Chapter Five
“I don’t know anything about being married,” Landon said from where he stood in the drawing room of the townhouse he was thinking of renting.
“No gentleman does until he takes a bride,” Guy assured him.
Landon glanced around the room. It was already furnished. The owner was Lady Chadwick, and all he knew about her was that she was a widow. She rented the place to get some extra income. The servants, of course, would be his to employ.
“You think I need to get a townhou-” He stopped before he could finish the sentence. He’d rather not lisp if he could avoid it, even if he was with his brother.
“Opal is used to being in London,” Guy said. “She has family here. I’m sure she has friends here as well. I think she’ll adapt to the marriage quicker if you don’t haul her off to the country.”
Landon couldn’t argue his point. He’d much rather run off to the country right after the marriage. He was inclined to even offer her a marriage where they could live in separate places, thereby allowing her freedoms most wives never had. But there was a part of him that wanted to be near her. She was so beautiful. He’d have to be made of stone not to want to at least be able to look at her while they ate a meal together.
Guy lifted the sheet from the desk and then checked out the settee. “All of the furniture is in good condition. I think it will make a new wife happy. All ladies like fine things.”
Yes, he supposed Guy was right.
His brother walked over to him. “Landon, I know being in London won’t be easy for you, but doesn’t it help to know that me and my wife will be nearby? You won’t be alone.”
That was the problem. Landon had gotten so used to being alone that he actually preferred it.
Guy put his hand on Landon’s shoulder. “If you don’t want to do this for yourself, then do it for Opal. Her family is only two blocks away. She’ll be able to visit them whenever she wishes.”
Landon nodded. “You’re right. I need to think of her.”
“Good. Then let’s tell Lady Chadwick that you’ll rent it.”
Guy led him to the entryway where the owner and her coachman were waiting for him. Lady Chadwick was probably in her late fifties and had a distinguished look about her. No doubt she was influential in the Ton.
“We’re sorry to keep you waiting,” Guy told them.
“That’s all right,” Lady Chadwick replied. “I want to make sure the person who rents this lovely townhouse will enjoy it.”
“It…” Landon hesitated. He couldn’t say ‘is’ without letting her know he had a lisp. “I like it,” he amended.
“Good.” She clasped her hands together and smiled. “You seem like such a nice young gentleman.”
“He is,” Guy replied. “I’m sure his wife will enjoy it, too.”
“A wife?” She turned her gaze to Landon. “Are you married?”
“Not yet,” Landon replied.
“He will be soon,” Guy said. “In fact, that’s why he’s looking for a townhouse. He wants a place that’s close to her family.”
“How lovely.” Lady Chadwick smiled at Landon. “There was another gentleman interested in this place, but I’m going to let you rent it. I’d rather see it go to a newly married couple. My husband and I had many good memories here. I’m not superstitious by nature, but I tend to think that when people move into a happy home, good things will happen to them.”
“I like that sentiment, Lady Chadwick,” Guy said.
She smiled at Landon’s brother, and Landon was glad he had asked Guy to come along. It was nice when Guy did the talking for him.
After Landon finalized the transaction, he and Guy went to Guy’s smaller townhouse. As soon as the butler opened the door, he informed them that Lord Steinbeck was waiting for them.
Opal’s brother was here? Already? Had he had time to think over things and decided his sister was better off in a convent than married to him?
Guy glanced at him. “I’m sure you’re still getting married,” he whispered.
Ever since they were children, Guy had the uncanny ability to read his mind. Instead of answering, Landon walked into the drawing room where Guy’s wife, Virginia, was holding her six-month-old daughter in her arms. Warren was sipping tea while she talked.
“I think it was around three months when little Thalia started to babble,” Virginia was telling him. “She does it all the time now, and she loves to smile and laugh. Babies get a lot more interesting as they get older.”
“Darling,” Guy interrupted as he walked over to her, “I don’t think you need to be boring our future brother-in-law. Why don’t we go to another room and let him talk to Landon?”
“Oh, I didn’t realize you two were here,” she said as she rose to her feet.
“We just returned.” He glanced at Warren. “Landon found a townhouse to rent. It’s only two blocks from you. That will allow Opal to visit you and your family as often as she wants.” He placed his hand on the small of Virginia’s back. “We’ll leave you and Landon to talk.”
Warren offered a nod, and Landon waited until they left the room before he went to the chair across from him and sat down. He’d thought it might be easier to face the gentleman this time now that the initial shock of the scandal had passed, but it was just as difficult. In fact, he couldn’t bring himself to look Warren in the eye at all.
“I wanted to have the wedding today,” Warren began, “but my mother-in-law has her heart set on Opal wearing a specially made gown for the occasion. So we’re probably going to have the wedding in a week.”
