Chapter 15
Nash opened his eyes to see Penelope staring at him in the marriage bed, and Nash had never slept better. Now, with Penelope lying next to him with her mussed hair and shy smile, waking would be just as good as sleeping had been.
“Good morning, Duchess,” he said.
“Good morning, husband.”
He kissed her gently, but long enough to communicate his interest. Based on her response, she seemed to share that interest.
He recalled hearing somewhere that a successful marriage would be more successful if the husband and wife shared similar interests. Here’s to a long and happy marriage. When they went down to break their fast, Cecilia and Edward were already eating. They sat with their plates, Penelope pouring tea, Nash pouring coffee.
Nash began, “Today’s the big day. I will gather every footman from here as well as from mother’s townhouse, your townhouse, and will see Avery. Take care to pack everything. I fear Avery and Henry won’t be as hospitable again if you want to retrieve anything.
If there are items in the parlour or elsewhere in the townhouse that are yours, take them today. I’ll stand next to Avery and Henry to keep them in check.
“Cecilia, if you have a ladies maid, bring her now. Same for you, Edward. Although I’d be surprised if you had a ladies maid. Might you have a valet? They will be a great help.
“Since we are only going a few blocks, don’t have them pack with precision. An hour after we leave, they will unpack at your new home. The less time we are at Avery’s, the better. But don’t forget anything.
“Say as little about this turn of events as possible to the staff. They are probably thrilled for you and wish the best, but they have to answer to Avery. Don’t get them in trouble.”
Nash took another scone and turned it over, inspecting every last surface.
“If we are to be married for the next forty years, I must know why you turn over every scone you pick up to eat,” Penelope said.
He smiled over at her. “Your first pet peeve, my dear?”
Penelope coloured but kept a steady gaze on him.
“If you must know, I am assessing the amount of icing drizzled on the scone. The more, the better. Feel better?” He grinned.
She grinned back. “Yes, I do. Thank you for indulging me.”
“Any time,” Nash said.
*****
Nash went to knock on Avery’s townhouse door when Waters opened it.
“Good morning, Waters,” Nash said.
“Good morning, Your Grace,” he said and bowed.
“I trust you were waiting for our arrival?”
“I was. Please come in.”
Nash, Penelope, Cecilia, and Edward walked in. “Is Avery available?”
“Not yet, Your Grace. He asked me to pass along the message that you should start without him. I believe the maids have started packing for Lady Balfour and the Duchess, Your Grace. Lord Balfour’s valet has also begun.”
Nash smiled. “Excellent. I’ll take tea in the parlour while they go about packing. Should I send my footmen to the kitchen?”
“As you wish, Your Grace.”
Nash sat in the parlour and looked at the clock on the mantle. How long will it take? One hour? Two hours? God help him if it took more than two hours. The sooner they were out of there, the better. Who knew what calamity might find them? Henry, for instance.
Nash was turning over a scone in his hand, examining it, when Avery entered. They greeted, then they sat, and Avery poured tea.
“Well, Nash. I should ask you for your documentation on your marriage, but knowing you, everything is in order, and it will be a waste of my time.”
Nash nodded. “Correct.”
“We pulled a fast one on each other. You happen to be faster than me.”
Nash shrugged. “Penelope tried to tell you. If you could have found five minutes for her, so much could have been avoided.”
Avery sighed. “Well, time to put it past us, don’t you agree? I trust we can all make nice in public?”
Nash nodded his head. “There is nothing I would like better. There is, however, the problem of Henry. We will ignore him both publicly and privately if he approaches Penelope or me for any reason. My wife has had enough of Henry for a lifetime.”
Avery looked into Nash’s eyes that gave him a small smile. “I’ll try my best. I am not with the boy at every moment, and heaven knows I’ve lectured him against approaching either of you, but I’ll try my best. Truly, I will.”
Nash nodded. “The only other business on the table is the conveyance of Cecilia’s, Penelope’s, and Edward’s things from your country estate to mine. Weather permitting, we may travel there in about two months. I trust you will notify your staff of our arrival?”
