Three Weeks to Wed (12 page)

Grace sank onto the sofa while Matt opened the door. Ten curious faces stared up at him. He inclined his head. “Please, come in.”

They piled into the room. Mary came immediately to Grace, crawling onto her lap. The youngest Vivers girl, Theodora, sat next to Grace. It appeared Theodora and Mary had already formed a friendship, just as Matt had said. Charlotte and Louisa took the two chairs across from the sofa, while the others formed a semicircle between the chairs and the sofa, and waited. Grace had rarely seen her brothers and sisters so solemn.

Matt took the seat on the other side of Grace. A smile tugged at his lips. “May we help you?”

“Well.” Walter cleared his throat, glanced at the other children, and fell silent.

Grace hoped nothing serious had happened. She hadn't heard any loud horrifying noises. Then again, she'd been rather occupied. How long had they been in the corridor?

After a few moments, Mary tugged on Matt's coat. “We want to know if you and Grace are going to be married.”

“Yes,” Theodora agreed. “We want to know.”

Grace glanced at Matt, then surveyed the children. “What would you like?”

Alice opened her mouth and closed it when Walter narrowed his eyes at her. He looked at Matt then Grace. “I, for one, would like it if you married.” He flushed. “You'd be happier, Grace.”

Augusta, Eleanor, Madeline, Alice, and Philip nodded.

The two eldest glanced at each other and Louisa said, “Yes, all of us would like it.”

“Theodora?” Worthington asked.

“Me too.” She nodded, smiling. “I won't be the youngest anymore, and I'll have more older brothers.”

Grace nudged Mary. “What about you, sweetheart?”

“I like being the youngest, and I like Matt.” She gazed up at Grace. “Are you going to get married?”

Grace sighed. “I don't know. We would like to, but there are so many problems.”

A cacophony of voices broke the relative quiet.

“Silence,” Worthington barked. “Listen to Grace.”

The children stopped speaking so quickly, she could swear she'd heard teeth clicking together. “Our main concern is the guardianship.” She addressed her brothers and sisters. “Matt will have to apply to be your guardian.” Grace tried to steady her voice. “Once I marry, I am no longer allowed to . . .”

He placed his hand on her shoulder. “Once we wed, the law will no longer allow Grace to be your guardian. Therefore, you must decide if you want me to take her place, as it were. Children aged fourteen and above may make their own decision.”

A slight line formed between Charlotte's brows for a moment. “I have no objection.”

Walter nodded. “I have no objection. It's not as if you won't still be here, Grace.”

Charlotte glanced at Grace. “Will you write to Charlie?”

Leaning down, Matt's lips brushed Grace's ear, causing her to repress a sigh. “If you'd like, my love, I can fetch him. Eton is not far.”

Her head was in a whirl. This was all going too fast. She had not yet agreed to marry Matt. “We are getting ahead of ourselves,” she replied tartly. “The guardianship is only one issue. We do not know where we will live or any number of other things. You children have only just met. How do you know you'll get along? And there is Lady Worthington to consider.” She rubbed a hand over her forehead. “This is an extremely important decision. It will irrevocably change our lives. We should not rush into it. Once done, it cannot then be undone. Let us all consider the ramifications carefully. One more thing, until a final decision is made, I do not want a word said outside of our families.”

Matt looked at each one of them. “Do you understand what Grace just said?” They all nodded. “Not a word to anyone.”

Fortunately, the children were new to Town, otherwise she would have no hope at all of keeping it secret.

“Louisa.” Charlotte stood shaking out her skirts. “Let's take the children and give Matt and Grace some time to discuss this further.”

The two girls shooed their brothers and sisters out of the room.

Once the door closed behind them, Matt turned to Grace. “My love, in fairness, you must still think of your other brother.”

“I don't like taking him out of school, but yes, you're right. For this he must come home.”

A knock sounded on the door and Jane entered. “Am I to wish you happy?”

“I wish I knew.” Grace covered her face with her hands. This is what came of being selfish and wanting things she should not have.

Matt squeezed her shoulder. “There are a few details that must be put to bed first, but I believe we're making progress.”

“Jane,” Grace said, “let me introduce Lord Worthington. My lord, my cousin, Miss Carpenter.”

She dipped a curtsey, and Matt bowed.

“I've met your sisters already, my lord. If you are to be part of the family, you may as well call me Jane.”

“Thank you. For the same reasons, please call me Matt.”

Jane focused on Grace. “My dear, I realize you and his lordship have not known each other long, and I am quite sure I do not wish to know how this came about.” Jane's lips tilted up. “But if you want my advice, you will take this chance at happiness. His lordship has a reputation as a steady and capable man, a good brother, stepson, and the children like him already. It's as if the stars have lined up in the proper order for you.” A sad smile lurked in Jane's eyes. “Love doesn't come along often. When it does, grab it and hold on. You might never have another chance.” She bussed Grace's cheek. “Now, I shall leave the two of you to work it out and see what the children are up to.”

