Chapter Five

V iolet went to bed shortly after Lord Markham departed. She had to sleep well because she had a thousand items to take care of tomorrow, including preparing for her wedding. Unfortunately, she had a difficult time falling asleep. She kept reliving her conversation with the man she was going to marry.

She didn't want his words to affect her, but they did. He was a gentleman in every sense of the word. He was considerate and took her feelings into account as they made their decision. He asked her opinion and seldom disagreed with her. But most importantly, he made it obvious that he was extremely grateful for the money she was willing to give to him, and he assured her he would only use it for good purposes.

It was obvious that he was an honest and responsible man and that he'd cared for the men under his command. The fact that he was a major in the army evidenced his leadership qualities and his intelligence. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't find any faults to complain about, other than the fact that he was far too handsome for someone as lacking in looks as she was. The moment she closed her eyes, his handsome face appeared before her and interrupted her attempt to sleep.

After several restless hours, Violet rose from her bed. She donned a robe and slippers and went downstairs to the kitchen and made a pot of tea. She carried her tea into her father's study and sat behind his desk.

She often came in here when she needed to think. This was where she felt closest to him. Where she could go to pretend he wasn't really gone. That he was still alive and near her.

"Couldn't you sleep?" a masculine voice asked her from the doorway.

Violet released a startled squeak. "Oh!" she cried out, then clamped her hand over her mouth.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to startle you," Lord Markham said, and entered the room.

"I didn't know you were still here. I thought you were gone."

"I was gone, but I returned. There were several gentlemen gathered near the house. I chased them off, but I wanted to make sure they didn't return, and that none had entered your home."

"Thank you," she said. "Did they cause you any trouble?"

A smile lit his face. "As compared to what? I recently came home from the war. There was plenty of trouble there."

She matched his smile. "I suppose you came up against worse fighting the French."

"Yes. However, most of the French soldiers we fought against were sober when we confronted them."

Violet couldn't stop a laugh from escaping. "You have a very sharp sense of humor, my lord."

"I like to hear you laugh. It's such a happy sound. I don't imagine you've done a lot of laughing lately."

"No, I haven't. There hasn't been a lot to find humor in."

Markham walked to the nearest settee. "Would you like to join me?" he asked.

Violet rose from behind her father's desk and took a seat near him. She had carried her cup of tea with her and waited while he poured himself a glass of brandy.

"Why couldn't you sleep?" he asked.

"I was thinking of the multitude of tasks I have to accomplish before we leave."

"Will you be ready to leave tomorrow, midafternoon, or would you like to wait one more day?"

Violet thought for a few minutes before answering. "Is it possible for us to see what the day brings before making a final decision?"

"Of course. We can leave the following day as well as tomorrow. We'll take it one day at a time."

"Most of what I have to do is to leave instructions for my staff. They will take care of packing and moving everything. Our main job will be to decide which estate to move it to." She paused and looked at him. "Do you have a preference as to where you'd like us to live?"

"The final choice will be left up to you, my lady, but I am going to show you my grandmother's estate first, Parkwood Manor. It's a favorite of mine, and should you choose to wrench it from me, I shall surely shed a tear."

"Oh dear. And if we choose to live there together?"

"Then I will be the happiest of fellows."

"I see. And does it actually have a park?"

"Yes. It was a beautiful park when I was young, with a wooded area at one end. I don't imagine it looks similar now. That was years ago, and it has not had much care since then."

"Perhaps not," she said. "But perhaps it will not take many gardeners long to get it back to its original condition."

"Then we will tour Parkwood Manor first, and if it meets with your approval, we will end our search, as the lesser estates are in various states of disrepair."

Violet nodded her agreement.

"What else do you have on your list for the day?" he asked.

"I'm going to speak with Cook first to arrange food for our wedding feast, and food to take with us. I also want to ask Cook if she would be willing to go with us to our new home and work in our household. She is an excellent cook, and I would hate to lose her."

"That's a wonderful idea."

"I'm also going to take a skeleton crew of staff to clean at least the bedrooms we'll sleep in. I doubt the house has been cleaned in a long while. What is on your agenda?"

"First, I'm going to Doctors' Commons to apply for a special license. Then I'll contact a vicar and bring him back with me so he can marry us."

Violet had heard of such things, obtaining a quick license at the place where legal dealings could be secured, but now the speed of it made her heart lurch.

"Do you have someone to stand up for you?" she asked.

"Not really. If I have time, I might stop at my solicitor's and ask him to do the honors. What about you?"

She shook her head. "I have invited the staff to attend the ceremony as well as the wedding feast. I thought I would ask my lady's maid to stand up with me."

He turned a quizzical look toward her that made her think he disapproved.

"What? Are you afraid someone will find out you dined with the staff?"

He laughed—a robust, startled sound. "Good God no, woman. Quite the opposite. That is an excellent idea. I'm glad you thought to have the staff enjoy the feast, too."

Phillip rose from beside her and walked to the window.

"Are our intruders gone?" she asked.

"Yes. It seems quiet outside. I'm glad."

