The Temptation of Lady Serena (24 page)

Her face softened. “Yes, of course, I’ll agree. But I must tell you, Robert, you are the most thorough, tyrannical rake I’ve ever met.” She kissed him softly. “When did you decide we needed the license?”

He glanced at her, chagrined. “The moment you told me you’d marry me.”

C
harles was waiting for them outside when they pulled up to the Hall’s portico.

Robert shook Charles’s hand. “I’m glad you’ve arrived. How was your trip?”

“Fast, my lord, very fast.” Charles grinned and bowed. “My lady, it is my great pleasure to finally meet you.”

Serena shook his hand. “Thank you, Mr. Mariville. Tell me, who is coming and when should we expect them?”

“Lord and Lady Evesham will start out to-morrow,” Charles said, “as well as Lord and Lady St. Eth and your grandmother, my lord. They are all traveling together.”

“Charles, you have the license?”

“Yes, my lord, of course.”

Robert’s shoulders lightened. He’d never before felt his own mortality so keenly. “Good. Let’s go in.”

“Charles, will you join us for tea?” Serena asked.

“Thank you, my lady. Tea is just what I need.” His gray eyes danced. “I hear you’ve been making some changes around the Hall.”

“Not only around the Hall.” Robert gestured. “Come and we’ll tell you all about it. Finster, please send someone to the rectory and ask Mr. Stedman to attend me. When he arrives, I shall want Lady Stanstead as well.”

“Very well, my lord.”

“Charles, while we wait, I’ll tell you what we’ve been doing . . .”

An hour later, after being apprised of all the changes taking place, Charles gave in to a long whistle.

“You two have been busy, and you are about to be a lot busier. All the invitations have been sent out and accepted.”

Robert scowled and cursed the need for a large wedding again.

A look of interest appeared on Charles’s face as Serena reached out and patted Robert’s hand. “It will be fine,” she said. “We’ll manage. Let’s focus on the Hall. There are enough people engaged with the wedding, it will work itself out.”

Finster announced the rector.

John greeted them. “I take it the special license has arrived.”

“Indeed. I’d like to complete what we need to now, so that you only have to sign it, if necessary.”

“Serena?” John asked. “Are you in accordance with this?”

She took Robert’s hand. “Yes, I’ve agreed.”

“Charles, will you act as a witness?” Robert asked.

“With pleasure, my lord.”

Freddy opened the door. “Robert, what do you want?”

“Ah, Freddy, we’d like you to act as a witness.”

“For what?”

Robert explained about the special license.

“Yes, I’d be delighted.”

It was the work of only a few minutes before the license was signed and witnessed. Robert heaved a sigh of relief.

John placed the document in his notebook and glanced at Robert. “I’ll keep it with me and in the event of your untimely demise prior to the wedding, I’ll sign it.”

“Freddy,” Serena said, “we expect Phoebe, Marcus, Uncle Henry, Aunt Ester, and your mother in a few days.”

“Someone will need to tell Catherine,” Freddy said.

“No one’s declined an invitation,” Robert added.

“That doesn’t come as a shock,” Freddy replied. “Even Rupert is attending.”

“My cousin, Rupert?”

“Do you know another one? My son has curtailed his Grand Tour to attend your wedding.”

“I haven’t seen him in years.” Robert turned to Serena. “Rupert must have attained his majority by now. I remember him being full of pluck as a little boy.”

Freddy smiled fondly. “Yes, pluck to the backbone, that’s Rupert.”

Finster opened the door to announce Lord Malfrey and Freddy’s face lit.

She took his hand. “Edward, you know John, but have not met Charles Mariville, Robert’s secretary. Charles, Lord Malfrey is an old friend of mine.”

Edward greeted Charles and accepted a cup of tea, which Lord Malfrey drank quickly. “Freddy, will you walk out with me?”

“Yes, of course.” She turned to Serena. “Please excuse us.”

 

Freddy placed her hand on Edward’s arm, and they walked outside to the folly. She stood looking out over the lake as Edward wrapped his arms around her. “Edward,” she began, “there is a matter I need to discuss with you.”

“There is something I need to discuss with you as well, but first . . .” He bent his head, placing soft kisses down her neck. Soon afterward, Freddy was sprawled naked next to him on the chaise, sated.