Jane left, closing the door behind her. Not for the first time did Grace wonder what exactly had happened to the man Jane had loved.

“I think your cousin gives excellent advice.”

Grace glanced up at Matt and was tempted to roll her eyes. He had the largest smile she'd ever seen on his face. “You would.”

His countenance immediately sobered. “You can trust me. With your heart and your brothers and sisters.”

Her paternal uncles' words sounded in her ears.
“No gentleman of substance will ever want you with all those children, Grace.”

Had she truly found the one gentleman who would?

* * *

“Charlotte,” Louisa asked, “where are we going?”

Charlotte lowered her voice. “To the school-room, where no one can hear us. Come along, everyone. We have some things to work out.”

She led them up the stairs to the first floor then up the next set to the second floor where the school-room and the younger children's bedchambers, as well as those of Mr. Winters and Miss Tallerton and the nursemaids, were located.

One the way, they ran into May, who had a bundle of whites in her arms.

“May, can you please have tea, lemonade, and food sent to the school-room?”

The maid's eyes grew wide as she glanced down the stairs. “For how many?”

“Ten.” Earlier in the Park and returning home, Charlotte had noticed the way passersby had looked at all of them. Well, people would just have to get used to it. Matt was perfect for Grace, even if her sister didn't quite see it that way yet.

“Right away, my lady.”

Once they were all in the large, airy classroom, Charlotte clapped her hands, the way Grace did when she wanted their attention. “Alice, Eleanor, and Walter, please show Augusta, Madeline, and Theo around the floor. I shall call you when tea has been brought.”

Louisa glanced at Charlotte. “I take it we shall do the same at Worthington House?”

“I believe that would be best.” Charlotte drew her brows together. “If we inspect both houses, we will be able to make a recommendation as to where we should all live.” She linked her arm with Louisa's. “I have a plan, but I do want you to be an equal part of it. It seems to me that settling Grace and Matt quickly will allow us to focus on husbands of our own.”

“What a splendid idea.” Louise grinned. “You make a great deal of sense. It will be much easier for them to chaperone us if they are wed.”

Less than a quarter hour later, they were all armed with lemonade and jam tarts, and sandwiches. Charlotte called the meeting to order. “Now . . .”

“Why are you in charge?” Augusta asked.

Louisa rolled her eyes. “Because it is her house. When we go to Worthington House, I shall be in charge.” She frowned. “We'll have to rethink that arrangement when we're all living in one place. Are there any more questions before we begin?”

The rest of the children shook their heads.

“Well then,” Charlotte said, “as I was about to say, it is clear our sister and brother are in love.”

Madeline sighed happily, clasping her hands together. “They make such a lovely couple.”

Walter's lips twitched, and Philip looked as if he had eaten something rotten.

“I think Alice, Madeline, and I should start planning the wedding,” Eleanor suggested.

Alice and Madeline agreed and the girls immediately began discussing what they and everyone else should wear. Walter and Philip started talking in hushed whispers, probably about boxing or some other horrid thing.

Could no one remain focused on the current issue? Charlotte rapped a ruler on the table until she had everyone's attention once more. “First, we need to ensure they agree to marry. If we are to help them along, we will need to anticipate the problems and address them. Such as . . .”

She glanced at Louisa, who shook out her skirts and glanced at her sisters. “Yes, such as getting along. We are only four to their seven. We need to agree to come to
Parlé
in the event we do not agree.”

“What is
Parlé
?” Philip asked.

“It's from pirates,” Louisa replied. “That's what they do to negotiate.”

“Yes, indeed. I read that novel as well.” Charlotte was pleased she and Louisa had so much in common. “We must form our own set of rules to negotiate any difficulties that arise.”

She glanced around, making sure all the brothers and sisters understood. Madeline's forehead puckered. “Do you have a question, Madeline?”

“Yes, what's the purpose of the negotiations? We always go to Mama if we cannot agree.”

Louisa took over. “If the disagreement is among ourselves, then we may still go to Mama, but if the disagreement is between—our—our new brothers and sisters, we cannot go to Mama because Grace is like their mama.”

Augusta frowned. “Does that mean we'll have two mamas?”

“No,” Charlotte said. “Let me try to explain. If, for example, Louisa and I disagree, we cannot go to either Grace or your mother, as that might cause problems between them. We must come to a compromise between ourselves. Our rules will help us to work out our differences without being a bother to Grace and Matt.”

“Exactly,” Louisa agreed. “And that is just one of the issues we should discuss. You heard Grace. She will not marry Matt until they have resolved all the issues. If we want them to wed, we must assist.”

Walter stared at Charlotte skeptically. “Do you think they need our help?”

“Of course they do.” Louisa's eyes opened wide. “It's obvious they need our aid. Otherwise we would have a wedding date instead of a possible betrothal.”

* * *

Matt watched his betrothed wear a path in her Turkish rug. She'd been at it since Jane had left over a half an hour ago. Something in addition to the general mess they were in was clearly bothering her. “Grace, my love, open your budget. I can't help you if I don't know what has you so upset.”

