“You are right, certainly, that we are so very different.” Nathanial sighed and let go of his mother’s shoulders. “But she has brought such a fresh light into my life that I cannot help but flee from the heavy darkness which I have held to myself for so long.”
William went to pour them both a sherry, but looked to Nathanial for a moment as he did so. “Does this mean that your concern over my limp has now finally faded?”
“I do not know if it has gone entirely,” Nathanial admitted, “but Lady Amelia has been a great support to me. Indeed, I have told her about my difficulty, about the trial which has come to me because of my lack of action when I was a young man. I have told her of the guilt within my heart and since speaking with her of it, I find that my heart is released. I do not know what it is about her but I find that there is a happiness within myself which has been absent from me before now. I am well aware that both you, Highcroft and you, Mother, have done your utmost to help me release this guilt from myself but I have not been able to do so as yet. Lady Amelia, however, has been the answer my heart has required and now I step forward into every day with a new hope, a fresh brightness and a love which steals away my very breath.”
Lady Ashbourne put one hand to her heart, her eyes shimmering gently as she blinked back her obvious, happy tears. “Oh, my dear boy. I am so delighted. You love Lady Amelia.”
Nathanial opened his mouth to say that he was not certain of just how deeply he felt for Lady Amelia, only to close it again and smile instead.
“The courtship was very short, however,” Lady Ashbourne continued, looking first to Nathanial and then to William. “I presume Lord Stanton has consented to the match?”
“He has. Though,” Nathanial continued, slowly, “this will be by Special License however, Mother.”
Lady Ashbourne’s smile faded. “I beg your pardon? By Special License? Why should you think to do that sort of thing? You are a Duke! A Duke’s wedding ought to be a great and illustrious occasion and – ”
“It is because he must,” William interrupted, as Nathanial nodded fervently, aware of just how quickly his mother’s frown returned. “There has been a threat against Ashbourne and Lady Amelia.”
Quickly, Nathanial explained what Lord Wilcox had done and expressed to William just how much he valued the expediency which his brother had come to tell him about such a thing. “So therefore, Mother, I must marry Lady Amelia as soon as I can. I willnotpermit Lord Wilcox to do anything to upset what we have together and I fear that, even if Lady Amelia should attend something so much as a ball or soiree, Lord Wilcox will use that opportunity to ruin her.” He shook his head. “Of course, I would marry the lady still should Lord Wilcox attempt to do anything akin to that but I do not want that to happen to her. I do not want her to come to any harm. Therefore, thanks to Lord Stanton’s consent, I was able to explain all of this to Lady Amelia and to my joy, she accepted my proposal. I am to go this very afternoon to seek a Special License and thereafter, we will marry. Lady Amelia is, at this very moment, preparing for the wedding itself and for the wedding breakfast which will take place thereafter.”
Hearing this, Lady Ashbourne went very pale indeed and, looking at Nathanial for a long moment, slowly began to nod. “Yes, yes, I can see that this is wise. Very well, then. I will inform – ”
“Again, Mother, you must not inform anyone.” Nathanial smiled briefly as his mother heaved a sigh. “I would be glad to have a celebration with your friends and the like once the marriage has taken place but prior to it, no-one must know ofour intention. I pray that you would understand this, Mother, for it must be taken with great seriousness.”
“Lord Wilcox could hear of it, Mother,” William put in, gently. “Even if you only told one or two of your friends, even if you begged them to keep it to themselves and even if they promised you that they would, there can be no guarantee that they would do. I do not think that they would do so deliberately, of course, but that it would be done without thought. A servant might overhear it and whisper it about. The gossip could spread and we could have Lord Wilcox knowing of the marriage very easily indeed.”
“But what do you think he could do?” Lady Ashbourne frowned harder. “If he knows of it, then what does that matter? It is not as though he could prevent it.”
“Could he not?” Nathanial said, quietly. “Is there not a part in the ceremony when the clergyman asks if anyone has anything to say which might prevent the marriage? Lord Wilcox could tell many a lie and, of course, the clergyman will be required to investigate such claims.”
Lady Ashbourne’s shoulders dropped. “And in the interim – which could take some time depending on what Lord Wilcox says – he could do something to ruin your engagement.”
“AndLady Amelia,” William added, grimly. “No, Mother, it is best that we keep this to ourselves just until the marriage is over and solemnified. I do hope you understand.”
Nathanial watched as his mother nodded slowly, though her lips were pulled into a thin line. Aware that she had always imagined a large, grand wedding for himself and also, thereafter, for his brother, Nathanial made to say more, only for his mother to let out a loud exclamation.
“This is ridiculous!”
Nathanial looked to his brother but Lady Ashbourne was not finished.
“This Lord Wilcox, howdarehe attempt to ruin your happiness! What foolishness is within him to write such a bet in Whites? Does he not have any sense? Does he think that he is above everyone else, thathecan say and do whatever he likes simply to make himself happy? That seems to me to be nothing but selfishness and arrogance! This should be a happy, wonderful occasion and yet it is going to be pushed aside by Lord Wilcox’s foolishness and his threats.”
“Yes, Mother, it is but that is not the focus.” Nathanial smiled gently and came to stand beside her, before bending down so he might take her hand in his and look up into her eyes. “What we must think of is the fact that I am to marry Lady Amelia and that I shall be joyfully happy in doing it. I promise you that, once the marriage is completed, once Lady Amelia and I have returned to our estate, I will throw a wonderful party for everyone you wish to invite so that we might celebrate this with everyone.”
After a moment, Lady Ashbourne smiled and pressed one hand to Nathanial’s cheek. “Very well, my son. You are quite right. That should not be what I am thinking of. I should be delighted at this news instead of thinking about Lord Wilcox and his foolishness.”
“And you must promise me that you will invite Lady Violet and her family to this party.”
Nathanial lifted an eyebrow to his brother as a quiet squeak left Lady Ashbourne’s mouth. “I beg your pardon?”
“I am considering courting her,” his brother informed them both, a light smile on his face. “I think her quite lovely and mayhap, once news about your marriage has circled through theton,once everything has settled down again, I might ask if she would consider a courtship.”
A broad grin split Nathanial’s face as he got to his feet, striding across the room to give a hearty thump on his brother’sshoulder. “An excellent thought, my dear brother. I think Lady Violet quite excellent – and she is Lady Amelia’s friend also, so that can only be a good thing.”
“I quite agree.” Handing Nathanial a sherry, William then gave the second to his mother and after a moment, picked up his own. “Might I suggest that we make a toast to your happiness, Ashbourne? May your marriage be joyous, happy and contented and may you have all the children that you desire.”
Nathanial smiled and, taking a small sip of his sherry, took in a slow, contented breath. “Yes, may it be just as you have said, brother,” he murmured, as his mother nodded her agreement. “And may I have success when I go to request this Special License!”
“Oh, you will have no difficulty there,” his mother promised, waving one hand flippantly. “You are a Duke and after what you have to explain about Lord Wilcox, I can promise you that it will be granted.” Her eyes twinkled. “You are to be a married man in two days time, Ashbourne! And what a wonderful day that shall be.”
