Chapter Twenty-Four

August was on his way to Shadowcrest, the special license he'd bought yesterday tucked into his inner pocket.

Georgina had asked him to stay after the ball ended, and he had gone with her, her mother, and the duke and duchess to a small parlor. His new fiancée admitted that she was so eager to wed him, she had thought having the ceremony in town would be what she wanted, but she revealed that all Strongs wed in the chapel on Shadowcrest lands. That was her preference, and so August agreed wholeheartedly to the plan.

It did make things simpler for all. The duke and duchess had decided the ball they had hosted would be their final public event of the Season since the duchess was increasing. They had already planned to return to Shadowcrest the following day, where their first child would be born. It would also prevent Georgina's family from having to hurriedly pack and make a quick trip to London for the ceremony.

The Dowager Duchess had asked August if he would give them a day at Shadowcrest to make the wedding and breakfast preparations before he arrived. He agreed, seeing to the purchase of the special license yesterday and now driving down to Kent today. The wedding would take place tomorrow morning at ten o'clock.

It had been hard being away from his betrothed. Now that August was fully committed to a love match, he felt the need to be near Georgina. He told himself they would have a lifetime together, and a day apart shouldn't matter. It had, though. She had been constantly in his thoughts. When he had passed a bowl of roses his housekeeper had placed on a table, the scent triggered memories of being in her bed, that faint scent of roses always clinging to her skin.

He had instructed Pole to pack his things, and the valet now rode atop the carriage with the coachman. His London staff knew he would not be returning until next Season at the earliest, and the Reddings would have things well in hand during his absence. Redding had spoken up for the entire household, telling August how pleased the servants were that he was taking a bride.

The thought of soon becoming a married man made him smile. He planned for Georgina to be in his bed every night. He laughed aloud, thinking how he had thought he would be satisfied with a marriage of convenience, getting an heir in what would in effect be a business arrangement, and then retreating from the world. Now, he wanted to be alive in that world, soaking up every moment with a woman who knew him better than he knew himself.

The carriage slowed and made a turn, heading up a wide lane lined with trees. He was on Shadowcrest lands now, a place he hoped would become a second home to him and the children he and Georgina would have. The rich, green land reminded him of Edgefield. He couldn't wait to take his bride there.

And to Scotland. To Dalmara.

After some minutes, the vehicle came to stand in front of an enormous house, one befitting a duke. He saw Georgina standing in the drive, waiting for him, her beautiful face beaming as he exited the carriage. Convention be damned. He rushed to her and pulled her into his arms for a long kiss. Just the taste of her made everything right in his world.

Breaking the kiss, he gazed into those cornflower blue eyes and said, "I have missed you, my lady."

"Not half as much as I missed you, my lord," she said pertly. "Come. The others are waiting for you. I did not want you to see so many new faces as you were besieged by questions. I told them I wanted to greet you myself first, and then they could have at you."

She linked her arm with his as his valet took charge of August's trunks.

"We are having tea on the terrace since it is such a lovely day," she said as they strolled through the impressive house.

"Tell me again whom I will see besides Their Graces and Lady Mirella."

"My youngest sister Effie. She is ten and six and a tomboy like Pippa. Aunt Matty, who is my father's sister. She never wed and had a hand in raising all of us. Then there are my cousins. Caleb is the steward at Shadowcrest. The twins are Allegra and Lyric."

"More twins?" he asked, wondering if twins might be in their future.

Georgina laughed. "They were born on the same day as Pippa and me. My aunt had given birth to two boys previously, but having twins was too much for her. My uncle wanted nothing to do with girls, and so he sent Lyric and Allegra to live with us."

"Your mother had four babes to raise?"

"Yes. She was a first-time mother, and the nursery held the four of us. We had one very stern and organized nanny, but Mama spent a great deal of time with us. Then she added Mirella and Effie to the nursery. It was quite full."

August stopped. "Do you hope we have a full nursery, Georgina?"

Her sunny smile warmed his heart. "Very much so. I have longed to be a mother."

"I am eager to be a father," he admitted. "It was only Peter and myself, but we were quite close. I think it would be wonderful to have a full, noisy nursery, though we might need two nannies instead of one."

They continued through the house, and Georgina said, "Miss Feathers might be present at tea. She is Effie's governess. Actually, she served as governess for all of us when she first arrived, but these days, Effie is her only pupil. She often takes tea with the family and even dines with us sometimes."

By now, they had reached a set of open French doors. Georgina stopped their forward progress.

"Just one more quick kiss, August," she said, her hands claiming his face, pulling him down to her, their lips meeting in a soft, sweet kiss.

She broke the kiss. "That's better."

They stepped through the doors, and he saw the large group gathered on the terrace, two teacarts nearby. Everyone rose, and he greeted the duke, duchess, and dowager duchess first.

Georgina's mother said, "Let me introduce you to everyone else, Lord Edgethorne," moving him toward an elderly woman with twinkling eyes.

"This is Lady Mathilda Strong, my husband's sister," the dowager duchess told August.

He took her hand and kissed it. "I am happy to make your acquaintance, my lady."

She nodded approvingly at him. "I knew Georgie would make a wise choice when she decided upon a husband. Welcome to the Strong family, Lord Edgethorne. And everyone calls me Aunt Matty. I expect you to do the same, young man."

"I am not one to upset the apple cart, Aunt Matty," he said teasingly, earning a smile from the old woman.

Next, the dowager duchess led him to two young women. He recognized Lady Mirella, with her auburn hair and Strong eyes. Lady Effie also had the same cornflower blue eyes which ran in the family, but her hair was golden.

"It is good to see you again, my lord," Lady Mirella said, the large plaster encasing much of her arm.

