Loving a Fearless Duchess: A Historical Regency Romance Book(40)

“Good morning, Waters,” Nash said.

“Good morning, Your Grace,” he said and bowed.

“I trust you were waiting for our arrival?”

“I was. Please come in.”

Nash, Penelope, Cecilia, and Edward walked in. “Is Avery available?”

“Not yet, Your Grace. He asked me to pass along the message that you should start without him. I believe the maids have started packing for Lady Balfour and the Duchess, Your Grace. Lord Balfour’s valet has also begun.”

Nash smiled. “Excellent. I’ll take tea in the parlour while they go about packing. Should I send my footmen to the kitchen?”

“As you wish, Your Grace.”

Nash sat in the parlour and looked at the clock on the mantle. How long will it take? One hour? Two hours? God help him if it took more than two hours. The sooner they were out of there, the better. Who knew what calamity might find them? Henry, for instance.

Nash was turning over a scone in his hand, examining it, when Avery entered. They greeted, then they sat, and Avery poured tea.

“Well, Nash. I should ask you for your documentation on your marriage, but knowing you, everything is in order, and it will be a waste of my time.”

Nash nodded. “Correct.”

“We pulled a fast one on each other. You happen to be faster than me.”

Nash shrugged. “Penelope tried to tell you. If you could have found five minutes for her, so much could have been avoided.”

Avery sighed. “Well, time to put it past us, don’t you agree? I trust we can all make nice in public?”

Nash nodded his head. “There is nothing I would like better. There is, however, the problem of Henry. We will ignore him both publicly and privately if he approaches Penelope or me for any reason. My wife has had enough of Henry for a lifetime.”

Avery looked into Nash’s eyes that gave him a small smile. “I’ll try my best. I am not with the boy at every moment, and heaven knows I’ve lectured him against approaching either of you, but I’ll try my best. Truly, I will.”

Nash nodded. “The only other business on the table is the conveyance of Cecilia’s, Penelope’s, and Edward’s things from your country estate to mine. Weather permitting, we may travel there in about two months. I trust you will notify your staff of our arrival?”

“If you get a date or even a week in mind for your trip, I’ll alert them. When will you go on your honeymoon?”

“I’m not sure,” Nash grimaced. “I think we should go now and let Cecilia do a lot of planning for the big wedding. Hopefully, a month in Italy should keep us from getting into too much trouble with the event.”

Avery was nonplussed. “Did you say you’re getting married?”

Nash grinned. “Yes. We are having a rather large wedding. It’s what Penelope wants, so she can have it.

“She wants to walk down the aisle in wedding finery to show our guests that even with a rather large scar, someone loves her. I don’t blame her. Some of the beautiful girls having their season were less than cordial to her.”

Avery’s eyes opened wide, “My God, Nash. You’re going through that expense for a three-minute walk down the aisle?”

Nash laughed. “I am. And I’m happy to do it if that’s what she wants.”

They heard someone clear her throat. It was Penelope’s ladies maid Helen. She curtsied.

“Begging your pardon, Your Grace. The Duchess asks for the footmen.”

Nash rose and clapped his hands together. “Thank you, Helen. Does this mean your Duchess is packed?”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

“Do you know of the others?”

“I believe they are ready too.”

Nash gave her a bright smile. “Tell your Duchess they will be sent up.”

She curtsied and left.

Avery slapped Nash on the back. “Well, I’ll let you get to it. Good talk.”

They both bowed and went in separate directions.

*****

Penelope and Nash sat in the parlour drinking tea while the footmen brought Penelope’s things to Nash’s bedchamber.

Penelope’s eyes were bright. “It took no time at all. With Helen working beside me, we took your advice, and packed a little haphazardly. Now, we are here. Now, I’m home.”

“You are. Once you have had a chance to settle in, we’ll go see your mother and brother. I imagine they are as happy as you are.

“But first, we need to talk of our big wedding and our honeymoon.”

Penelope sat up straight and gave Nash her full attention. “I have decided—”

Penelope put up her hand, palm out. “You were just married, so I will forgive you. Don’t you know husbands never began a sentence with ‘I’ve decided’?”

Nash narrowed his eyes. He was in dangerous territory, and he knew it. “Quite right, my dear. As I was saying, I have been thinking about our honeymoon. If you will agree, I would like to leave on it almost immediately.” Penelope went to open her mouth, but Nash put his index finger in the air for her to stop.

“I haven’t forgotten about our wedding. I propose you and Cecilia plan it before we leave, and Cecilia can do your bidding while we are gone. I thought she might even like to do it.”