“If you get a date or even a week in mind for your trip, I’ll alert them. When will you go on your honeymoon?”
“I’m not sure,” Nash grimaced. “I think we should go now and let Cecilia do a lot of planning for the big wedding. Hopefully, a month in Italy should keep us from getting into too much trouble with the event.”
Avery was nonplussed. “Did you say you’re getting married?”
Nash grinned. “Yes. We are having a rather large wedding. It’s what Penelope wants, so she can have it.
“She wants to walk down the aisle in wedding finery to show our guests that even with a rather large scar, someone loves her. I don’t blame her. Some of the beautiful girls having their season were less than cordial to her.”
Avery’s eyes opened wide, “My God, Nash. You’re going through that expense for a three-minute walk down the aisle?”
Nash laughed. “I am. And I’m happy to do it if that’s what she wants.”
They heard someone clear her throat. It was Penelope’s ladies maid Helen. She curtsied.
“Begging your pardon, Your Grace. The Duchess asks for the footmen.”
Nash rose and clapped his hands together. “Thank you, Helen. Does this mean your Duchess is packed?”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
“Do you know of the others?”
“I believe they are ready too.”
Nash gave her a bright smile. “Tell your Duchess they will be sent up.”
She curtsied and left.
Avery slapped Nash on the back. “Well, I’ll let you get to it. Good talk.”
They both bowed and went in separate directions.
*****
Penelope and Nash sat in the parlour drinking tea while the footmen brought Penelope’s things to Nash’s bedchamber.
Penelope’s eyes were bright. “It took no time at all. With Helen working beside me, we took your advice, and packed a little haphazardly. Now, we are here. Now, I’m home.”
“You are. Once you have had a chance to settle in, we’ll go see your mother and brother. I imagine they are as happy as you are.
“But first, we need to talk of our big wedding and our honeymoon.”
Penelope sat up straight and gave Nash her full attention. “I have decided—”
Penelope put up her hand, palm out. “You were just married, so I will forgive you. Don’t you know husbands never began a sentence with ‘I’ve decided’?”
Nash narrowed his eyes. He was in dangerous territory, and he knew it. “Quite right, my dear. As I was saying, I have been thinking about our honeymoon. If you will agree, I would like to leave on it almost immediately.” Penelope went to open her mouth, but Nash put his index finger in the air for her to stop.
“I haven’t forgotten about our wedding. I propose you and Cecilia plan it before we leave, and Cecilia can do your bidding while we are gone. I thought she might even like to do it.”
Nash sat back waiting for the onslaught. He had no idea how difficult it might be to talk her into this plan, but he was about to find out.
“Go on a honeymoon then come back for the wedding? That is total madness. We would be the laughingstock of London.”
Nash smiled. He knew this would be her objection. Thank God, she didn’t have an objection he couldn’t overcome.
“Penelope, everyone knows we are married. I think the sheep in the Scottish Highlands know we are married. What difference does it make if the honeymoon is before or after the big wedding? You know everyone will come either way.
“There won’t be an empty pew in the church. The celebration we hold here after the wedding will probably have more people in attendance than in the church before.
“It will be the biggest ton event this season. And it has nothing to do with when we go on our honeymoon.”
He blew out a long slow breath. “Penelope, I need the honeymoon. I need to be with you without Avery and Henry and the general nonsense we have been putting up with for so long. I have my needs. And right now, my need is to make love to you in Sicily while looking out the window at the beauty of Mount Aetna.”
Penelope’s eyes were watching her hands in her lap. Nash knew she wouldn’t say no to him. She just had to come to terms with it first.
She lifted her head and looked into Nash’s eyes. “I suppose I could talk to Mother about the idea, see what she thinks. See if she’s willing to take on the project.”
Nash got up and went to where Penelope sat. He sat on his haunches. “I knew there was a reason I love you.”
She pushed his arm playfully. He fell over, his laughter making him too weak to get up.
Once Penelope was satisfied with Helen’s progress, she and Nash took their carriage to call on Cecilia and Edward. Their butler, Simons let them in, trying but failing to look stoic. Nash was sure every servant in the house was as happy as Simons.