"I was sorry to hear of your accident, my lady," he told her. "The gentlemen of this Season could certainly have used your company. When might you be freed from your plaster?"

"The local doctor has told me another two weeks," she said, sighing. "It has been an inconvenience, and it is itching to the high heavens."

"I hope it has healed nicely," he replied.

"I am glad Georgie is marrying a military man," Lady Effie said. "I would love to hear stories of where you and your men fought, my lord. I long to travel as my sister Pippa is doing on her honeymoon now, though I doubt I will ever take a honeymoon."

He frowned. "Why not?"

"I have no wish to wed," Lady Effie declared.

"Euphemia!" the dowager duchess scolded. "Just because Lord Edgethorne is going to be family does not mean your tongue should run off with you."

"Sorry, my lord," the youngest Strong said. Then, with mischief gleaming in her eyes, she mouthed, "Not really," causing August to roar with laughter.

The dowager duchess guided him to what had to be her nieces, the twins Georgina had spoken of. Both young women had the same cornflower blue eyes, though up close he saw Miss Allegra had sable hair, while Miss Lyric's was a dark russet in color. Both twins favored one another, but August found he could easily tell them apart.

"And this is Mr. Caleb Strong, my nephew," the dowager duchess concluded.

August offered his hand to the steward, and the two men shook.

"I might have a few questions to ask you," he said. "I was in the military until recently and have now taken over my family's estate in Surrey. Actually, it isn't far from here, being on the border of Surrey and Kent."

Mr. Strong smiled affably. "I would be happy to answer whatever you ask, my lord. I have found my calling in being a steward."

"I couldn't do without Caleb," the duke said. "He keeps Shadowcrest running like clockwork."

"Perhaps I might even come to your country estate and see it," Strong offered.

"Come and sit, everyone," the duchess said. "I have been pouring out as you have been introduced to Lord Edgethorne."

He took a seat next to Georgina and doctored his tea before saying, "It would be nice to have your opinion on a few matters, Mr. Strong. You would be welcomed at Edgefield any time."

"Please, my lord. Call me Caleb."

"I would be happy to do so, but only if you call me August." He looked around. "I hope all of you will call me by my Christian name. My family was small, and I always wanted to have many siblings. I thank you for the warm welcome you have given me today." He paused. "I know you were warned of my appearance. I hope I have not frightened any of you overmuch."

"Georgie would not have chosen to wed you unless you were a good man," Lady Effie said. "Who cares what you look like? We welcome you into our family."

He smiled at the young lady. "I appreciate that welcome, my lady."

"Effie," she prompted. "You cannot go around calling Caleb by his given name and Aunt Matty by hers and not do the same to us. Just make certain you never refer to me as Euphemia. I abhor it!" She looked to her mother. "I know it was your mama's name, Mama. I am happy I received her golden hair, but I am ever so glad you chose to call me Effie. Unless you are scolding me." She glanced back to August. "I am always Euphemia at those times."

The dowager duchess chuckled. "You are as outspoken as she was, my darling girl." She looked to August. "I agree with my family. At least when we are in private together, I would hope that you would call me Dinah. We enjoy the informality when we are alone."

"I am honored you would allow me to do so, Your Grace. That is, Dinah."

Teatime proved to be entertaining. August got to know his betrothed's relatives better, even Daffodil, Effie's cat, who wandered up and jumped into August's lap. Effie assured him Daffy was quite particular regarding whom he made friends with, and she told August he had risen in esteem in all their eyes since he was so accepted by Daffy.

"What are your plans for after the wedding?" Sophie asked. "Will you return to Edgefield?"

He slipped his hand around Georgina's. "We have not really talked about our honeymoon. I would like us to go briefly to Edgefield because that is where we will spend the majority of our year."

"I cannot tell you how happy I am that Edgefield is so close to Shadowcrest," Dinah told him. "It has been terrible having Pippa half a world away from me for so many months, with so many more to come. At least this way, I can see Georgina every now and then."

"I do need to visit a property I have inherited in Scotland. It is from my mother's side of the family. It is in the Lowlands."

"Truly?" Georgina asked, anticipation lighting her face. "We could go to Scotland? Oh, I have never been anywhere. That would be wonderful, August."

"If we like Dalmara, we could visit it each year after the Season," he told her.

"I think Sophie and I are going to stick to what we did this year," James informed the group. "Attend the beginning of the Season and then when the heat arrives in June, return to Shadowcrest."

"We could do the same, August," Georgina said eagerly. "Go to the first of the Season so that we can spend time with family and friends, and then we can travel to Scotland each year." She sighed. "Dalmara just sounds like the most romantic place on earth."

"My mother always said Scotland was beautiful. I suppose we shall soon find out."

"Then let us go to Surrey and Edgefield after the wedding tomorrow. We can stay for a few days, long enough for me to find my way around, and then journey to Scotland," Georgina suggested.

"Oh, you'll miss the house party," Lyric said.

"What house party?" Georgina asked.

"Aunt Dinah said since we did not wish to make our come-outs this year, she hoped we might compromise and allow her to hold a house party for us," Allegra said.

"When would this be, Mama?" Georgina asked.

"I was thinking of the last week in August. Most people are ready to leave the heat of London by then and escape to the country," the dowager duchess said. She turned her gaze to August. "But you will be newlyweds, August. Scotland is a good distance away. You should stay at Dalmara as long as you wish. I can always hold a house party next year, too, if James and Sophie do not mind."

"As long as you organize it, Dinah, we have no objections," James said, laughing. "Sophie will continue to work from Shadowcrest, with Mr. Barnes coming to Kent once a week to keep her apprised of business matters."

Georgina smiled at her cousins. "I am glad you two are allowing Mama to hold this house party in your honor. Who knows? Cupid's arrow might strike one—or both—of you."