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“You’re not the one ruining someone’s life; I am. I don’t think you understand how different your life is going to be now.”
“You just got through telling me that I will have to give up prestigious social functions, fancy clothes, andLadies of Grace. I don’t see what’s so terrible about that. I mean, I will miss the ladies inLadies of Grace, but I don’t care about the meaning behind the group. You said your sister might be friends with me. I like her. It’d be nice to be her friend.”
“My sister is the kindest person you’ll ever meet. There’s no better friend you could have.”
“Then how will my life be ruined?”
For a long moment, he stared at her as if he had expected her to say something else. Then he shrugged. “I suppose if all you want is a friend and to do things that you don’t need money to do, then you’ll be all right.”
“I grew up with a lot of money, and I wasn’t happy. What’s the point in having wealth if you’re miserable?”
He winced. “You were miserable even after leaving the country estate?”
“Things were better after I made some friends, but I didn’t care for the rest of it. All I want is to feel like I belong somewhere in this world. I’m tired of feeling all alone.”
“No one should feel that way. We should all have a place to belong.” He hesitated but then reached for her hand and held it. “I promise that you’ll have a place to belong with me.”
An unfamiliar warmth spread through her. Offering him a shy smile, she said, “That will be nice.”
He returned her smile and gave her hand a gentle squeeze. Though they spent the rest of the ride in silence, he didn’t let go of her hand.
***
The day finally came when they arrived in Gretna Green. From all appearances, everything was safe. The Duke of Winnett seemed to be in London. He hadn’t attempted to kidnap Eleanor at any point during the trip, and the carriage remained in good condition. The night watches had only resulted in hours of boredom. On the surface, it appeared that there was nothing to worry about. But Byron knew better. Now wasn’t the time to drop his guard.
The first thing Byron did was ask the innkeeper to arrange for a priest to meet him and Eleanor at the clothing shop not too far from the inn.
“That’s an unusual request, Mr. Tumilson,” the innkeeper said with a frown. “People are supposed to go to the blacksmith shop to get married.”
“It’s important the priest goes to the clothing shop,” Byron insisted as he placed extra money in front of the innkeeper. “He will have to go in there, stay for a few minutes, leave with an article of clothing, then return in a half hour with the clothing. When he returns, my betrothed and I will be waiting for him in the back of the shop that is away from any windows. I will give the priest the rest of the instructions from there.”
The innkeeper and Eleanor both stared at Byron as if he’d grown a second head, but it was the innkeeper who spoke. “That is the most ridiculous set of instructions I’ve ever heard.”
“They might be ridiculous, but they’re necessary,” Byron said. “Tell the priest I’ll pay him double for doing this.”
The innkeeper was quiet for a few seconds. “Why is this elaborate arrangement necessary?”
“Is there anything illegal about it?”
“No, of course not. It’s just peculiar. No one has ever asked a priest to do this before. People are just happy a priest will marry them without the headache of following the usual procedures for marriage.”
Since the innkeeper seemed determined to get a reason, Byron finally came up with one. “My betrothed and I met in a clothing shop her father owns. Given his untimely death, we thought it would be a good way to remember him.”
The innkeeper rolled his eyes as if that was even more ridiculous than anything Byron had said up to now, but at least he stopped arguing with him. “All right. I’ll explain the situation to Father Thomas Lark. He’s the only priest eccentric enough to do this.”
Byron thanked him then escorted Eleanor up the stairs and to their room.
She waited until he closed the door before asking, “Why can’t we just go to the blacksmith shop?”
Byron went to the window. It was early in the afternoon, so there was a lot of activity outside, and that was going to be to their advantage. If the Duke of Winnett was out there, he would have a harder time seeing him and Eleanor as they made their way to the clothing shop.
Byron turned to her. “If I was going to prevent a wedding, I’d pay attention to the blacksmith shops. I wouldn’t bother to look at a clothing shop.”
“Oh. I suppose it makes sense when you put it like that.”
The corner of his lip turned up. “It’s nice to know you understand reason.”
“I might understand it because I know what’s at stake. The innkeeper, however, thinks you’re the unreasonable one. Even if we had met in a clothing shop, it’s absurd to marry there.”