“I dislike uncertainty immensely.” She threw her hands up. “And at the moment, it is all I seem to have.”

He couldn't disagree with her about that. The only thing that was making waiting to marry at all tolerable was being able to make love to her. He conjured a vision of her naked, her golden hair curling down over her fabulous breasts . . .

“Matt, are you listening to me?”

He jerked his attention back to her. “Yes, my love.”

“I said that we must stop having these—these—oh, I don't know what to call them. We must wait until we are married to—to have relations again.”

He was nearly diverted by her beautifully crimson cheeks. “
What?
”

Grace stood rubbing her brow. “You must know how improper it is for us to be—be doing that—with the children around. If even a hint of it got out, my reputation would be ruined and the children taken from me.”

She was right, of course. Worthington rubbed a hand over his face. Damn. He should have thought of that. It was his job to protect her. The chancery court wouldn't allow a woman of questionable morals to keep the children. He stifled a groan and his vision of naked breasts faded away. “Yes, my love, I agree.”

Her face was anything but happy. “What next shall we discuss?”

Our wedding date.
He'd better keep that thought to himself. As up to snuff as he considered himself when it came to the foibles of the
ton,
he needed help. “We should speak with Patience. She always seems to know what's going on and what to do in any social situation.”

Grace stopped pacing. “Very well. When would you like to talk with her?”

“Immediately.” He glanced at the mantel clock. “I hope she's at home. May I have a sheet of paper, pen, and wax?”

Stepping to her desk, she took out the writing implements. “Here you are.”

Matt wrote his note and sealed it with his ring stamped in the wax.

Grace tugged the bell-pull, and a few moments later her butler appeared.

She handed him the missive. “Royston, please have this taken to Lady Worthington.”

Seeing the butler's confusion, Worthington said, “It is the house directly opposite the square.”

“Yes, my lord.”

“If she is there, please have the footman escort her here.”

Royston bowed and left the room.

Grace pinched the bridge of her nose. “We shall need to see my uncle Herndon as well. He has always supported me.”

“Is he the children's trustee?”

Worrying her bottom lip, she nodded. “Yes. He must be told what we want to do. He was very helpful when I was trying to have the guardianship established.”

* * *

A knock came and Royston opened the door. “My lady, Lady Worthington has arrived.”

Grace glanced over in surprise. “Well, that was fast. Royston, please show her to the morning room and have tea brought.”

Leading the way to the other side of the house, Grace glanced up at Matt at the same time he looked down at her. Would she finally have what she wanted and be able to keep the children together? His eyes were warm and loving. He would try, but would it be enough? What if his stepmother objected to the marriage? No one could blame the lady for not wanting seven more children added to her household. Perhaps this wasn't a good idea after all.

When Grace entered the room, Lady Worthington smiled, then her eyes widened. “Worthington, I didn't expect to see you here.”

“Aren't you here because of my note?”

“Not at all.” She raised her brows. “I came because your sisters and Lady Grace's brothers and sisters are at Worthington House inspecting the school-room.”

Laughter burbled up inside Grace and tipped over. “Of course they are. I have no doubt they intend to help us solve our problems.”

Matt's brow lightened. “Yes, with Louisa in the lead.”

Lady Worthington glanced from Grace to Matt. “I rather think the position is held jointly by Louisa and Charlotte. Their heads were together, in what I can only describe as a plotting position.”

Grace thought about the girls for a few moments. “That makes sense. Yesterday evening, they hit it off immediately.”

Grinning ruefully, Lady Worthington said, “I'm very happy they are getting along, but may I be made privy to what is going on?”

“I wonder what the devil the children are planning now,” Matt murmured to Grace. “Patience, forgive me. Do you know Lady Grace?”

Patience held out her hand, smiling. “We met when you first came out. I knew your mother. She was extremely helpful and kind to me after I came out of mourning.”

Grace shook Patience's hand. “Yes, I remember her mentioning you. My lady, please take a seat and be comfortable. Tea will arrive soon. Then we may discuss what we need to without interruption.”

Lady Worthington gracefully disposed herself on a French-backed chair. “Please call me Patience, my dear.”

“Thank you, Patience.”

Grace sat on the small sofa facing Lady Worthington. Once they were seated, Matt joined Grace on the sofa. Tea arrived almost immediately. Grace dispensed the cups and Matt the plates.

“Well.” He glanced at her. “Grace and I have decided to marry.” Next to him, she tensed. He prayed she wouldn't refute his statement. After a moment, he continued. “Considering the guardianship and the other issues, we are in a bit of a quandary as to when we should hold the ceremony.”

“Other issues such as combining both houses?” Patience asked dryly.

Next to him, Grace tensed, but her face was a mask. “That, of course, is one of the matters we must settle.”

Was Patience upset that he hadn't discussed the marriage with her first? Nonsense, she knew he intended to wed Grace as soon as he found her. Matt rubbed his chin. “We must discuss aspects of the guardianship with Grace's uncle and consult our respective solicitors. I would like to marry this week.”