Chapter Fourteen
Adam didn’t wait until morning, but when straight to Thorn’s house after he dropped off Mary Jane. He’d briefly explained they’d had an accident, and that he would explain soon, but he had urgent business first. Before he left, he told Mrs. Watson to let her husband know he’d speak to him then, too.
Thorn was alone with a brandy and a book, sitting in his drawing room. Such a dull life more a man still in his twenties, Adam thought.
“I know where Boiselle’s men are.” Starting from their arrival at the theatre, he detailed the course of their evening. “I didn’t call the watch because I didn’t want to arrest the small pups and let the big dog slip away.”
“Good decision.”
“Do you know Billups? He claims to be working with us.”
Thorn nodded.
“You didn’t think it important to tell me about him?”
“I’d risk his position by letting too many people know. Up until this evening, you didn’t need to know.”
“I might not have entered Boiselle’s place had I know Billups was looking for the same information.”
“And you wouldn’t have discovered the numbers you did.” He went on before Adam could question him. “We haven’t connected them to anything, but we could.”
Adam nodded, and suddenly the excitement of the evening drained all at once. He slumped like a limp rag deeper into the chair.
“Go home. Sleep. Take as much time as you need, and we’ll discuss your future.”
“I’d better do that soon, before the wedding date it set.”
“Wedding date? Miss Watson finally trapped you in her web, did she?” Thorn chuckled, grinning and shaking his head. “She’s an intelligent woman. She’ll keep you on your toes, and fill your home with children to enjoy. Congratulations.”
“Thank you.” The wedding was still a vague term in his mind, what with the utter terror he’d been through earlier. He could have lost her. She could have been gone before he got the chance to tell her how much he loved her.
He wouldn’t waste a moment of the days to come, finding any and every way to remind her, to prove to her how deeply his feelings went.
~~~
The next morning, Mary Jane lay in bed long past breakfast time, so late her mother came looking for her.
She tapped on the door before entering. “Are you unwell?”
“Merely exhausted,” she replied, piling her pillows behind her and sitting up.
“I can’t imagine you being anything but. I shudder just to think of what could have happened to you. I didn’t sleep a wink last night.” Mother sat on the bed beside her.
Mary Jane yawned and stretched.
“Lord Adam hinted that he’s made you an offer. Has he?”
“Yes.”
“And you game him your answer?”
“Of course, Mother. I’m not foolish enough to dangle him along.” She didn’t go into detail about how much she’d pushed for an engagement. Some things her mother wouldn’t understand.
“I remember when your father proposed.” She looked dreamily at the curtains.
“Did you love him as desperately as I do Lord Adam?”
“Of course. He’s made me very happy.”
“I wondered.” She hesitated. “Sometimes you appear to be restraining yourself.”
“Perhaps I was. I was quite like you when I was young. I had my own causes to be passionate about. Yet I knew what was expected of me when I married.”
“How could you give up so much of yourself? Didn’t you miss your activities?”
“For the first year or two, perhaps. Then I realized how much I had here with your father. How much he loved me. Then you were born, and my life was richer than I could have hoped for.”
Mary Jane studied her mother, seeing the happiness she’d always known, and understood. Life meant change, and not all change was bad. Some would take her to heights she’d always reached for, but by a different path. She wouldn’t need a map with Adam at her side.
~~~
Two weeks later, Thorn passed along some news Adam thought he’d never hear. He wrote a note to Mary Jane, packed a bag, and rode off to Aunt Caroline’s home.
She was surprised to see him, and hugged him before they sat. “You must have some news. I’ve already received word of your upcoming marriage. Is there more?”
“There is. Pierre Boiselle was the leader of the group of French spies responsible for my uncle’s death. He was recently captured with important evidence in his possession, and will be brought to London for his trial.”
Her smile didn’t wipe the wistfulness from her eyes. “That is good news. Thank you for telling me in person.”
“I had to come. I’ll leave you with your thoughts now, and find my cousins. May I tell them, or do you wish to?”
“You may. The older two might have questions you can answer better than I.”
There were some questions that he’d resolve, but the important ones could be put to rest.
~~~
He thought he’d never been more nervous than when he’d searched for Mary Jane, but that was a far cry from the emotions torturing him while he waited at the church near his home in Kent. He knew he was making the wise move, but would he be capable of being the husband she deserved?
Thorn had talked him into resigning from their service, so all he must worry about now was his land, and the crops grown there. He’d be free to spend his days with Mary Jane, or escaping to the pastures on horseback when she’d had enough of him.
Would he ever have enough of her?
The vicar smiled at Adam, having seen that sickly expression on more than one bridegroom. The church was warm, and time was crawling at a snail’s pace. Where was Mary Jane?
“Are you afraid she won’t come?” Thorn asked.
“I hadn’t even considered it until you brought it up.” He scowled. “I’m more concerned something has happened to her.”
“She’s dressing for her wedding, little brother. The most important day of her life. You must make allowances for that.”
It would be only the first of allowances he gave her, but he had an endless supply.
The vicar cleared his voice and Adam looked up. Mary Jane entered, her gown ruffled and beribboned, her hair adorned with tiny flowers, yet those couldn’t compare to the light beaming from her face.
Adam smiled, and sighed. She was his, although she’d insist it was the other way around. He didn’t care, he was willing to argue about it until his dying day.
Her voice wavered when she said, “I do.”
He had to clear his throat to be heard.
When the vicar declared they were man and wife, Adam took her hand and hurried out of the church where he could kiss his wife for the very first time. The villagers cheered and tossed rose petals over them. Adam couldn’t tear his gaze away from her long enough to reach the carriage waiting to take them to their wedding breakfast.
“Are you happy?” he asked.
“Exceedingly so. And you, husband?” She laughed. “I never imagined how I would enjoy saying that word. But that changed when I met you.”
“So much changed. Has it really only been months? It feels like a lifetime.”
“Come,” she said. “My mother is frowning and pointing to the carriage. It’s time to begin our life as husband and wife.”
“Yes, wife. I fear I’ll be saying that often in the years to come.”
“I look forward to hearing it.” Her wicked grin told him she’d won, but she shared the victory with him.
He kissed her once more, slowly, deeply, before letting her go. But he’d only let go long enough to help her into the carriage. “I love you, Mary Jane. The luckiest moment of my life was when I met you. Come to think of it, you saved my life that night when the spider bit me. It’s funny, but since that night I’ve felt like nothing can stop me from doing what I want. I’ll spend the rest of our lives showing you how glad I am you were there that night.”
As the carriage pulled away, they waved to the villagers, and settle back, simply gazing at one another. His life was blessed.