, but I assumed you had your reasons.”
“I did,” he replied. “I was hoping to be married before the gossips caught wind of it.”
“Why is that?”
“Because I intend to marry Henrietta with a special license.”
“I assume that this has something to do with her cousin sneaking into her bedchamber and trying to force her into marriage.”
Charles frowned. “You heard about that?”
Brixton put his hand on Charles’s shoulder. “I did,” he replied. “I heard about it at White’s this morning.”
“That is disheartening to hear.”
“You know how servants like to talk, especially when it comes to a tasty piece of gossip,” Brixton remarked. “I do not fault them for that.”
“Poor Henrietta,” Charles murmured.
Brixton removed his hand and dropped it to its side. “What’s done is done,” he said. “If it wasn’t for you interceding when you did, Miss Henrietta would have been forced to marry that blackguard.”
“I refused to let that happen.”
“That doesn’t surprise me,” Brixton said. “You have always been one to help the damsel in distress.”
“I’m not doing this for that,” Charles said. “I’m doing this because I want to marry her.”
Brixton gave him a curious look. “Are you saying Miss Henrietta didn’t want to marry you?”
“Not at first,” Charles replied, “but she came around after some convincing.”
“Why wouldn’t she jump at the chance to marry you?” Brixton asked. “Pardon me for saying so, but you appear to be the solution to all of her problems.”
“True, but Miss Henrietta doesn’t seem to care about convention.”
