Dukes by the Dozen

by Grace Burrowes

  “Not at all,” her aunt said.

  “Now, what time do you want the ceremony?”

  Giles looked at her and shrugged. As far as she was concerned, the earlier the better. “Is nine o’clock too early?”

  “Not at all.” The vicar smiled. “I shall have everything ready.” He turned to leave, but stopped. “You do know that, unlike in England, you must consummate your marriage for it to be legal in Scotland?”

  “We do now,” Giles muttered.

  Thalia took a breath and let it out. They would have to make love before her father could stop them. “Thank you for the information.”

  “I should have told you,” Euphrosyne said, looking guilty.

  Once the vicar had left them, they all looked at each other, and she wondered who would be the first to speak.

  “Well,” Aunt said brightly. “It looks as if we will begin the wedding breakfast without the two of you. With your father here, there really is no other choice.”

  Thalia did not even want to think about what Somerset would do if they had not consummated the marriage before he realized she had married the wrong man. But how were they going to do that? He might very well try to abduct her as he’d done to her sister.

  Berwick pointed to a stone box near the nave. “Fortunately, the stairs in that one lead to a bedchamber.”

  Giles drew her even closer. “How helpful.”

  * * *

  When they gathered after dinner that evening, they received word that Somerset would arrive late on Sunday evening, and a chill ran down Thalia’s spine.

  “He cannot do anything to stop us.” Giles rubbed her back. “I, we, will not allow it.”

  “This must be very carefully planned.” Hawksworth’s brows lowered. “Berwick, you must keep him busy away from the chapel during the ceremony. He cannot know Kendal and Thalia are married until they are well away.”

  Quartus swallowed his wine. “He tried to stop Anna’s and my wedding during the ceremony by objecting. Fortunately, the rector declared that as we were both of age, that was not a valid objection. We were in England, so once we’d signed the register, he couldn’t do anything about it.”

  Markville dropped his head into his hand. “Why any man would not wish one of his younger sons to marry a duchess is beyond me.”

  “There is no accounting for him.” Meg lifted one shoulder. “He tried to compromise both me and Hawksworth the night before our weddings by having a man appear in my bedchamber and a woman in Hawksworth’s.”

  “Guy and I were able to get ahead of him to allow our marriage,” Laia said. “If he had not been convinced of a scandal, he would not have allowed it. As it was, he arrived demanding I return home with him.”

  “You’ve convinced me.” Giles frowned. “How do we keep him out of our way?”

  Berwick leaned back in his chair and drank his wine. “Is he an early riser?” They all looked at each other with puzzled expressions. “Let us assume that he is. When he arrives, all of you will quickly retire. It’s best if he doesn’t see Kendal or question any of you. I’ll post two footmen at his door to escort him to my parlor for breakfast, or he can break his fast in his room. I’ll tell him the wedding is at eleven. I should be able to keep him occupied until shortly before then.” He glanced at Thalia. “I assume he plans to give you away?”

  “He gave Laia away. I imagine he will expect to do the same for me.” Thalia did not care if her father was at the wedding, but she did want her mother. “Is there any way Mama can be there?”

  “Yes,” Berwick said. “She will need to stay out of sight during the ceremony, but she will have enough time to return to her chamber before Somerset is abroad. I’ll put him in my wing.”

  Tears pricked Thalia’s eyes. “I might never see her again after this.”

  Giles took her in his arms. “My love, you will. I’ll make it happen.”

  “I will as well,” Berwick said. “It’s no secret that I was Kendal’s guardian and think of him as a son. I’ll make clear to Somerset that I fooled all of you into thinking he’d given his consent but could not arrive for the wedding.”

  “Maybe we should wait until I find a piece of land bordering his.” Giles kissed her temple. “Then he’d give permission.”

  “It’s not possible,” Markville said. “I tried. He has encroached so much that most of his neighbors refuse to sell if he will own the land. I would have beggared the marquisate for her. Others know there is an opportunity to marry one of their children to one of his.”

