He had made an effort with his clothes and, although she found him elegant, she could see he was uncomfortable in his tight-fitting coat and waistcoat and formal neckcloth; he hadbeen spending his days in shirtsleeves and his body was sensitive still. But he smiled and looked genuinely pleased to see her parents, which delighted her. The stiff formality of their previous meeting was gone, and she could see her father had the gleam in his eye that showed he appreciated the company and the conversation.
Mrs Mowat had provided a variety of cold meats, as well as her special honey cake and a pyramid of apples, walnuts and pears. Marguerite poured a cup of tea for her mother and glasses of ale for the men, then stood next to her father and placed an arm around his neck. ‘Papa, I have a mission for you.’
Lord Lennox put his own arm around her waist and said, ‘Whatever you want, my sweet.’
‘Thomas and I have decided we want to get married as quickly as possible—’
‘We have?’ Her beloved raised a sarcastic eyebrow.
She ignored him and continued, ‘—so I would like you to procure a special license for us and find a vicar who will marry us in this very parlour.’
She saw Argyle looking at her with a gleam of unholy appreciation in his eyes, but her mother cut in: ‘Oh non, ma chérie—I have been planning the most magnificent wedding for you, as soon as you get back to London.’
‘Maman,Thomas is not allowed to travel for weeks yet, and people will talk, about me staying here so long.’
‘They are already talking, in my humble opinion,’ said Lord Lennox, winking at her behind her mother’s back.
Lady Lennox looked downcast, and Marguerite said, ‘Please don’t be disappointed,Maman.You can give the most magnificent ball for us, to celebrate our wedding, when we get back to London. Which will be much more magnificent than a mere wedding breakfast. Meanwhile, we,’ she shot Argyle a warning look, ‘want to get married right here, with Jack as a best man, Mrs Mowat as my attendant, and Flossie and Curtis as witnesses. You can be guests, and—oh, your aunt, Thomas.’
‘Great aunt,’ said His Grace, picturing with glee the formidable old woman’s reaction to the news.
‘I think it is an excellent idea, don’t you, my dear?’ said Lord Lennox, patting his wife’s shoulder. ‘And most amusing. I will see to it at once.’
Lady Lennox smiled and stretched her arms towards her daughter, and Marguerite embraced her, then went to hug her father and kiss him on the cheek. When they sat back in their chairs, Lady Lennox said, ‘Perhaps you would like to ask your cousin Alice, also? You know she is staying with us, since her parents had to go to the country.’
Marguerite was stricken with guilt. ‘Oh, poor Alice! I had quite forgotten about her. How could I?’
‘You had other things to think about,’ said her father, laughing.
‘One big thing, at any rate.’ She looked at Argyle, and he smiled at her. ‘But you could have brought her today.’
Her mother said, ‘I did not like to, before I had seen you, and the situation here. But she will make a more suitable attendant for you, since I assume Mrs Mowat will be busy preparing the food. And Alice is very fond of you.’
Marguerite said, remembering how Alice always looked out for her, ‘You are so right,Maman. I shall invite Alice, and you can bring her with you.’
‘That is an excellent idea, my love,’ Argyle said. He addressed his future in-laws. ‘And, since everything is now settled, perhaps you would like to partake of the victuals Mrs Mowatt has provided? You will find we are very well looked after here.’
They helped themselves to cold meats and fruit, and Marguerite sliced the cake. When he had tasted the food on his plate, Lord Lennox said to his wife, ‘Well, my dear, you have been worried about your daughter’s welfare—I think this will set your mind at rest.’
‘Mais, mon cher, it was not her food I was worried about—but her state of mind. But I see all is well.’
She smiled at her future son-in-law. Noticing the look in his eyes when he set them upon her daughter, the way Marguerite kept touching his hand, his shoulder or even his hair as she passed behind him, and remembering the proximity of their bedchambers, she became reconciled to a rapid, unusual and, ithad to be said,déclasséwedding. It would not do for the duke’s heir to be born too soon, would it? She understood her husband’s instant adoption of the idea. She would get her revenge with a truly magnificent ball.
After their guests had departed, Argyle said, ‘I am discovering that you have impressive powers of organisation, my heart.’
‘I am only legalising the ‘naked in bed’ clause of our relationship, as you have asked—nay, demanded. After the wedding I can spend the night in your bedchamber as often as I like. Even Flossie could not object.’
‘Every night, remember? You promised every night.’
* * *
When Flossie heard the news, she said, ‘Good—you know I disapprove of your goings-on, my lady. But I can tell you now I was not surprised when your mother told me you were engaged. I knew you would marry him the day he took you on that drive. You were so excited that morning—you jumped out of bed.’
‘Well, I did not know it yet, Flossie. You must be omniscient.’ She laughed and hugged her, and wondered what she would say if she knew about the night in the library.
Flossie asked, ‘But did you not want a grand wedding, my lady?’
‘No, Flossie, I only want a quick one.’
