Chapter Six

October 16. 1819

The Albany,

Mayfair, London

At the seven o'clock hour in the morning, Gabriel stood not so patiently while his valet removed every speck of lint and hair from his tailcoat.

"I believe all is well with the tailcoat, Jameson," he said as he peered into the cheval glass. All traces of personal items and clothing had already been packed into trunks, ready to be taken over to his new home. "I am quite passable already."

"While that is true, Inspector, you are getting married in a few hours. What you wear and how you wear it is a reflection of me." With another sweep of the back of the tailcoat, Jameson nodded and pronounced him finished. "How are the nerves this morning?"

He turned about to regard the valet, the man who'd been his friend since they served in the military together seemingly ages ago. "They are making themselves known quite fiercely, I don't mind saying. The last time I did this, I'd hoped it would last forever and that everything would have been ideal, when it was everything but."

When he'd met Albert Jameson, the man who, it was claimed, had a lucky streak which extended to everyone around him, he'd been in sore need of a friend, for war was miserable and lonely. Those in his regiment were far more relaxed than those who weren't, and thanks to whatever stroke of fortune or star the man had been born under, those rumors largely remained true.

They'd immediately connected, and a close friendship formed. By the time Gabriel had left the military, Jameson remained behind, but their friendship had only grown and deepened. When the other man finally ended his career as a captain and had been forced to return to England with a busted knee that resulted in the use of a prosthetic and a cane, Gabriel had been all too willing to offer him employment, such as it was.

And they had been contemporaries ever since. Jameson had been with him through the absolute wreck of his first marriage as well as the time when he'd made his career in Bow Street. And during everything in between, he could always rely on the valet to remain steadfast.

"I fully believe this union will be vastly different than your last," the other man said with a grin. He hobbled over to a bureau and took a stickpin from a shallow dish on top. "Merely due to the fact that the women are different."

"This is quite true, my friend." Gabriel submitted to having the sapphire ornament placed in the folds of his cravat, for it had been a gift from Mary for his birthday this year. "Mary is one of a kind." A sliver of doubt went through his person, for not six hours earlier, they'd found the dead body of her former husband's mistress, which placed her as the number one suspect in the case. It was too early in the investigation to have assembled a list of other suspects. "However, I fear this isn't the most ideal start to a wedding," he admitted in a voice graveled with emotion. Briefly, he told the valet what had occurred earlier.

To Jameson's credit, he didn't immediately respond, but his eyebrows rose in surprise. Then a low whistle emanated from him. "You certainly know how to complicate what should be an easy morning."

"I can only be who I am, my friend." He frowned. "I should have stayed last night, but I didn't. My mind wasn't in a good place."

"You think she is the killer? "

"No, of course not!" Gabriel shook his head. "I just didn't want to be hurt again… not that she would do such a thing, and I supposed I panicked."

"While that is understandable, those fears will never be realized."

"I know. During the course of the interrogation, she told me an emotional, humiliating tale, and if I hadn't already been in love with her, that story would have clenched my regard." He shook his head as his heart squeezed. "In all honesty, we are closer now, and I can't wait to marry her, to protect her." Raising his gaze to his valet's, he sighed. "To give her everything she never had with him ."

"You are a good man, Inspector." For long moments, Jameson stared at him. "Listen, I have known you for many years, and from all I've seen, you are the best version of yourself when Mrs. Tomlinson is around." He offered a grin. "You deserve to have happiness in your life just as much as she does."

"I appreciate that, but there is this case…"

The valet dropped a hand on Gabriel's shoulder. "Put aside murder for a few days, my friend. It can wait. Mrs. Tomlinson needs you more, and unless I miss my guess, you need her as well."

That was the truth, but he also couldn't let a crime go unattended. "I will strike a balance, I promise." Then he grabbed his gloves, top hat, and greatcoat. "Will you come to the ceremony?"

"Of course. I was there for your last wedding, and there is no way I would miss this one; I have a good feeling about it." The valet stepped away. "I will ride over with our luggage and other things. After the ceremony, I will unpack in your rooms. There is nothing for you to worry over beyond that."

"I'm glad to have you with me on this leg of the journey, Jameson." And he hoped to God his relationship with Mary would survive this patch of rockiness.

No. 10 Orchard Street

Portman Square

Marylebone, London

Two hours later, when Gabriel arrived at Mary's townhouse—their home—a sense of belonging filled his being, and he couldn't help his grin as he handed over his outer things.

"Hallo, Davies. Where is Mrs. Tomlinson?" Though he couldn't wait to see her, he didn't want to ruin his first glimpse of her in the wedding finery she'd chosen, not even to reassure her—and himself—that all was well between them .

