He chose to keep out the point that her own reputation may have been a little sullied as of late.
“Why do I feel like there is something you are not telling me?” Cedric asked, leaning forward.
“We may have been hurried into the marriage,” Theodore said in a dangerous voice that warned Cedric not to ask anymore, but Cedric had never been frightened of him. They had known one another too long for that.
“Well, I never! The serious, cold and distant Theodore, was caught in a compromising situation with a lady?” Cedric affected an air that was not that different to Lady Sedgwick’s, comically clutching at his chest. Gabriel fell about laughing as Theodore just shook his head. “It’s rather comforting to see you give way to human fallibility.”
“I did no such thing,” Theodore warned him. “Nothing happened between us, it was a mistake, but it will end in marriage.”
Cedric paused a little, a keenness in his eye which suggested to Theodore that his friend didn’t entirely believe him.
“Well, who is the lucky lady?”
“My sister-in-law,” Gabriel answered, a certain coolness in his tone that Theodore hadn’t heard before.
Startled, Theodore jerked his head around to look at his friend.
“You disapprove?”
“I may have thought to protect my new sisters from the likes of him.” Gabriel gestured to Cedric with his glass.
“Oi.” Then Cedric’s insulted expression turned into a smile. “Well, you probably should.”
“Exactly. Even you admit as a rake that ladies must be wary of you, but you…” Gabriel turned his eyes onto Theodore. “I did not think that you of all people would be found closeted in the library with Margaret.”
“Closeted?” Theodore repeated, irked at this choice of word as Cedric burst out laughing. “I was not closeted with her. I was reading and she came in with a spoilt dress.”
“A spoilt dress?” Cedric repeated, his smile growing by the second into an expression of pure mischief. “And as a gallant gentleman, you, of course, had to offer to be of service to her?”
“Something like that,” Theodore muttered resentfully. “It no longer matters.” Though he cast a glance Gabriel’s way, wondering if his old friend was indeed irritated by the turn of events. “I am marrying her, Gabriel. Her reputation will be intact.”
“Just about.” Gabriel agreed with a nod. “I’ll be there all the same. I want to make sure it happens and that you won’t run out of the ceremony.”
“So loyal to his new family.” Cedric raised his glass in the air as a toast. “Admirable, my friend.”
“Thank you.” Gabriel inclined his head.
“I will not be rushing out of the church.” Theodore darkened his voice, to show just how much he found this claim an imposition. “I am a man of my word. I will be there.”
“May I come?” Cedric asked, sitting forward.
“No. It is to be a small affair. Tiny, in fact. We are having no wedding breakfast, no party, nothing of the kind. We’ll have the ceremony and that is it.” At Theodore’s words, Gabriel stiffened.
“No celebration at all? Nothing?”
“No. We are to be married by special license, Gabriel. It is right that we take no excessive celebration in the matter.”
Gabriel nodded though he hardly seemed impressed by the idea.
“Well, I never.” Cedric tutted and then laughed. “I hardly expected to come back from my grand tour to find Gabriel now a devoted family man and you about to wed, Theodore. Have pigs started to fly whilst I’ve been gone, too?”
“Next thing you know, you’ll be getting married, Cedric,” Gabriel pointed out. Cedric nearly spat out his wine again.
“Never,” Cedric assured him. “Well, if I am not able to attend this ceremony, at least you could tell me more about it.”
“There is nothing to tell.”
“Then tell me about your bride?”