  Euphrosyne sat on Thalia’s other side, taking her hand. “Mama will find a way. Never doubt it. She was at my son’s christening, and she is here now.”

  Giles held Thalia as if he’d never let go.

  “I think there is something Meg should tell you.” Hawksworth said.

  She folded her lips and glared at her husband. “It was not my grandmother and me who decided Somerset would offer Thalia to Berwick. It was your mother. She wrote to me and gave me the information.”

  “Sweetheart.” Raising her chin, Giles kissed Thalia gently on her lips. “She wants you to be happy.”

  Then to her great disgust, she broke into tears. This time they were happy ones. Something that all her female relatives understood but none of her male ones did. Finally, they stopped, and the love of her life called for champagne.

  “First a toast to Thalia and Kendal!” Berwick lifted his glass. “May all your days be happy ones! Great health and every good blessing to you.”

  “Hear, hear!”

  She was looking forward to the rest of her life, and thrilled that her family was helping her find happiness.

  “Thalia wants to know the story of the chapel,” Giles said.

  Berwick cleared his throat. “As you might imagine, living where I do, there have been many times over the years when a Duke of Berwick-upon-Tweed married a Scottish lady.” He raised his brows. “Sometimes, the lady was not too happy about it. The tale of the chapel begins at the time when the Marquis of Huntly owned the land adjoining on the Scottish side and wanted to marry his eldest daughter to my ancestor. She declared she would be wed only in Scotland, and the duke declared that she would be wed on his estate, as every other Berwick-upon-Tweed bride had been. She managed to hold up the wedding with her demands, and her father got sick and tired of her delaying the wedding, and said he’d give up a strip of his land that marched along the dukedom’s land so that she could be married in Scotland. Upon the marriage, the land would be part of the dukedom, but that would be her only dowry. Gone were the riches she would have brought to the marriage. As the story goes, it was meant to humble her. The duke was impressed that she kept to her principles, even in the face of her father’s decision, and bought land from her father, but just enough to build the chapel. As the lady and he planned and built the chapel, they fell in love. Later it was rebuilt as it is now. Ever since then, it’s been considered good luck to marry in that chapel.” He took a long drink of wine. “I married my wife there, and I can tell you I loved her until her death, and I still love her.”

  Kendal kept his arms around Thalia as they listened to the story, one he knew and loved. “God willing, we will have a long, loving, and happy marriage.”

  She smiled up at him, her eyes shining. “Yes, God willing. I am glad we will be married there.”

  Her sisters and aunt decided to retire and took Thalia with them. Only one more day, and no one would take her away from him again.

  Brandy had replaced the champagne—Kendal wasn’t certain how wise that was, but a glass or two shouldn’t hurt—and he stared into the amber color as he swirled it around in the glass. The stories about Somerset concerned Kendal greatly. The old duke must be mad, but unless he was exhibiting physical signs of it, no one would be able to obtain a guardianship order. As far as the world was concerned, he might be single-minded, but he was perfectly sane.

  “You must be prepared.” Hawksworth’s voice intruded into Kendal’s musings.
>
  Sitting up straighter, he put his glass on a table. “Prepared for what?”

  “Somerset. He’s not to be trusted. At all. He could arrive tonight or tomorrow morning instead of the evening.”

  Damnation! Kendal clinched his jaw. “We cannot marry until the banns have been read. This marriage must be completely legal so that he cannot attempt an annulment.” The other men were in various stages of thought, but he focused on Quartus, who looked as if he had something to say. Before his marriage, he’d been a vicar. “Quartus, what is it?”

  “There is no law against marrying on Sunday.” He lowered his brows. “What I do not know is if there is a waiting time required between calling the banns and the wedding ceremony. In England, one could conceivably wed immediately after the last banns had been called.”