"From what I've gathered, she is still attending to her toilette and asked not to be disturbed."

"Very good. After all, this is a most important day." The agony and angst from last evening had nearly left his system, and his customary good cheer was slowly returning. He removed his gloves and tucked them partway into his waistcoat pocket. "I don't suppose I could sneak into the kitchen and steal a few tarts while Cook isn't looking?"

"That is quite doubtful, Inspector." The butler chuckled. "She has practically ordered everyone away who isn't connected to her domain. Last minute details apparently make her quite temperamental."

"I can just imagine, so I guess I'll wait until breakfast."

"It will be worth the wait."

"So will everything scheduled this morning," he said with a wink. "Carry on, Davies, and be sure to let me know when the first guests begin to arrive." With a wave, Gabriel continued upstairs to the third level. The first person he saw in the corridor was Cassandra. "Well, hallo, poppet. Don't you look like a pretty little tulip?" His heart squeezed, for she resembled a young lady. Surely it was too soon for all that. Wasn't she yet a child? No, he wasn't prepared for her to grow up so soon, especially when she hadn't fully acclimated to their household.

Cassandra, as near as they could figure, was eight years old, and even though she'd been in their household for six months, still quite skinny, or perhaps willowy was a more apt term. She did enjoy eating, and now there was color in her cheeks and a brightness in her Arctic blue eyes that hadn't been there before. Her wheat-blonde hair was shiny and lustrous, and today it had been braided with those plaits wrapped about her head and pinned like a coronet. A dress of light blue silk covered her lithe frame; a sash about her waist had been fixed in a large bow in the back. Smart matching slippers graced her feet.

Looking at her, one would never know she had previously been an urchin on the streets.

"Are tulips a beautiful flower?" One thing about Cassandra was the fact she always asked questions to learn and satisfy her curiosity about life.

"They truly are." Perhaps this was the perfect time to have a chat with her ahead of the ceremony. "Why don't you come with me into the family parlor?"

"Why?" She pulled the rag rabbit he'd given her from the folds of her skirting, and held it close to her chest. "Have I done something wrong? "

"Of course not. I merely wish to talk with you." It seemed there was still much work to do with her before she felt fully comfortable.

"All right."

Once inside the private parlor, Gabriel sat on one of the low sofas. This room, perhaps more than any other in the house, reminded him of Mary, for the shades of blue and mauve were extensions of her personality. When he patted the cushion next to him, Cassandra promptly came over and perched primly on the edge of it beside him.

"Will you attend the nuptial ceremony this morning?"

She smoothed her free hand over her skirting. "Miss Oliver said that I might, since you and Mary are acting as my parents."

The governess would need to be met with, and soon. "Miss Oliver is wrong in that. We are not acting as your parents; we are your parents. Mary and I love you very much, and we are doing our best to make you comfortable here as our daughter."

She nodded but watched him with wide eyes. "Miss Oliver also said that it was good she was here for me."

"Oh, why?"

Her shrug lifted her thin shoulders. "She said once you wed Mary, you won't have much time for me, and that I would be lost in the shuffle without her."

Bloody hell , the woman needed a dressing down like no other. In fact, once he spoke to Mary, he would strongly suggest they sack Miss Oliver and hire someone else.

Squashing the urge to show his ire, Gabriel sighed. "That isn't true at all, poppet. You will not be lost once Mary and I wed. In fact, we will all finally be a solid family together, a family who supports and cares for each other."

She watched his face, and he hoped to God she found something encouraging and comforting there. "Do you love Mrs. Tomlinson?" As she spoke, she held her rag rabbit tighter against her side.

"More than anything. It took me a long time to find the woman who was meant for me, but I did, and I am quite happy." He smiled at her. "She is a lovely person, Cassandra, and she wants nothing more than for us to be a family." God, it was ludicrous how much he yearned to hear the girl call him "papa" but he would wait until she was ready. "Do you think there will come a time when you might accept her as your mother?"

For long moments, she petted the rabbit's ears then she moved the stuffed toy into her lap and put a hand on its belly. Already, the ivory animal appeared well-worn. She studied him with wisdom far beyond her years in those eyes. Finally, she shrugged. "I enjoy living here, and my bed is lovely." When she gifted him with a rare smile, he was nearly bowled over, for it was quite powerful. "I like Mary. She is interesting and smells good." Her brow furrowed as she frowned. "But mothers leave, Inspector."

"Pardon?"

A tiny huff came from her. "Mothers decide they don't want their children and leave them in dark and frightening places. I don't want Mary to be my mother."

