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Chapter Twenty-Seven
On the carriage journey back to Langston House, Rose appeared preoccupied with her own thoughts, just as Dorian was. As such, they spoke little about what had just occurred, though Dorian could not rid himself of the residual anger he felt toward Rose’s father and the fresh mystery the drunken wretch’s revelations had caused.
Who could it be, if not her father? She seemed so certain and so was I, for I cannot think of anyone else who would wish us harm.As the carriage drew into gravel-strewn circle in front of the house, he got out and helped Rose into the house, unable to relish in the comfort of her hand on his. He was much too distracted for that simple pleasure.
“I thought I might rest awhile,” Rose said, turning to him at the bottom of the staircase.
He nodded absently. “I will have Mrs. Whittaker bring you a luncheon tray, if you would like? You do seem rather pale.”
“Thank you, my love.” She reached up on tiptoe and kissed him gently on the lips, bringing his attention back to her for a moment as he kissed her back. “What will you do?”
He tucked an unruly strand of hair behind her ear. “I thought I would walk with Hudson awhile.”
With that, she proceeded up the stairs to their shared bed-chamber. Watching her go, he contemplated taking an afternoon nap with her, but there was too much on his mind for that. He had an assailant to find, and he would not stop until he had some idea of who had done this to Rose.
“Now, Hudson, where will I find you at this hour?” Squinting at the entrance hall, he made for the drawing-room just down the right-side corridor. After years of knowing one another, he possessed a sixth sense about his best friend’s whereabouts when the weather was fine and there was good brandy to be consumed.
As expected, Hudson was just pouring himself a fresh snifter of brandy when Dorian marched into the drawing room, his mind roiling with investigatory measures he planned to undertake.I will leave no stone unturned until I discover the culprit. Someone in this house must know something. If not here, then someone in the village must be hiding the truth.
However, before he could even begin, Hudson lifted a pamphlet and wafted it like a flag of surrender. “It appears you have become more infamous than I could ever hope to be, despite my attempts to be heralded England’s greatest lothario.”
“Whatever do you mean?” Dorian crossed the room and snatched the pamphlet out of Hudson’s hand. He only had to look at the name,The Tattler, to know what it contained. “A gossip paper? Where did you get this?”
Hudson took a sip of his brandy. “One of the staff had it. Naturally, I confiscated it to uphold your honor.” He gave a low whistle. “But you ought to see some of the vile things they have written about you and our dear Rose. Apparently, she is a bawd whom you encountered at a gambling hall in Shadwell and have been forced to marry as she is in possession of despicable blackmail material.”
“What?” Dorian flipped through the abhorrent pamphlet, his eyes skimming the tawdry, sordid tales that proclaimed to be ‘exclusive truths,’ but all he could see were disgusting lies that dragged Rose’s name through jthe dirt. As for his own name, he did not care about that. His eyes and his past behavior had already muddied him beyond repair, but Rose… She had done nothing wrong, and he would not see her mocked and reviled like this.
“There are details in there that only one person would know about. It mentions seeing the two of you together in a darkened alleyway by the river, and gives her full name: Rose Genevieve Parker,” Hudson said, with a pointed nod to the gossip paper. “I imagine her father thought he could make some swift coin if he offered up some juicy falsehoods about his daughter and her future husband.”
Dorian tossed the filthy rag into the roaring fire that burned in the grate. “So, he did not attack her, but he sought to ruin her in other ways, for his own benefit,” he barked, more to himself than Hudson. “Between the whispers and the gossip and the stares, I do not know why she has not run from me. It would be enough to make anyone flee. Seeing as she has not, I must do everything within my power to silence the naysayers and shield her from the cruelty of society.”
Hudson arched an eyebrow. “What do you plan to do? You know I am here to help you, however I may.”
“The wedding will take place this Saturday, ahead of our initial date,” Dorian declared. “Once she is my wife, the gossipmongers will have no choice but to find something else to prattle about. And it may prevent further attacks upon her, or me. Whoever threw that blade at her sought to frighten her away, so she would not wed me. I grow more certain of that by the day. If we marry quickly, their reason for attacking will be gone, though we should increase security around the estate until Saturday has passed, and for as long as possible after that.”
Hudson nodded. “I can ride to speak with the local militia today, to engage their services for a few weeks. I know the fellow in charge of the regiment, and he owes me a favor after I managed to persuade his wife that he was not at the finest brothel in all of London.”
“Excellent. That should help Rose to feel more comfortable, and I shall certainly sleep easier, knowing the grounds and the house are protected.” Dorian took a breath. “In the meantime, I will speak with the staff and have the preparations made so that Rose and I may marry on Saturday instead of three weeks’ hence.”
Hudson saluted. “I will just finish this, and then I will be on my way.” He downed the last of his brandy. “Would you care for one?”
“No…” Dorian hesitated but knew he could not risk relying on that intoxicating substance again. “No, I do not think I shall. I will require a clear mind to make this work.”
“Very good, Captain.” Hudson jumped up and straightened his shirt collar. “Then, let us brace for a wedding!”
Dorian allowed himself a smile. “Yes, let’s.”
* * *
Startled by the sudden announcement that the wedding would take place a full three weeks earlier than anticipated, Rose worked day and night upon her wedding gown, once the fabrics were delivered to Langston House. Fortunately, the shop’s proprietor had stayed true to his word, and the delivery came the day after their trip to London.
Her eyes stung from sewing by candlelight, and her fingers felt as stiff as they had done after a lengthy stretch at the sewing house in London, but there was pride in what she was doing, this time. And so, she could endure any discomfort for the sake of her precious creation, which came to life with every stitch and layer of silk and lace.
Between laborious hours of sewing and altering, she tried her best to find time to oversee the preparations that were taking place at the estate’s chapel, though Mrs. Whittaker seemed to have it all in hand, wrangling the staff with militant precision. Indeed, the housekeeper almost appeared excited about the upcoming nuptials, despite her previous distaste for the union.
Today, I’ll become Dorian’s wife. Today, we’ll bind our love in front of God. Today, I’ll be the happiest woman in the world.Rose looked to the housekeeper, who had taken on the role of lady’s maid and mother-of-the-bride to ensure that Rose was presentable for her wedding day, which had come around so fast that it made Rose’s head spin.
“Is everything as it should be, at the chapel?” Rose asked, as she finally unveiled her wedding gown and brushed her fingertips across the beautiful silk and detailed daisies which she had embroidered by hand.
