The Shocking Secret of a Guest at the Wedding (Millworth Manor)

by Victoria Alexander

  “Did you ever think of pursuing another profession?”

  “When I was a boy, I wanted to be a pirate.” Jack grinned. “Or a treasure hunter.”

  His father chuckled. “It’s something to consider, not being a pirate of course, but whether you wish to resume your position with the bank.”

  “I do seem to have choices.” And hadn’t Theodosia said he could be or do anything he wanted?

  “I’ve always thought of myself as being fairly good at taking the measure of a man.” A casual note sounded in his father’s voice. “I thought you and I were getting on well together.”

  Jack frowned. “We are.”

  “Good.” The older man got to his feet and crossed the room to refill his whisky, returning with the decanter to top off Jack’s glass. “Do you think it’s odd that a man in his fifty-fifth year would still live in his family’s house?”

  “I think it’s odd that such a question would come to mind.”

  “Its just something that has occurred to me of late.”

  Jack sipped his drink. “It’s a very big house.”

  The colonel smiled. “And that was a very diplomatic answer.” He set the decanter on the table by the arm of the chair, settled back into his seat, and glanced around the room, affection in his gaze and his words. “Between this house and the manor, I never saw a need for a separate dwelling. Through the years, I’ve never stayed in England for more than six months at a time I think. I’ve spent more of my life in other countries than I have here. There’s much to be said for returning to a place you’ve considered home for all of your life. I might have felt differently had I had a family of my own.”

  “And a wife?”

  “As it turned out that I had a legal wife all these years, another would have been awkward.” He paused. “Do you think your mother really would have had me arrested if I’d married again?”

  “I’d like to say no but . . .” Jack shrugged. “If I’ve learned nothing else since meeting you, I have learned that I don’t really know my mother at all. So I wouldn’t put it past her.”

  “You should write to her, you know.”

  “How do you know I haven’t?”

  The colonel raised a skeptical brow. “Have you?”

  “Not directly. Quite frankly, I don’t know what to say.”

  “Are you still angry with her?”

  “I’m not as furious as I was initially.” Jack thought for a moment. “In some ways I can almost understand why she didn’t tell me about you.” He glanced at his father. “I might well have tried to find you, you know.”

  “Thank you, Jack.” His father smiled.

  “And I can see why she wouldn’t have told you about me. That doesn’t excuse it, of course. I do think she was truly scared of losing her only child. But . . .” Jack shook his head. “I haven’t been a child for some time. I’m not sure I can ever forgive her for this.” He met his father’s gaze. “Can you?”

  “I don’t know.” He thought for a moment. “I do know that I have many regrets when it comes to your mother.”

  “That you married her or that you let her leave you?”

  “Mostly the latter. I never would have let her leave if I had known about you.” Father raised his glass to his son, then took a sip of his drink. “Seeing her again, well, it makes one think.”

  “Oh?”

  “How different our lives might have been. Why I never found another woman I wished to marry, that kind of thing. Don’t misunderstand me,” he added firmly. “I have never believed in the concept of soul mates or one true love or any of that sort of balderdash. Or at least I didn’t.”

  “And now?”

  He considered the question. “Plato wrote that originally men and women were one creature but their strength threatened the gods. So Zeus split them in half and each half spends its life tying to find its mate. To become complete once again.” He shook his head. “Rubbish of course. Still, it is something to ponder.”

  “Do you think Mother is your soul mate?”

  “I just said the very idea is absurd.”

  “But the thought has crossed your mind.”

  “I suppose it has. Just one of many things that have filled my head recently. Another is your future, of course.” A deceptively casual note sounded in his voice. “I gather you have doubts about returning to the bank.”

  “On the contrary, Father, I’m fairly certain my banking days are over.” Even as he said the words he realized the truth of them and a weight lifted from his shoulders. He had been content enough as a banker, he’d never questioned his role in life or his future. Upon reflection it now seemed that he had been doing little more than marking time, waiting for something to happen even if he hadn’t realized it at the time. Now his entire life had changed. And content was no longer enough.

  “But you’ve made no decision yet about whether you might stay in England and accept all that goes along with the title of earl?”

  “Not yet.” He studied his father. “Does it matter? When I decide, that is?”

  “I suppose not.” His father shrugged. “I would imagine Nigel has a good number of years left in him, as do I. No need to decide anything at the moment.” He swirled the liquor in his glass, then adopted an overly casual tone. “It is entirely up to you, of course.”

  “And I do appreciate that you haven’t pressured me about this. Even though I know what you would prefer.”

  “I won’t lie to you, Jack. It’s been bloody hard not to try to press my case. But I do realize this is not a simple matter of choosing between a life as a banker and a life as an earl. In many ways, it’s also a choice between countries and between families.”

  “My mother would neither understand nor accept a decision on my part to stay in England.” He smiled wryly. “Nor would she accept that it’s not her decision to make.”

  “You do realize it doesn’t have to be either or?”

