The Redemption of Julian Price(23)

My Dearest Henrietta,

It is with the greatest gratitude and humility that I accept your proposal. I shall obtain a license from Bishop Howley with all dispatch and request that you make ready for our imminent return to Shropshire to perform the nuptials. I shall collect you at eight on the day after tomorrow (provided you have not come to your senses by then).

I only hope to prove myself worthy of your trust and confidence.

Your most devoted friend and servant,

Julian

Julian sanded, folded, and sealed both missives and then rang for Gibbs with a sigh. If it must be done, let it be done swiftly.

“You have another visitor,” Gibbs reported. “Are you at home, sir?”

“Another one? Who the devil is it now?”

“Sir Henry Houghton calls, sir.”

“Harry?” Julian repeated in surprise. “Yes, Gibbs, I’ll receive him.” He handed his servant two more missives. “Pray see these delivered posthaste.”

“Very well, sir.”

Julian followed his servant to the foyer, where he greeted Henrietta’s brother with an extended hand. “Harry! What are you doing in town? I thought you would still be in Shropshire dancing attendance on your bride-to-be.”

“I was,” Harry replied. “But a chap needs some breathing room now and again, right?”

“He does indeed,” Julian laughed. “But how on earth did you manage to extricate yourself?”

“Urgent business,” Harry said with a wink. “Penelope never questions matters of business. In truth, I urgently require a new hunter.”

“So you wish to take me up on my invitation to Tatts? Your arrival is ill-timed, my friend, as I have truly pressing matters of my own.”

“What is more important than a trip to Tattersalls?” Harry asked.

“I have personal business with the Bishop of London.”

“The bishop?” Harry screwed up his face. “Why would you be calling on a bishop?”

“I have need of a marriage license,” Julian replied.

“A marriage license? You? What the devil?” Harry looked like he’d swallowed his tongue. “Did you impregnate that Mathieson woman? She’s still your mistress, isn’t she?”

“It’s none of your business if she is or isn’t, and of course not! I take great care to avoid that kind of complication.”

“Then you’ve debauched a virgin?”

“I did nothing of the sort!” Julian snapped.

“Don’t take my head off over it!” Harry replied. “It’s just such a shocker. You said nothing about this the entire time you were in the country. I just can’t imagine you putting your head into that noose without either enticement or extortion. Since it wasn’t one, was it the other? Have you suddenly found yourself an heiress, Jules?”

Julian had wanted to leave it to Hen to break the news to her brother, but now he saw no choice but to speak up about it. In either case, they needed witnesses to the solemnization. It seemed most appropriate that one of these should be Henrietta’s brother.

“As a matter of fact . . .” he began slowly, “your sister and I are to be wed.”

“My sister,” Harry repeated blankly. “But my sisters are already wed.”

“Not all of them,” Julian said.

Harry’s jaw dropped. “You can’t mean Henrietta.” His expression blackened with accusation. “You’ve ruined her, haven’t you? You had your wanton way with her when you drove her to London. You bloody cad! I should call you out!”

“My dear Harry,” Julian spoke with slow articulation, “you should think before you speak. Were you to call me out, your dear Penelope would be attending your funeral rather than her wedding.”

Harry blanched before his eyes. “You know I didn’t mean it, Jules. Heat of the moment and all that rot.”

“I did not seduce your sister. Marriage was Henrietta’s idea. She would like to be wed.”

“To you?” Harry asked, still unable to hide his skepticism.

“Yes, to me,” Julian replied irritably. “I am very fond of Henrietta, and she is rather fond of me. You know that even as children we always enjoyed a particular conviviality and oneness of mind.”

“And now you wish to enjoy oneness of body too?” Harry remarked with a scowl. “That’s what a mistress is for, not my sister.”

“Did you not hear me?” Julian said. “I am speaking of holy matrimony, a state you yourself are about to enter in less than a month’s time.”

“But you didn’t even ask me for her hand,” Harry remarked petulantly. “As the head of the family, don’t I deserve that show of respect?”

So that was the real issue. It wasn’t so much that Julian sought Henrietta’s hand; her idiot brother took exception because Julian hadn’t allowed him to play lord of the manor.

“I had no need to ask you. Henrietta is of an age to decide for herself. Besides, we just came to the decision.”

“And you are already seeking a license? If you insist on doing this, you could at least do the decent thing by calling the banns after Penny and I marry. I’m no expert on women, but I do have sense enough to know that a bride doesn’t like anyone else stealing the thunder.”