“Edward, I need to tell you, when I was sent to marry Stanstead’s heir . . .” Her voice was quiet and she couldn’t keep it from trembling. What if he took what she was about to tell him badly? What would she do if he never wanted to see her again?

“Here.” He tipped her chin up with the crook of his finger. “Look at me.”

She blinked back the tears that threatened. She’d never told anyone. “I was pregnant when I was sent away.”

His eyes widened, and Freddy searched his face before continuing. “I don’t know if my husband ever knew whose child it was. He was never really interested in—in me. After the wedding, I told him I was breeding, he never touched me.”

Edward’s voice was strained. “The child?”

Freddy smiled softly. “His name is Rupert. He’s a strong, intelligent, normal young man. He has the look of the Beaumonts, except for something about his face and, Edward, he has your eyes.”

Edward’s fingers caressed her cheek. “Did you ever tell him?”

“What would have been the point? Legally, he was my husband’s son and now he is the Earl of Stanstead. I only wish I could have told you sooner, that things could have been different. He’ll be here for the wedding, and he’s not at all stupid. When he sees you, he may well put it together.” Freddy searched his face.

Edward’s voice caught. “Thank you. Even if I can never claim him as mine, thank you.”

“I love you, Edward. I always have. There has never been anyone else for me. Having Rupert is the only thing that made my life without you bearable.”

Edward kissed her gently. “If only your father hadn’t sent you away so quickly. If only I’d known . . .”

Freddy held him close to her. “What did you want to say to me?”

He kissed her again. “Freddy, I want you to marry me more than anything in my life. I’ve always wanted to marry you. Will you agree to be my wife?”

She nodded, overjoyed. After all these years, they could finally be together. “Yes, after Serena and Robert marry.”

Edward frowned. “I don’t want to wait. We can marry by special license.”

“But, my love, I’ll be needed at the Hall to help with the wedding preparations.”

He placed light kisses down her jaw. “I have no objection to your spending every day, every evening at the Hall, as long as you spend every night with me. We’ve waited so long already.”

“Very well. Shall we go back and see if John is still at the house?”

Edward smiled.

They arrived as John was making his excuses.

“John, we’ll walk you to the door,” Freddy said. Once they reached the foyer, she told him she and Edward had decided to marry by special license.

He nodded. “Well, this is my week for special licenses. Bring it to me and I will be happy to leg-shackle you.”

“Who else has married by special license?” Edward asked.

“Serena and Robert. It was more of a precaution than an actual wedding,” Freddy explained.

Edward grinned. “Shall we tell them our news?”

“Yes, let’s do. I’m sure they’ll be happy for us.”

They bid John adieu and walked, hand in hand, back to the morning room.

“Do you want to tell them or shall I?” Freddy asked.

“I’d like to make the announcement.”

They walked in together. Robert’s lips twitched and Serena smiled expectantly.

Edward put his arm around Freddy. “Lord Beaumont, I wish to inform you Lady Stanstead has agreed to be my wife.”

Robert gave a bark of laughter. “I wondered if you were ever going to . . .”

“We are so happy for you,” Serena interrupted. “This calls for champagne. Robert, would you please?”

“Yes, my love.” Robert reached for the bell pull and ordered champagne.

Freddy took a seat on a chair next to the sofa. “We’d like to marry quietly.”

Robert exhaled a frustrated breath. “Would that
we
could marry quietly and not raise everyone’s hackles.”

“Why didn’t you marry when you were young?” Serena asked the pair.

“We wanted to.” Freddy glanced at Edward, standing next to her. “We were very much in love. But my father wouldn’t allow it. I was sixteen and Edward was still up at Oxford. He was second in line to the title at the time. Edward had been promised a position in the foreign office. I begged my father to let us wait, but he packed me off to Kent, where I was made to marry Stanstead’s heir.”

The champagne arrived and Robert poured the glasses. He handed one to Freddy. “Didn’t Grandmama help you?”

“She tried, but my father would not be swayed. He’d received the offer just a week after my presentation. He and old Lord Stanstead had been great friends. After we were married, I discovered his son had no interest in me, or indeed any woman. We were rarely in each other’s company.”