  “I realize that.” He paused. “She won’t.”

  “The last thing I want is for you to make a choice that isn’t right for you.” His father shook his head. “I’d rather have a son who is happy with his life, whether that life is in America or here, than one who feels trapped by circumstances beyond his control.”

  Jack met his father’s gaze. “I never doubted it for a moment.”

  “And I am here for any sort of, oh, I don’t know, guidance or advice. Sage wisdom if you will. I have learned a few things along the way, you know.”

  Jack laughed.

  “Particularly about women. Not your mother admittedly,” he added quickly, “even though I suspect I learned a great deal from her. But rather about women in general.”

  “Good to know.”

  “Still, as I said, your decisions are yours and yours alone although . . .” His father hesitated and again Jack had the distinct impression that something was wrong. “You might want to talk it over with Lady Theodosia first. It’s been my experience that women don’t like a man to make decisions that affect his future without even mentioning it to them.”

  “True enough,” Jack said slowly. “But it really doesn’t have anything to do with her.”

  “Not this minute, of course, but in the future.”

  “The future?”

  His father nodded. “After you’re married.”

  Jack choked on his whisky. “After we’re what?”

  “After you’re married,” his father said. “Which is exactly what I wanted to talk about.” He rose to his feet and paced. “You’re older than I was when I married your mother and hopefully wiser.”

  Jack stared. Did he know about the engagement or was this just speculation on his part? According to Sam and Gray, Lady Briston had brought up the idea of a match between Jack and Theodosia more than once.

  “God knows I’m not one to give advice on marriage. And Theodosia is a lovely young woman but don’t take this step unless both of you are completely certain.”

  “I shall keep that in mind,�
� Jack said cautiously.

  “And, well, I know we haven’t known each other for long and I know I have no particular right to ask for anything but . . .” He drew his brows together in annoyance. “I would be most appreciative if the next time you decide to do something significant in your life, I was not the last to know. I felt like a complete idiot today when I ran into an acquaintance and he congratulated me on your engagement.”

  Jack winced. That was that then.

  “And I don’t even want to think what Bernadette will do when she discovers you have upstaged her grand gala.”

  “I thought it was my gala.”

  “You, dear boy, are little more than an excuse.” His father scoffed. “There is nothing my sister-in-law likes better than having a legitimate reason for a social gathering of outrageous proportions that will serve to heighten her reputation as a hostess and make all her friends jealous.”

  Obviously, he was going to have to tell his father the truth.

  “Father, there is something—”

  “And it’s no good thinking that she hasn’t heard about this. I daresay everyone in the country knows by now.”

  Jack stared. “How would everyone in the country know?”

  The colonel stared back. “It was in the Times, in one of those society notices. I never read that kind of drivel myself but apparently in that I am quite alone.”

  Jack stifled a rising sense of doom. “There was an announcement in the papers?”

  “Not an official announcement, more of a knowledgeable mention.” The colonel studied his son. “You look surprised.”

  “Shocked, actually.” Jack shook his head. “No one was supposed to know about this.”

  “I daresay someone would have noticed about the time you reached the altar.”

  “We’re not reaching the altar.” Jack drew a deep breath. “We’ve only been playing the part of a happy couple. Theodosia has been showing me around London in the afternoon to make our relationship look genuine. We thought by avoiding evening appearances as a couple we could avoid any speculation about the two of us.”

  His father shook his head. “I’m completely confused.” “Our engagement isn’t real, Father. I told her mother we were engaged to save Theodosia from an uncomfortable dilemma.”

  “I can’t imagine anything uncomfortable enough to spur a feigned engagement.”

  “The man who has inherited her father’s title asked her to marry him, prompted by her mother. Theodosia has no desire to marry him.”

  His father frowned. “So she’s marrying you instead?”

  “No.” Jack shook his head. “I simply rescued her from an awkward situation.”

  “Let me see if I understand this,” his father said slowly. “You saved Theodosia from an awkward situation by putting her in an even more awkward position?”

  “I wouldn’t have put it quite that way.”

  “Is there a better way to put it?”

  “None that I can see,” Jack said under his breath. “I’m afraid I didn’t think about the consequences. I simply acted. She needed help, or at least it seemed to me she did, and so I did what I thought needed to be done.”

  His father stared at him for a long moment.

  “Well?”

  “I’m not sure what to say.” His father’s forehead furrowed. “On one hand it was very gallant of you.”

  Jack nodded. “I thought so.”

  “On the other . . .” His father chose his words carefully. “You do realize that there is the very distinct possibility you could actually end up married?”

  “No.” Jack scoffed. “I doubt that this will . . .” He widened his eyes with realization. “I could, couldn’t I?”

  The colonel studied him closely. “You don’t seem overly concerned about the prospect.”

  Was he? He certainly hadn’t considered that possibility. Could he really end up married to the beautiful, intelligent, independent Lady Theodosia?

  “Jack,” his father said thoughtfully. “Do you realize you’re smiling?”