"Feel free to leave, my lord. It's nearly sunrise. It should be quiet from now on as the word of our marriage spreads."

Phillip studied her face. She truly did not seem worried.

"Yes, I think you are correct. I will gladly stay, though, if you'd like someone here with you."

"No. The staff will be about before long. They will hear any unfamiliar noises and call for a footman. We will be safe. And you need to get some sleep. You won't have long, but at least you can rest for a bit."

"Yes," Phillip said, then walked to where the lady sat and offered her a hand as she stood.

"Thank you for watching over me, my lord."

"My pleasure," Phillip said, then placed his hands on her arms and brought her a little closer to him. "What is your Christian name, my lady?"

The woman he was going to marry later in the day lifted her gaze and smiled at him. The face he was becoming more accustomed to by the hour softened, and the features he'd earlier considered plain turned pleasantly agreeable.

"Violet, but my father always called me Lettie."

"Lettie," he said with a smile. "I like that. It's a happy name."

"What is your Christian name?" she asked.

"Phillip, and that's what everyone called me, at least until I joined the army. I've been called Major for so long sometimes I forget my real name. Now, of course, I'm mostly called Markham."

"Would you prefer to leave your army days in the past?"

"Yes, I believe I would."

"Then I shall call you Markham."

"That would be most satisfactory." Phillip smiled at her, then kept his gaze locked with hers. "I am going to kiss you, Lettie."

"That would be most satisfactory," she echoed.

"Have you ever been kissed?"

She shook her head.

"I haven't kissed anyone in a long while myself, so I might be painfully out of practice."

"That will make two of us," she answered, then met his lips when he lowered his head.

Phillip kept his kiss soft yet firm, with just enough passion so she would enjoy it. He didn't want to go too fast and alarm her.

He kissed her once, then broke it off and kissed her again.

She may be a novice, but she had an innate sense of what to do. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed against him.

He kissed her again and again, then turned his head to break the kiss. He needed to catch his breath, and so did she.

"Are you all right?" he asked when his breathing settled.

"Yes," she answered in a quavering voice.

He wrapped his arms around her to keep her steady on her feet. Her knees seemed to want to give out beneath her.

"You lied," she whispered.

"About what?" he asked.

"You said you were painfully out of practice. If those kisses were out of practice, I'm going to have to work like the devil to catch up."

Phillip laughed hard. She may not be the most beautiful woman in London, but her sense of humor surpassed that of any female he'd ever met.

He lowered his head and placed a kiss on her forehead, then left her and walked out the door. It wasn't until he was almost home that he realized he still had a smile on his face.

Before noon, Phillip arrived at Doctors' Commons and applied for a special license. It took a little longer than he thought it might, but he got it nevertheless. He had a few other errands to which to attend before he could return home, but at this rate their wedding wouldn't run too late. His original plan was to leave for Parkwood Manor after the wedding, but the more he thought of it, the more convinced he was that he and Violet should spend the night in London and travel on to the country in the morning. That way they could arrive at Parkwood Manor in the sunlight and she could get a better look at the house.

He made it to the street and had taken one step into his carriage when a voice sounded behind him.

"Major!"

Phillip turned and smiled. "Captain DeLaney! I didn't know you were in London."

"Nor I, you. I thought you would be rusticating in the country."

Phillip had served with Captain John DeLaney through most of his years in the army. He was an excellent officer and deserved every promotion he'd received.

"What are you doing in this part of London?" DeLaney asked.

"I have just come to acquire a special license." Phillip patted his chest where he'd put the official paper.

"Congratulations!" DeLaney said with a heartfelt pat on the back. "Who is the lucky woman?"

"Lady Violet Slushman."

DeLaney didn't react, so he must not have heard about her inheritance.

"And when is your wedding?"

"Today. If you have time, we would welcome your company."

"I would be delighted. Tell me where and when, and I will be there."

Phillip gave him directions to Violet's townhouse. They chatted a few moments longer, then he turned to leave.

"Oh, Major," Captain DeLaney said, stopping Phillip from getting into his carriage. He turned. "I'm not sure if you've heard, but Jamie Whitecliff has been looking for you."

Phillip's blood went cold. "No, I hadn't heard."

"He claims he has something for you."

"Do you know what?"

DeLaney shook his head. "But I can't imagine it's anything good. Word has it that he took his brother's death hard and blames you for what happened."

Phillip nodded. "I thought he might."

"Just be careful, and watch your back."

"Thanks for the warning, DeLaney. I'll be careful. I didn't survive Napoleon's army just to be cut down by one of my own."

"Good for you. I'll see you in a few hours to meet your lovely bride."

It was all Phillip could do not to wince at DeLaney's words. The fellow would be meeting a woman who described herself not as lovely, but homely. Was it possible he might change her opinion of herself? Only time would tell.

Phillip said his final goodbyes and left. He had to go round to his solicitor's and ask him to attend the ceremony, then pick up a few items to take with them to Parkwood Manor in the morning. After that, he would go to Violet's townhouse and get married.

He realized that even though he hadn't intended to be excited about the turn his life had taken, he was.

And pleased.