  Melbrough took a languid drink of his brandy. “It would certainly make it less interesting for you if you could be married without Somerset breathing down your neck.”

  Hawksworth shook his head. “He has to sign the settlement agreements.”

  Rage filled Kendal, and he reached for his glass to throw it. “I don’t care about the damn settlement agreements. I want her.”

  “But she cares,” Markville said in a surprisingly soft tone. “I know Euphrosyne felt it when she thought she would come to me with nothing.”

  Kendal set his goblet down and pinched the bridge of his nose. “If he arrives early, what do we do?”

  Berwick rose. “I shall inform my vicar to be prepared to perform the ceremony on an instant.”

  “Thank you.” Kendal looked at the brandy and left it. He was going to find Thalia. He was going to do—what, he wasn’t sure. He’d never been so afraid of losing anyone in his life. He needed her like he needed air to breathe and water to drink. If it came to it, he’d throw her on a horse and ride across the border until he found someone to marry them. What he would not do was let her father take her away from him. “I shall see you in the morning.”

  Footmen were stationed throughout the large, confusing house. He knew his way, but he didn’t know where Thalia was. Fortunately, he came across one of the maids he knew carrying a bucket. “Do you happen to know which room Lady Thalia has been given? I wish to leave something for her.”

  The servant bobbed a curtsey. “Yes, Your Grace, she’s in the blue room fast asleep.”

  “Very well. I shall wait until tomorrow. Thank you.”

  “A good night, Your Grace.”

  He acted as if he was heading to his room and when she was out of sight, changed course to Thalia’s chamber. He carefully lifted the latch. Thankfully, the door was not barred. But there would be no reason for it tonight. Danger had not yet arrived. Entering the room, he closed it again and turned the key. Kendal waited a bit for his eyes to adjust to the dark before moving further into the room, toward the bed.

  The bed hangings had been left open and from the little light shining through the windows, he could see her. Reaching out with one finger, he caressed her cheek, and her eyes fluttered open. “My love.”

  “Giles?” She clasped his hand. “What is it? Has something happened?”

  “No, not yet.” He perched on the side of the bed. “Your brother suggested that your father might come before he said he would. The vicar will be told to perform the ceremony upon a moment’s notice. I wanted you to know.” That was a lie. He wanted to climb in bed with her and make her his. Now. Before her father could stop them.

  “Thank you.” She rubbed his hand on her cheek. “I shall be prepared.”

  She was so trusting. So innocent. Despite his need for her, he had to wait. If he made love to her now, and something happened . . . He couldn’t think like that. He’d simply trust that all would go as planned. “I shall see you in the morning.”

  Kendal could feel her smile against his hand. “Good night, my love.”

  He walked out of her room directly into Hawksworth, who linked arms with Kendal. “I know it’s hard. But I’m glad you made the decision to wait. Thank you.”

  He should feel embarrassed being caught leaving her chamber, but did not. “It’s the only thing I could do. Under the circumstance.”

  “I thought that was the case.”

  The words were said with feeling, and Kendal knew the man understood his desire for Thalia, his need to see her.

  They reached his room. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

  His valet was waiting when he entered his bedchamber. In almost no time at all, he changed and got into in the large bed. At least Thalia was safe tonight.

  Chapter 7

  Thalia woke early the next morning, determined to take control of her marriage to and her life with Giles. It was all well and good for the gentlemen to plan, but she could do some things as well. Such as find out where the rest of the tunnels from the chapel led. She would accomplish that directly after the service this morning.

  She glanced around the room. Why was there no clock?

  Tossing her covers aside, she threw her legs over the side of the bed. “Mannering.”

  The maid came into the room from a small door at the end of the chamber. “Yes, my lady?”

  “Do you know what time it is?” Thalia padded to the screen.

  “It is half past seven. I was just getting ready to come to you.” Her maid ducked back into the dressing room. “Lady Hawksworth sent up three trunks yesterday. She had gowns made for you in London.” Mannering held up one of the garments.