Tiny cracks went through his heart and brought with them tiny aches. But he kept his expression neutral. "I can understand that." Yet surprise and a bit of encouragement took hold in his chest. It was the first time the girl had spoken of something hearkening back to her past. "Mary is not like that, though. She is steadfast and true. Never will she leave you. Not ever."

And neither would she leave him. There was a certain comfort there.

"She brings me a jam tart every morning before breakfast." The ghost of a smile curved her pale pink lips.

Gabriel grinned, for it was one of Mary's ways of showing her affection in the hopes the girl would trust her. "What do you want her to be to you?"

"She can be who she is—Mary. That is her name. I am Cassandra to her because that is my name."

"Right." Once more, he stifled a sigh. The poor child was in desperate need of love and care and protection. Was she waiting for permission in order to get close to them? What more could they do to convince her she wasn't in danger and she wasn't going to be cast off again? "In an odd way, that makes sense." Daring much, he patted her hand. At least she didn't pull away. "I know your soul is wounded; I have felt that myself as well for long years, but Mary made me see things in a different way. She patched up the holes in my soul, and she broke through the wall I put around my heart."

"How?"

It was his turn to shrug. "Simply from being here, for waiting, for hoping, for loving me."

"Oh." She didn't say anything else.

"I hope you will let her do the same for you, but in the meanwhile, please know that you are safe here with us. Nothing will harm you. And if you ever doubt or worry, remember that Mary and I love you so much and want you to have a lovely life with us, so we can be a family." If he wasn't careful, he'd show far too much emotion, and that might spook her.

Another handful of heartbeats went by as she assessed him. "Miss Oliver said adults shouldn't coddle children."

In that moment, he had nothing good to say about Cassandra's governess. "That is her opinion, and I shall talk to her about it, but I have never lied to you. Mary and I run our household as we see fit, and we want everyone here to feel welcomed, content, and safe. If being kind to someone makes them feel better, there is no harm." And damn it all, if he wanted to coddle and pamper and spoil his adopted daughter, that was his right. She'd been deprived of all of it but wouldn't be from him.

For long moments, she was quiet as she fussed with the rag rabbit's ears. Finally, Cassandra nodded. "Thank you for taking me in, Inspector. You and Mary make me feel… better."

And his heart broke all over again, for there was still hope they were getting through to her. In fact, he loved her even more than he had when they'd first taken her in. "I'm glad to hear that."

She nodded and bestowed a faint smile on him. In that, she resembled an angel. "Inspector?"

"Hmm?"

"May I give you a hug?"

This time moisture did fill his eyes, but he nodded as he blinked it away. "Only if you wish it." This was also the first time she'd made such an overture.

The girl leaned over, wrapped her delicate arms around his right arm and hung on tight. When it didn't appear she wanted to move, he dared to slip that arm around her shoulders and scooped her into his side. After a few seconds of holding herself taut and stiff, she relaxed into his hold with a barely audible sigh. Then she burrowed there for a bit before murmuring, "You smell good."

"Thank you." They remained like that for a few moments, then the girl stirred, and the moment was broken. "You'd best scoot, poppet. The ceremony will begin soon. Oh, and you might want to tell Mary good luck. She is probably nervous," he said with a wink. Perhaps she would have a bonding moment with Mary as well.

"I will." With a half-smile, she scurried from the room as Gabriel trailed after her, and as he watched, she moved along the corridor, pausing before the door to the suite he shared with Mary. Seconds later, she lifted a delicate hand and knocked on the panel. She must have been given permission, for she pressed the latch and then hesitantly went inside.

It took more than a few moments for him to compose himself, for that had been quite the breakthrough, and one he hoped would continue. Afterward, he tugged on the bottom of his tailcoat, brushed a piece of lint from his sleeve, and then made his way to the second level and to the drawing room where some of the guests were assembling.

The first couple his gaze landed upon was his brother and sister-in-law—Viscount and Viscountess Stanwick. In recent months, some of the animosity between him and his brother had cleared, but he still wasn't fond of the man.

"Hallo, Stanwick. My lady," he said as he approached them.

They both greeted him. The viscount extended a hand.

"I'm happy for you, brother. You are marrying a fine woman."

"Thank you. I quite agree." As he shook his brother's hand, he caught a twinge of annoyance in the viscountess' expression. Clearly, she was still jealous over the fact that Mary and Frances indulged in a summer tryst ages ago, before either of them had married. "I'm glad to finally make her mine."

And serve warning to his brother's wandering eye that he would not be allowed in a room with her alone ever again.

"It is lovely that you have decided to marry again. I doubted this day would come."

"As did I." Gabriel nodded as more guests trickled into the room. "We shall speak later. Make yourselves comfortable."

