Authors: Cheryl Howe
“But, of course
.
Melody is the joy of our lives.
”
Darien lifted Ivy’s hand and kissed her knuckles a bit too enthusiastically, forcing the bishop to finally drop his gaze
.
“Unfortunately, we shall have to postpone her christening for a month or so.
”
Darien released her hand, but rested his palm firmly on her shoulder
.
“Do write your sister, my love, to inform her of the change of plans
.
I’m sure she will wish to be in attendance, with her entire family, of course.”
Ivy glared at Darien, fearing the bishop might visit her sister
.
Darien’s newfound power had obviously decided to run unfettered
.
Thankfully Faith’s Puritan husband detested the Anglican Church and would no doubt slam the door in the bishop’s face
.
Darien brushed back her hair and leaned in as if he intended to kiss her mouth.
The bishop cleared his throat
.
“And I’ll find both your signatures in the church’s registry?”
“You will indeed find our signatures in the church
.
We have dozens of witnesses for both our ceremony and the calling of the banns three consecutive Sundays
.
My own dear mother had been in attendance for one of those days, and I can assure you, she had no objections
.
That meets the current requirement for legal matrimony, does it not?”
“Most nobles prefer to be wed by special license by the archbishop but your country nuptials seem to be in order, Lord Westhaven, if all is as you say it is.
”
The bishop smile
d
and bowed slightly, but he could not hide his curled lip of contempt
.
“Our little chapel has been sorely neglected but I will be more than happy to direct you to our signatures.
”
Darien plucked at the cuffs of his sleeves, a mannerism that was not his own, but brought attention to a spill of expensive lace and the jeweled rings on his fingers
.
“Oh, but I hope Robert did not catch something from the chapel
.
The stone
is
crumbling and the entire structure is quite infested with mold and rodents.”
“That won’t be necessary, my lord
.
I plan to return to London immediately
.
Mr. Maddox was quite revered in certain circles
.
There might be some who will question the circumstance of his death.”
“Well, then, I shall be glad to entertain any inquiries into the matter
.
If that is all, my wife and I are quite distraught
.
I must bury my father tomorrow and I have not yet adjusted to the shock.”
The bishop nodded, bowed to Darien and left the room, followed by the silent butler who no doubt would trail the hostile bishop until he left the grounds all together.
Ivy sighed with relief that the interview was finally over
.
“He doesn’t believe us.”
“He doesn’t have to.
”
Darien stared at the closed door
.
“It’s not his place to question his betters
.
The good bishop knows that as well as anyone.”
“Are we really married, Darien
?
She touched his velvet-clad shoulder
.
His solidness beneath the jacket forced her to believe something she would have claimed a week ago impossible
.
Darien Blackmore would be in her life for a very long time
.
He turned and grabbed her hands
.
“If it will ease your mind, we can be married in the chapel when Robert is feeling better
.
We shall share the day with Hank and Evelyn because I’m quite sure their union isn’t recognized under the bishop’s marriage act either.”
“Darien! This is serious
.
Melody’s legitimacy must not be questioned.
”
She tried to jerk her hands away, but he held them tight
.
“No one will question anything
.
The old lord has passed and everyone will want to court favor with the new earl.
”
Darien’s sad gaze urged Ivy to wrap her arms around his waist and lay her head on his chest.
The door swung open and Major Fitzgerald marched into the room
.
Ivy tried to pull from Darien’s arms but he held her against him
.
He finally released her but continued to hold her hand, keeping her inappropriately close to his side.
“Jacobson’s on his way back to Scotland.
”
Rand smirked and raised an eyebrow at their embrace. “I settled on twelve lashes instead of twenty
.
He took them well
.
Better to have him cross the border as soon as possible.
”
“You’re satisfied?”
“Aye, my lord.
”
Rand bowed.
“The magistrate wishes you to recount your story.”
“Spotted him on my way in
.
I promised to take him to the location of the accident
.
I crushed some grass and fired a few musket balls into a denser part of the forest
.
He’ll be convinced, not that he isn’t already.”
“Thank you, Rand
.
You and Lily should get some rest. I scheduled the funeral for in the morning while all the old man’s friends are still here.”
“Lily hasn’t slept since Robert’s injury
.
She must collapse sometime
.
If that will be all, my lord.
”
Rand bowed again.
“You don’t have to address me as such,” Darien said, even his speech sounding suddenly different.
“You’re doing a fine job and we don’t want to see you muck it up
.
We’re all depending on you, Lord Westhaven.”
Before he could leave, Lily came through the door carrying a screaming Melody
.
She strode across the room and
placed
Melody into Ivy’s arms
.