*****
Cecilia and Edward joined them in the parlour shortly after they arrived, and tea was served promptly.
Nash observed, “I think, at least for today, your servants are the happiest in London. Fear not, once they get to know you, Edward –”
Penelope huffed. “Stop that.” She turned to her mother, “Are you settling in? Do you need anything?”
“Penelope, I have more than I could ever need. This house is lovely. I think Edward and I will be happy here.”
Nash sat up straight. “Good, because Penelope and I are leaving, and we expect to be gone two months.”
Penelope gasped and said, “Two months?”
At the same time, Edward said, “About time you went on your honeymoon.”
Penelope looked at Edward. “Excuse me, Edward.”
She turned to her husband, “Two months?”
Her reaction was just as he predicted. “Not longer, Nash. Shorter. Two months is far too long.”
“Penelope, you know the time it takes to travel. We’ll need two months if we are to stay in one place longer than a day.”
“Nash, this is a honeymoon, not the Grand Tour ... We simply don’t need that amount of time.”
Nash looked at the ceiling, counting to ten. He hoped Penelope thought he was distressed. This would only work if she did.
“What is here in London that you cannot be gone on your honeymoon with your husband? A lover, perhaps?”
Penelope gasped, and then laughed. “You’re trying to bait me.”
Nash got up and paced. “No, I’m trying to go on my honeymoon.”
Edward took the chair next to Penelope. “Perhaps I can help? I’ve heard a lot of men at the club talk about their honeymoon.”
He and Nash had arranged Edward’s participation in Penelope’s objection. Nash let him continue.
Edward said, “Well, most gentlemen take honeymoons between six weeks and three months. Why? Most travel to Paris and spend a week or two there then move on to their destination, usually somewhere in Italy or Greece. Magnificent places to honeymoon to be sure. Almost to a man, they say this type of honeymoon has been a success.”
Nash was amused to discover the only words Penelope heard from Edward’s perfect description of the honeymoon was “six weeks.”
“Six weeks, you say Edward?” Penelope said, tilting her head to Nash.
Nash pretended to act irritated. “Did you have to mention six weeks, Edward?” But he was satisfied. He came in looking for six weeks, and his honeymoon would be six weeks long.
Edward shrugged, trying to keep his smile to himself.
After a long sigh, Nash said, “Fine, six weeks. We are spending time in Paris and will sail to Sicily. We’ll just have to hurry ourselves along.”
“Oh, stop acting like a boy who has had his favourite toy taken away. We’ll have plenty of time.”
Cecilia said, “Now that the honeymoon has been settled, we will have to hurry the big wedding along.”
Nash looked at Penelope. “Well, Nash and I think we’ll get married after the honeymoon.
Both Cecilia and Edward laughed.
Nash and Penelope looked at each other. Cecilia saw them and stopped laughing.
“You are serious?” she said.
“We are. And we want you to be a very big part of it,” Penelope said.
She and Cecilia had a conversation with voices low so Nash and Edward couldn’t hear. He couldn’t vouch for Edward, but Nash was thankful he couldn’t hear it.
Finally, mother and daughter broke from their private talk to acknowledge the men in the room. Penelope spoke, looking into Nash’s eyes. Nash knew that look. She was going to stand her ground. Cecilia sat straight, arms crossed. These women were serious.
Penelope asked Nash, “Exactly when were you thinking we would be going on this honeymoon?”
Nash looked Penelope in the eyes while he scrambled for the right answer. He never could figure her out, and he wasn’t going to start now. He would never come up with the right answer.
“One week,” he said. Then he wanted to hide until the fallout was over.
Penelope seemed to relax. “Then it’s settled. We’ll go in ten days. That will give Mother and me time to plan everything she will need to do while we’re gone. And it will give me time to visit the modiste. I’ll need to know what kind of weather we should expect.”
Nash relaxed as well. “I love you, dear Penelope.”
Penelope gasped and looked around the room. “Nash.”
Nash took his eyes off Penelope and looked at Cecilia. “What is Cook serving this evening?”