For the next few minutes, he personally greeted a few of his acquaintances from Bow Street. There was much good-natured teasing between them, and each one buoyed his spirit. Then Mary's brother entered the room.

"Good morning, Ambassador Swanson," he said as he drifted over to the other man who was the English ambassador to Austria.

"Do please call me William." When the man smiled, he faintly resembled Mary in the eyes and lips. "I am so pleased you are marrying my sister today. Each time I see her, she glows and speaks highly of you."

Heat went up the back of Gabriel's neck. "That is good to know. Mary is the best of all women, and I'm proud to say she'll soon be my wife." He glanced about the room. "Miss Swanson couldn't make it?"

"I'm afraid not. My daughter is facing a couple of exams that she couldn't miss, but she wrote and told me to tell you she would see you both during the Christmastide holidays."

"Ah, well, we look forward to seeing her. My son should be in London then as well."

Eventually, he moved away when an older man and a younger man came into the room with Davies trailing behind.

"Mr. Kirkland, the rector, and his clerk, Mr. Marks."

"Thank you, Davies." Gabriel greeted the two newcomers. "Welcome, welcome. I'm pleased to meet you both and thank you for coming this morning."

The rector was tall and thin with a gray fringe of hair around a bald spot while the clerk was a portly shorter man whose collar points were nearly excessively high.

"I'm glad we can be of service," Mr. Kirkland said with a nod. "It's quite a lovely room. Perhaps we'll conduct the ceremony near the fireplace? The warmth will be most welcome since it's once more raining."

"I'm happy to go wherever you are most comfortable." He and Mary had decided to have the ceremony in this townhouse because they had both been married before and didn't want to have a church ceremony this time around. They'd wanted a private ceremony merely for themselves, and he'd vowed not to ask for the loan of his brother's drawing room.

Then he addressed Mr. Marks. "There is a table set up near the windows for you to use for the registry and any other documentation you shall need."

"Thank you." His deep-set eyes widened. "And we are invited to the wedding breakfast?" As he spoke, the man's stomach released a loud growl.

"Of course. You both are. Enjoy as much as you'd like." He waved a hand toward the fireplace as other guests came into the room. "Let's get you settled."

As he made desultory conversation with the rector, Cassandra came into the room. Somehow, she'd come upon a small bouquet of roses and lilies, perhaps made from some of the arrangements about the room. She was such an angelic cherub that he couldn't help but smile at her. When she caught sight of him, the girl gave him a tiny grin and then hurried to perch on a chair nearby.

Seconds later, Gabriel completely lost the ability to speak or draw breath, for Mary was there, pausing ever so slightly in the doorway.

Good heavens, she's beautiful.

Her gown was of ivory velvet with silver embroidery and seed pearls sewn over the skirting as well as along the bodice. The neckline showed a decent amount of decolletage that had awareness shivering over his person. The long sleeves tapered at the wrist. Silver satin slippers matched the embroidery work and had also been enhanced with pearls, and with each step, they emphasized how petite her feet were. A strand of small pearls was woven into her upswept blonde hair while another rested around her neck, emphasizing how delicate her features truly were.

And she is about to be mine.

Murmurs of appreciation floated through the air, and when Mary reached his location, he finally found his voice.

"There is nothing quite as lovely on the earth this morning as you in that gown." He reached for one of her hands—she hadn't worn gloves so the topaz engagement ring he'd given her winked in the candlelight—and brought the back of it to his lips. "Truly, Mary, you outshine every woman in London. "

A blush of pink stained her cheeks. "Such gammon, Bright," she whispered, before greeting the rector, and they spoke for a few moments.

He happened to glance at Cassandra, and his heart squeezed, for the girl regarded Mary with wide eyes and just a tiny bit of adoration in those depths that he had hope she would soon come ‘round to showing affection for Mary. Her governess Miss Oliver had taken a seat toward the rear of the room, and he made a mental note to speak with Mary regarding the woman.

When she transferred her gaze back to him, Gabriel forced a swallow into his suddenly dry throat. "You are quite handsome this morning, and I'm glad."

"Why?"

"Because after the events of last night, the effect was spoiled for me, but now you are here, and you still wish to wed me." Her voice caught and she said nothing more, yet her chin trembled.

"Ah, sweeting." His heart squeezed, for there was nothing he wouldn't do for this woman. "Marrying you right now is the single most important thing on my schedule."

Softly, Mr. Kirkland cleared his throat while his clerk handed him a linen-bound copy of the Book of Common Prayer . "Are the two of you ready to begin, or are we waiting on others to arrive?"

He glanced about the room and then met her gaze. "I am more than ready to marry this beautiful woman." Then he looked at the rector. "I believe all our guests are here."

And he was anxious to begin.