  Jack’s gaze jerked to the other man’s. “No, I hadn’t but . . .”

  His father’s eyes narrowed. “Dare I take this to mean you are not opposed to the idea of marriage to the lovely Lady Theodosia?”

  “I hadn’t really considered it but . . .” Jack grinned. “I guess I’m not opposed to it. Not at all. In fact, I like the idea.”

  “And does she?”

  “She says she’s not interested in marriage but every woman wants to marry,” Jack said staunchly. Except perhaps a woman who was determined to prove she could succeed on her own.

  “I’ve known Theodosia since she was a girl. I would say she is not at all like every woman.”

  “No, she’s not.”

  “Which is exactly what makes her so . . . special?”

  “Only one of many reasons, Father,” Jack murmured. And hadn’t he already noticed? Hadn’t the woman already invaded his dreams and, even tonight, crept into his waking thoughts as well?

  He certainly could use their situation to his advantage if indeed he wished to marry Theodosia, although he’d never be a party to forcing her into marriage. That was not the way to start a life together. And, regardless of what he might want, there was the question of what she wanted. The resolve in her eyes when she’d confided about her financial difficulties and her determination to build her little business enterprise was not something he suspected she’d willingly give up. Still, he had time. They had told her mother they’d announce their engagement at the New Year’s Eve ball and that was still four weeks away. And who knew what might happen in a month?

  “So what do you intend to do?”

  “Nothing.” Jack shook his head. “Not a thing.”

  “Don’t you think you should do something?”

  “Probably but as nothing comes to mind doing nothing seems like the most prudent course.” He sipped his whisky and thought for a moment. “It seems to me almost anything I do is going to be wrong. It might be best to let Theodosia guide this farce. At least for now.”

  “Do you intend to keep playing the part of the smitten fiancé then?”

  “Absolutely.” He grinned slowly. “I’m enjoying it.”

  “I can see that.” His father paused. “And then?”

  “Then . . .” He shrugged. “I have no idea.”

  “I suspected as much.” His father studied him for a moment. “And here I thought you were the sort of man who never did anything without due consideration and a great deal of thought.”

  “Apparently I’ve changed. I like the idea of letting things unfold as they will, at least for now.”

  His father shook his head. “You’ll never win the hand of the fair Theodosia by letting things simply unfold.”

  “Perhaps not.” He grinned. “But I might win her heart.”

  “Possibly but no battle was ever won without a certain amount of preparation. Even fate needs a helping hand on occasion. And what you need, my boy . . .” Father grabbed the decanter and refilled both glasses. “Is a plan.”

  “You’re going to have to have some sort of plan, you know,” Dee said thoughtfully, sitting beside Teddy on the sofa in her parlor. “Short of actually marrying him, that is.”

  Not that marrying him would be such a bad thing. The thought sprang unbidden to her mind and Teddy firmly ignored it.

  “I had a plan. I had an excellent plan.” Teddy poked her finger with disgust at the newspaper Dee had brought. “We specifically asked my mother not to say anything about this.”

  “How do you know this was your mother’s doing?”

  Teddy rolled her gaze toward the ceiling.

  “You’re right, of course.” Dee sipped her whisky thoughtfully. “She probably thought if the engagement was publicly announced, Jack wouldn’t be able to get out of it.”

  “Well, she thought wrong,” Teddy said firmly. “And Jack’s getting out of it is not what I am concerned about.”

  “All things
considered, the man is quite a catch,” Dee said in a casual manner. “He’s wealthy, his family on both sides is more than acceptable, and he is the heir to a respected title. Besides that, he’s not at all unattractive. You could certainly do far worse.”

  “Thank you.” Teddy stared at her friend.

  “He really is everything you’ve ever wanted.”

  “He’s everything I used to want.” She paused. “Or rather everything I thought I wanted. Everything I was expected to want.”

  “He’s perfect for you,” Dee said mildly.

  “My plans do not include a husband.”

  Dee shrugged. “Plans change.”

  “Yes, I suppose,” Teddy murmured and sipped her drink. Oddly enough, even though the women were on their second glass neither seemed to feel any particular adverse effects. In fact, Teddy felt surprisingly alert. No doubt anger at one’s manipulative mother soaked up inebriating spirits like a proverbial sponge. “He does make an excellent fiancé.” And wouldn’t he make an excellent husband? She glanced at her friend and braced herself. “We’ve been spending every afternoon together.”

  “Oh?” Dee’s brow rose.

  “It’s part and parcel of convincing my mother of the veracity of our engagement. There’s nothing more to it than that.” And there wasn’t really. Except for that annoying desire of hers to kiss him again. And the idea of seducing him that had taken root in her head and simply refused to let go.

  “No, of course not.”

  “Don’t look at me like that, Dee.” Teddy huffed. “I have no intention of marrying your cousin.”

  “Intentions, like plans, change.”

  “Not mine,” Teddy said staunchly.