10. A Day of Reckoning

The following morning

The heavens had apparently decided they favored David Engleston’s new life. At least, that’s what he thought when he awoke at dawn to discover the skies were clear.

After kissing his wife to wakefulness and enjoying a morning tumble, he rang for a bath. They ate their breakfast in bed, and after a rather raucous time in the tub—he was sure there was more water on the floor than in the tub when they finished—he helped Marian into her clothes.

About to don the same clothes he had worn the day before, he remembered he had formal attire in his dressing room. “What color gown will I be buying for you today?” he asked as he selected a top coat and dark breeches.

“You won’t be buying my gown,” Marian replied as she pulled a stocking onto her leg. “I intend to have it put on my uncle’s account.”

David watched as her leg disappeared into the knit fabric, the oddest sensation making him wonder if he would always react the same whenever he saw her naked limbs.

He hoped so.

“Does he know that?” he asked.

Marian giggled as she tied the ribbon at the top of the stocking. “He won’t even notice,” she murmured. “His man of business pays his bills. As for color... why do you ask?”

David stuffed his shirt into his breeches. “I thought to wear the same color waistcoat.”

Halting in the middle of pulling on her other stocking, Marian regarded him with a grin. “Do you have a yellow one?”

Disappearing into the dressing room for a moment, David emerged with a pale yellow satin waistcoat embroidered with birds and leaves. He held it up. “It’s the only yellow one I possess.”

“It’s perfect,” she said as she finished tying the ribbon of the stocking. She made her way to stand before him and helped with his cravat as he saw to buttoning his coats.

Then they were off, her arm on his as they made their way down the stairs, out of the house, and into the coach. The trip to Suzanne’s in Oxford Street was quick. David was offered a cup of tea whilst Marian disappeared into a dressing room. When she emerged a few minutes later, wearing a pale yellow gown sprigged with birds and leaves, David nearly spilled his tea.

“How...?” he sputtered, glancing down at his waistcoat.

“Birds and leaves are fashionable,” the modiste remarked. “Shall I wrap it up for you?”

“Thank you, but no. I’ll be wearing it for my wedding today,” Marian replied.

“Then I shall wrap up your other gown,” Suzanne offered. “And best wishes to you both.”

Amazed the visit to the modiste hadn’t taken even an hour, David was helping Marian into the coach when he spotted a florist shop. “I’ll be only a moment,” he said as he hurried off. He returned with a bundle of hothouse daffodils and tulips.

“They’re gorgeous,” Marian whispered as he offered her the beribboned bouquet.

“Not as gorgeous as you are,” he replied. The coach jerked into motion, and all at once, nervousness had David struggling to breathe.

“What is it?” Marian asked, her nose hidden by the yellow and red blooms.

“I hope your uncle doesn’t plant a facer on me when we arrive at the Soho Club,” he said.

Marian tittered. “He won’t. I promise,” she replied. “He might... scold you. Probably scold me,” she added with a grin. “But if the footman relayed your message correctly, then he can’t say he wasn’t warned.”

“Let’s hope Viscount Huntley isn’t still smarting over his wager with your uncle,” David remarked.

Marian’s happy expression faltered at the reminder of the wager. “Huntley is a petty man,” she murmured. “I don’t know why Uncle spends any time in his company.”

David gave a start at hearing the rebuke in her voice. “Haven’t they been friends for a long time?”

She shrugged. “I suppose.”

Concerned over her sudden change in mood—she had been so happy until the mention of the viscount—David angled his body so he could better see her face. “What’s happened?”

Marian dipped her head so her nose ended up in the bouquet. She inhaled deeply before she lifted her face. “He proposed marriage. Several years ago,” she said.

“To you?” David asked in alarm.

She gave him a quelling glance.

“Oh, I apologize. I didn’t mean that the way it sounded,” David said as his eyes widened. “I just meant... I wasn’t aware... well, I didn’t realize he wasn’t already married,” he said lamely.

“He’s a widower,” she explained. “Thought he was doing me—or Uncle, maybe—a favor. I told him I would think on it.” She lifted her shoulder in a shrug. “I didn’t really need to think on it. I knew I did not wish to marry him, so I gave him my answer the next time I saw him.”

“Thank you for turning down his offer,” David said, placing a hand over hers.

She gave him a wan grin. “I think he’s still sore at me. But I told Uncle I couldn’t marry him. He’s old enough to be my father, and I didn’t wish to be part of a marriage of convenience.”

“I cannot blame you,” David replied. “Besides, he’s a bit of a toad. You’re much better off with me.”

Marian giggled. “I already know I am,” she murmured as the coach came to a halt in front of the club.

Pulling the Soho Club cards from his waistcoat pocket—one for entry and the one for the person who could marry them—David offered his arm as they made their way along the pavement to the club’s door. The footman had it opened before David had a chance to show his card.

“Might you know where I could find the person who performs the wedding ceremonies?” David asked.

The footman regarded the calling card a moment and a grin lightened his face. “Mrs. Skarsgard will see to the arrangements. Have you a license?”

“Indeed,” David replied, patting his topcoat. He had stuffed the document into a hidden pocket that morning, worried it might be lost otherwise.

“She’ll take care of the particulars and see to it you two are married by noon. Be sure to stay for the breakfast before you head off.”

Marian and David exchanged quick glances, deciding they wouldn’t mention they would be keeping their rooms for another night at the club. If the footman from the night before had relayed David’s instructions, then Marian’s lady’s maid would have her clothes packed and ready for her to depart for Engleston Park the next morning.

They gave their coats and hats to the club’s butler and made their way up the stairs to Mrs. Skarsgard’s office.

“Ah, you’ll be needing our wedding services,” she said before David had a chance to tell her why they were there.

“You already know?” Marian asked.

The proprietress motioned to the bouquet of flowers Marian held. “New gown, flowers, matching waistcoat...” she replied with a shrug. “The chapel is ready, and the priest will join you there in a half-hour.”

“Chapel?” David repeated.

“Downstairs, end of the hall past the card parlor,” she replied. “We’ll have cake and a breakfast ready for you and your guests once the ceremony is complete.”

David and Marian exchanged glances of surprise. “That’s very kind of you,” David said.

“Well, this is the Soho Club. If we couldn’t see to marrying the couples who meet under our roof, then we wouldn’t be doing our jobs now, would we?”

Marian beamed in delight. “Would you know the whereabouts of Lord Penhurst? I should like him to know about the arrangements.”

“You’ll find him and the viscount in the card parlor. It’s rather quiet in there this morning as most of our other guests have departed.”

“Thank you,” David said as he offered Marian his arm.

They made their way down the stairs and were about to enter the card parlor when they overheard Richard make a comment. Both stopped short.

Marian’s eyes rounded as she stared at David.

David furrowed his brows and scoffed.

“Is it true?” Marian asked in a whisper, her eyes brightening with tears.

Shaking his head, David said. “How could it be?”