Edward picked up the story. “My cousin died shortly after Freddy married and my grandfather arranged a match for me. At the time Freddy was widowed, I was still married. Ellen, my wife, died several years ago, but I knew Freddy had a child, and I couldn’t ask her to leave him.”

“I don’t blame you at all for not wanting to wait now,” Serena said. “I think it’s wonderful that you found each other again!”

“I still plan to be here to help with the wedding preparations,” Freddy promised.

Edward smiled wryly. “That was her only concern. She originally wanted to wait until after you married, but I dissuaded her.” He glanced at Robert. “Now if someone could tell me how I go about obtaining a special license, I’d be grateful.”

Charles came forward. “My lord, if Lord Beaumont permits, I’d be happy to help you.”

“As long as you don’t mind another fast trip, Charles,” Robert said, “I give you leave to post to London to-morrow. You may change horses as often as necessary.”

Edward bowed. “My thanks to you, Lord Beaumont.”

“Malfrey, if you’re going to be my uncle, you can stop calling me Lord Beaumont. Gives a rather off appearance, don’t you think?”

“Then you’d better call me Edward.”

“Done. You’ll dine with us, of course,” Robert said.

Edward grinned. “My pleasure.”

Robert turned to his secretary. “Charles, you’ll dine with us as well. We have a lot to discuss if you’re to hie back to Town to-morrow.”

“Of course, my lord.”

“With everyone arriving soon, I’d better send a note to Aunt Catherine. She’ll want to be here when Uncle Henry and Aunt Ester arrive.” Serena sat at the small desk. She finished the note in short order and rang the bell for a footman to have the missive taken to her aunt. “Well then, let’s retire to dress for dinner.”

Serena met Robert in the bathing chamber. “I feel sorry for poor Charles, having to post back to London almost immediately after he’s arrived.”

“If I know Charles, he’ll drive straight through and back again. I have a feeling he’s taking a good deal of pleasure in all of this.”

“Is he not always so cheerful?”

“Charles’s father, my dear, is a rector. I’ve always suspected he disapproved of my way of life.”

“Ah, and now that we’re marrying, he’s much happier.”

“Yes, and speaking of marrying, come here.” Robert held her to him. “Maybe we should have John finalize the license.”

“Then there would be no need for a large ceremony.”

Robert considered. “I suppose I can wait. It’s not that far off now, and I want everyone to watch us say our vows.”

Serena grinned. “So there will be no mistake that we are actually married?”

“So there will be no mistake. You realize that as soon as the words are spoken, I’ve no intention of sharing you with anyone for hours, if not days.”

 

Mary was in the corridor when Henley came out of the bathing chamber carrying several wet towels.

“Mr. Henley, please allow me to help you with those.”

“Thank you, Miss Mac Duff,” he responded with a slight bow.

“Were all these towels from this afternoon?” Mary asked with widened eyes.

“Yes, Miss Mac Duff, all of them.”

“Oh, my.” Mary took part of his load. “I wonder what they were doing.”

“I would not like to hazard a guess, Miss Mac Duff.”

Mary blinked. “No, indeed, Mr. Henley, nor would I.”

 

Robert waited for Serena when she entered the corridor between their bedchambers. “What would you think of combining our bedchambers after the wedding?”

“If you’d like to do it, I have no objection. I do rather like my room. It’s warm in the afternoon.”

“I rather like your room as well, much better than mine. We can have it done when we’re in London for the Little Season.”

“What a good idea. I’d also like to add a door from the main corridor to our foyer.”

“I’m afraid we’ll also have to order a new bathtub,” Robert said, a little guiltily. “That one is just a bit small.”

Serena smiled slowly. “We did make quite a mess.”

“So Henley pointed out to me.”

“Henley? But he’s so—so . . .”

“Staid, proper, and discreet? That’s the reason I hired him.”

Serena’s smile deepened. “What did he say?”

A look of unholy amusement entered Robert’s face. “He said, ‘My lord, might I suggest you obtain a larger bathing vessel.’ ”

Serena choked on a giggle.

Just at that moment, Mary entered the corridor, gave Robert a narrow-eyed look, dropped a stiff curtsey, sniffed, and entered Serena’s bedchamber.

Robert’s eyes widened. “What was that about?”