Melody ceased her high-pitched
wails
immediately
.
Though Ivy recognized the cry as a yearning for attention rather than any real discomfort, Melody rubbed wet eyelashes with a curled fist
.
“Indeed.
”
Lily raised an eyebrow
.
“The nurse claimed she missed her mother
.
Melody is certainly your daughter, isn’t she, Darien
?
You should break her of her attachment at once, Ivy
.
It shall make her weak
-
willed.”
Darien came behind Ivy and let Melody grab his finger
.
“Melody has certainly gotten you to do her bidding, Lily
.
Not an easy task for anyone
.
Aye, Rand?”
Rand stood behind his wife, touched her shoulder and she grabbed his hand
.
Their gazes met and they seemed to exchange something significant
.
“Robert is sleeping.” She directed her gaze to Darien
.
“Mrs. Maddox and Arianna are leaving right after the funeral
.
The girl is quite upset, though Mrs. Maddox revealed she knew of her husband’s manipulations for years
.
She plans to take her daughter to visit relatives in the Lake District until the rumors die down.”
“Perhaps I should talk to Arianna.
”
Ivy gazed down at Melody,
then
kissed her soft head
.
Her daughter clung to her as if she knew how close they
’d come
to being separated
.
“How is Robert taking all this?”
“He won’t speak of it.
”
Lily shrugged but it was clear by her slight frown that her son did not regularly shut her from his thoughts
.
“As I
’ve always
said, love will find a way
.
Look at you two.”
“Arianna shall come around.” Darien slung an arm around Ivy’s shoulder
.
“Losing one’s father is devastating no matter the circumstances
.
Arianna needs time to adjust to the shock.”
“Ivy, do you think our father heard that Philip did not kill himself
?
I think that would have eased his mind considerably.
”
Though Lily asked the question, Darien tensed beside her
.
“Indeed, I do.
”
Ivy had been too engrossed with her own shock to know if the old earl had been aware of the chaos erupting in his bedroom
.
Darien’s almost imperceptible sigh at her revelation assured Ivy that a little white lie was most appropriate for the occasion
.
“The late Lord Westhaven squeezed my hand when Darien revealed the truth
.
He must have slipped away shortly after
.
I know the knowledge eased his passing.”
“Thank you,” Lily whispered
.
Her sad smile trembled and her eyes filled with tears.
Rand rested his hands on his wife’s shoulders
.
“Why don’t you
lie
down, Lily
?
As soon as I finish with the magistrate, I shall join you.
”
“That is an excellent idea
.
Lady Westhaven and I shall do the same.
”
Darien tightened his hold on Ivy.
“Very good, my lord.
”
Lily’s strained smile finally reached her eyes
.
“Philip was right, Darien
.
You shall make a smashing earl.”
Darien embraced his sister then escorted her and her husband to the door.
Ivy followed Darien, anxious to retreat into a private room
.
Her trunks had been fetched from the cottage
.
She craved nothing more than to change from her gown and collapse into a soft bed, though she feared this dream might end as soon as she woke.
“Shall we, love?
”
Darien took her arm and led her from the downstairs s
alon
.
Servants gathered in their wake, bowing and curtsying to the new lord and lady
.
Instead of directing her up the stairs to one of the many bedrooms, Darien escorted her out the front door.
A polished burgundy carriage with a gold W on the door waited with six matching bay stallions
.
A liveried servant jumped from the driver’s bench and bowed
.
Another footman strode from the back of the carriage and opened the door
.
Darien helped her and Melody into the coach then climbed in behind them.
Once settled in the seat in front of them, Darien shrugged out of his coat and ruthlessly yanked at his neatly tied cravat
.
“Where are we going?” Ivy
finally
asked as they pulled from the gravel drive.
“Home, of course.”
Ivy glanced out the window at the stately stone mansion
.
“Don’t you think we should stay in the manor
?
All my gowns are back there.”
Darien grinned
.
“I know.”
“If we are going to convince society we are reformed ne’er-do-wells, we must curtail some of your more bizarre behavior
.
I feel living in a former crofter’s hut falls into that category.”
“Why would we want to convince anyone of anything?”
“For Melody, of course
.
The talk of a second hunting accident and our alleged secret marriage will create scandal enough.”
“Exactly.
”
Darien took his daughter from Ivy’s arms
.
“What do you think, Melody
?
Should I turn into a proper peer of the realm?”
Melody giggled and squeezed Darien’s nose, refusing to let go despite his half-hearted efforts to free himself
.
Ivy slipped onto the seat beside him
.
“I believe that was a yes
.
I think she fell in love with your family home.”