Landon knew Warren was disappointed they had to wait, but he was secretly relieved. It gave Opal more time to prepare for the sudden change in her life. Forcing his gaze to Warren’s, he nodded that he would marry Opal in a week.
This seemed to satisfy Warren since he continued, “Even though my mother-in-law and Opal are going through the trouble of having a gown that will be,” he rolled his eyes, “romantic, the ceremony will be a small one. You are welcome to invite your brother, his wife, and their daughter, but I’d rather you not invite anyone else.”
“That will be fine,” Landon replied.
Warren didn’t say anything for a long moment. He seemed as if he wanted to say something but was carefully weighing his words.
Landon cleared his throat, not sure if there was anything he should say or not. If he was eloquent in speech, he might venture a few words that would hopefully reassure Warren that he wasn’t going to do anything to hurt Opal. He would give her the respect that was due to her. But how could he say that without sounding like a simpleton who had trouble speaking without a lisp…or speaking at a slow rate as he judged each word before saying it?
“I hesitate to bring this up,” Warren finally began, “but I think the sooner we deal with this, the better.”
Landon’s gaze met Warren’s again, and he stiffened, sure he wasn’t going to like this. He, however, needed to listen to him. Warren was Opal’s brother, and if Warren had concerns about him, he needed to address them.
Warren drummed his fingers on the armchair for several seconds then continued. “I know the lisp makes you self-conscious. Given the things I’ve heard about you over the years, I don’t blame you for withdrawing yourself from as many people as possible. I understand why you were in my den last evening conducting business with Lord Asheley. You didn’t wish anyone else to overhear you in case you had to talk.”
“My brother owed him money,” Landon said, his voice low. “I paid off a debt.”
Warren glanced at the empty doorway. “Would I be right to assume your brother’s wife didn’t know about this debt?”
He hated to speak ill of his brother, but he owed it to Warren to know the truth. “You would be right.” He cleared his throat, eager to change topics. “I never meant to get Opal in trouble. I would never put a lady in a predicament where people had to wonder about her reputation.”
“I understand that was my sister’s fault. She had no idea how careless her actions were. I should have warned her that she must not be caught alone with a gentleman. I was so busy making up lists of potential suitors that it slipped my mind.”
Landon wanted to ask if he had made it on the list, but he already knew the answer. He hadn’t been. Not only was he an undesirable match for Warren’s sister, but up until yesterday, he hadn’t even been in London.
“I don’t blame you for this,” Warren said. “I blame myself for not taking better care to explain to Opal how to properly conduct herself at the balls.”
“Opal overheard a lady making fun of the way I talk,” he said, choosing his words with care. “Opal didn’t know that I’m already aware of what people think about me.”
Warren studied him. “You’re doing remarkably well as we’re talking. You haven’t let out a single lisp.”
“I judge each word carefully. I don’t talk quickly like you do.”
“No, but you’re not so slow in your speech that you’re annoying, either. I think you’ve figured out certain words that are easier to say than others and stick with those.”
He nodded. “I have. When I’m,” he paused, “fretful, I’m not clear in how I talk.”
“Well, then it’s good I don’t make you nervous.”
Landon wouldn’t say that. Warren did make him nervous. It was just easier to concentrate since Warren was the only one in the room he had to contend with.
“All I ask is that you’re good to my sister,” Warren said. “You don’t strike me as a gentleman prone to scandalous behavior, and that makes me feel a lot better about the marriage. I want her to be happy. I don’t want to go into detail about her past, but before she came to live with me in London, she had a difficult life.”
Landon wouldn’t have expected this. He’d gotten the impression that she’d had an ideal childhood. She held herself with such grace, and there was a certain spark about her that lit up her entire face when she smiled. But since he didn’t really know her, then he was going to take Warren’s word for it.
“Unlike others, I don’t care about your lisp,” Warren continued. “All I care is that you treat my sister well.”
“I will treat her well,” Landon promised.
“I believe you will.” Warren rose to his feet. “I won’t keep you any longer. I’ll send you a missive when I know the wedding date.” He started to head for the door then paused and turned back to him. “Would you like to come to a dinner party? It’ll be small. Just you, me, Opal, and my wife.”
Landon didn’t like to go to any social situation, but in this case, he felt it necessary that he say yes. This was his future brother-in-law, and he was sure that it’d make Opal feel better if she knew something about him other than the fact that he had a lisp.
“I’ll be there,” he told Warren.
“Good. I look forward to seeing you then,” Warren said.
Landon watched as Warren left. God willing, he would be able to get through the dinner party without saying or doing something to embarrass himself. Because as much as he would have preferred it, Guy wasn’t going to be there to do the talking for him.