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“So that’s the story?” Sophie asked.
“That is the story,” Charlotte confirmed. Then she glanced back toward the drive where everyone else was assembled. “His sister wears an eye patch?”
Which Sophie didn’t even notice about Augusta anymore. She smiled at her new relations and said very quietly. “The three of them have managed to survive the worst sort of horrors.” Gabe had only told her a bit about what happened at Frenchtown, but it was positively awful. People burned in their houses, prisoners who were too weak to keep up were killed along the way. “They’re fortunate to be alive.” Then she turned her attention to Cassie. “Aurelie is two years your junior and she has no idea how to navigate the society that will be here for my wedding. I’m hoping you’ll help her.”
Cassie laughed. “You wantmeto help someone else with their comportment?”
“That’s how dire her situation is.” Sophie tugged one of her youngest sister’s curls. “Evenyourguidance can do nothing but help.”
“Dire indeed,” Charlotte teased.
“Oh, stop, both of you.” Cassie turned her attention to Gabe’s nieces slowing making the way toward them. “I will do my best for the girl, and if you have any complaints, you can keep them to yourself.”
“And a limp?” Charlotte muttered, not unkindly, but with concern in her voice. “She’ll be crucified in London.”
Sophie shook her head. “If Augusta ever does head to Town, we shall support her in every possible way.”
Though she doubted very much that her sister-in-law ever meant to do as much. This wedding would be the closest Augusta came to society and she was braving all the unknown names and faces for Gabe.
“Of course we will,” Charlotte agreed. “I’m just worried—”
“Sophia?” Papa’s voice came from within The Hall.
She sucked in an anxious breath. He was still angry, she could hear it in his voice. He’d had over a fortnight to become less angry, but it didn’t sound like it had been enough.
He appeared at the end of the corridor and then he started toward the foyer. “I hadn’t expected you so soon,” he said, then glanced out the open doorway to where Gabe, his relations and Chase were still in conversation near the coach.
“We haven’t ridden for Northend yet, Papa,” she said, hoping she sounded more brightly than she felt at seeing him. “Things at Fairhaven and Oakcliffe took longer than expected, and we didn’t want to risk not being here in time.”
His brow creased at seeing the assembled group approaching them. “That’s Anne’s daughter?” he asked.
“Yes, Papa.”
He shook his head. “I had no idea she existed until your letter arrived. No idea Charles had left his wife and his child.”
His pregnant wife and child, though Sophie didn’t say as much. Papa was already angry, there was no reason to make it worse.
Gabe knew the instant Beckbury reached the threshold. He could feel the man’s hatred even from the walk. It didn’t matter, however. He just had to endure the next sennight in the viscount’s home, and then he’d never have to sleep under the same roof as Sophie’s father ever again.
He smiled a greeting toward Charlotte and Cassandra and was relieved when Sophie’s sisters waved in response. Charlotte even seemed happy to see him.
“Good thing you took Weybourne’s coach,” Chase said conversationally. “Uncle George didn’t expect it and no one would have dreamt of stopping a ducal carriage.”
“It was unplanned,” Gabe replied, but as his gaze settled on his wife, his beautiful and wonderful wife, he stood a little taller. Where would he be if she hadn’t stowed away atop the Weybourne carriage that fateful day? “But I wouldn’t change it for anything in the world.” He tipped his head to the side to better see his friend. “I’m assuming Christian didn’t come with you. I suppose I’ll have to return his coach to London on my own.”
Chase laughed. “The criminals of London,” he mocked Christian’s serious voice, “do not attend weddings in Shropshire.”
Gabe laughed right along with him. Then he said, “Be a gentleman and escort my nieces in, will you?”
Chase nodded toward Augusta and then made his was to Aurelie and Ismérie a few steps ahead of them. “Might I escort two of the loveliest ladies in all of Shropshire into Hampton Hall?”
Gabe’s nieces giggled but they each took one of his proffered arms and continued at a quicker pace than Augusta was able. He squeezed his sister’s hand in the crook of his arm and said, “I am so glad you agreed to come.”
She smiled up at him. “I wouldn’t miss your second wedding for anything in the world.”
“So long as you tell everyone it’s myfirstwedding, Beckbury won’t throw us all out on our ears.”
“Is that him?” she asked. “That austere gentleman with Sophie and…”