  Thalia’s jaw dropped, and it took her a moment to shut it. “Oh, my. Are they beautiful?”

  “Yes, my lady. Beautiful and fashionable. I pressed one for this morning. Would you like to see it?”

  New gowns! “Yes.” Several times over the past year, she and her mother had taken fashion plates to the local seamstress in the village near Somerset Castle, but the woman could never manage to make them up properly. When the gowns were finished, they always looked at least a year out of fashion. “It will be so nice to have something that is well-looking.”

  The walking gown was primrose muslin embroidered with small violets. Mannering also held a spencer in Saxon blue. Thalia clasped her hands together. “I have never had anything so lovely.” But if she was going to explore tunnels, she might ruin the gown. “I think she meant them for me to wear after I married. Or perhaps I could wear one tomorrow for my wedding.”

  Mannering sighed. “I suppose you’re right, my lady. They aren’t suitable for a young unmarried lady.”

  Thalia felt sorry for her maid, who only wanted her lady to look as good as her sisters. “I shall ask when I see everyone this morning. If my aunt or mother approves, I shall change for this afternoon.”

  “That’s just the thing to do.” Happy again, her maid went back into the dressing room and brought out one of her light-pink gowns.

  As far as Thalia was concerned, the dress could get as dirty as it needed to be while she accomplished her mission.

  When Thalia stepped out of her door, Giles was there. “I came to escort you to the breakfast room. It’s a bit of a journey from this wing.”

  She joined her hand with his. “How did you sleep?”

  “Well, but I knew you were safe.” He gave her a rueful grin. “Hawksworth was waiting for me when I left.”

  “Oh, dear.” That could not have been comfortable. “What did he say?”

  “He was glad I decided to go back to my chamber.” They reached the first level of the stairs and turned toward the back of the house.

  “It will not be long now.” She wondered how difficult it was to open the stone chests. “Do you know how to open the stone boxes in the chapel?”

  Tilting his head, he gazed down at her. “I do. Why?”

  Thalia raised her chin. She would soon be a duchess and the mistress of her own house. It was time to go on as she meant to. Even with her husband. “I have decided to explore the tunnels to their ends in the event we need them.”

  “Very well.”

  They tu
rned another corner. She had not been paying much attention, and at this rate, she would not be able to find her way back.

  Giles said, “I cannot accompany you directly after the service, but I have time to show you soon how to find the levers.”

  “Are they all the same?” That would make it easy.

  “No.” He steered her left, and they stood in front of a green door. “But there is a trick that will help you.”

  “Thank you.” He opened the door, and she found only the senior members of their party. “What happened to the others?”

  “They were up and down all night with the babies,” her mother said, rising. “I am going up now to lend a hand.”

  Thalia looked over the selection on the sideboard and found baked eggs and slices of ham. A fresh pot of tea was set before her when she took her seat as well as a rack of well-buttered toast.

  Giles sat next to her with porridge and eggs. “It’s not breakfast for me unless I have porridge.”

  “Too many years living this far north?” her uncle asked.

  “That and a Scottish cook.” He poured cream on the porridge. “Bannocks are also one of my favorites, but I’ve yet to find an English or French cook who can make them properly.”

  Thalia made a note to herself to speak with the cook here about making bannocks, whatever they were.

  She had just finished her tea when Berwick rose. “It’s time for the service.”

  They followed him out, and fortunately, the way from the breakfast room to the door into the chapel was straightforward. When Giles turned his head to speak to Berwick, she took the opportunity to ask her aunt about her new clothes.

  “Meg bought me gowns, but they are not what I have been allowed to wear. May I wear them now or should I wait until I am wed?”

  Her aunt glanced at Thalia’s dress. “I would wait. I know it is not the answer you want, but I am sadly superstitious, and do not believe in tempting fate.”

  The news was disappointing, but not unexpected. “I think that is one of the reasons I asked.”