Page 50 of The Viscount's Unwanted Bride
Theo shook his head. “If you bandage it, then it will draw attention. I’d prefer no one to notice.”
Barlow pursed his lips. “Then at least allow me to apply a salve to reduce the risk of bleeding.”
“Thank you, that would be appreciated.”
Theo sat on the end of the bed while Barlow pulled a small vial of salve from his pocket and knelt in front of him. Barlow smeared the clear salve over the cut on Theo’s knuckles, then wiped his hands on a handkerchief and returned the vial to his pocket. Mrs. Taylor must have warned him that the salve might be needed in order for him to have been so prepared.
Theo thanked Barlow, dismissed him, and made his way downstairs for breakfast. Footsteps thumped on the stairs behind him, and he glanced over his shoulder as Nicholas hurried to join him.
“Excited for the big event tomorrow?” Nicholas asked, keeping pace as they reached the foyer and turned toward thedining room.He was, in fact, not on the way to London with their mother as Theo had told Lady Katherine. He had simply decided to lay low until they were wed so as not to confuse matters.
Once they were married, Theo would make introductions. Fortunately, Nicholas was in the process of growing a short beard so as to look as different from Theo as possible and please their mother.
“I’m not sure that ‘excited’ is the word I’d use.” More like terrified. Stricken. In denial. “I can’t believe I’m marrying again.”
Theo’s first wedding had been huge, with all of his family and many others in attendance. He was relieved this one would be smaller.
Back when he’d first married, Lady Blackwell had made a fuss about him and Nicholas both being at the wedding. She hadn’t wanted them seen side by side in case her lie came out, but she was the one who’d insisted on a large wedding, and Theo wasn’t marrying without Nicholas there.
It helped that they’d had their father around then. He’d simply reminded their mother that no one would be looking for evidence of a twenty-year-old deception and had suggested that Nicholas grow his hair and beard so they were not so obviously identical.
“I hope you won’t regret it.” Nicholas’s smile disappeared. “I feel awful. It’s my fault you’re doing this.”
“I made a choice,” Theo reminded him. He could have simply ignored the whole thing, or forced Nicholas to wed Lady Katherine, but he hadn’t. Ergo, he had no one to blame but himself.
They entered the dining room, and each fixed themself a plate of food from the side table. A pot of tea had been brewed and was sitting between their two place settings.
In an effort to distract from the impending nuptials, they discussed horses as they ate their breakfast. Nicholas enjoyed riding, although he did it far less frequently in London than he did in the country.
Theo was preparing to leave for Longley House when Albert tracked him down to his office.
“My lord, your mother is here,” he said, wringing his hands.
Theo’s head fell back, and he groaned. “Will she notice if I leave via the back exit?”
“Yes, I will,” a firm female voice said from behind Albert. “Don’t even think about running away, Theodore. We have matters to discuss.”
Pulling a face, Theo gathered himself and nodded to Albert. “Thank you. Please inform the driver that I’ll be delayed.”
“Yes, my lord.” Albert bowed and trotted away with more speed than he usually displayed. The butler had served his mother and father before serving Theo, and he hated any tension between the family members.
Lady Blackwell swept into the room, clad in a thick purple traveling pelisse. She’d worn shades of purple and gray ever since the death of his father despite the fact that the appropriate mourning period had long since passed.
She looked down her nose at him, which was a remarkable feat considering he was several inches taller than she, and narrowed her dark eyes. “What is the point of sending me an invitation to your wedding if you leave it so late that I’m unable to participate in the planning of the event?”
Theo darted a look at the drawer where he kept the brandy, wishing he’d had a nip to prepare himself for her interrogation. Leaving it too late had been precisely the point. Yes, he wanted his mother present at the wedding, but he hadn’t appreciated her stance with regard to his marriage to Elizabeth and would prefer her to have as little input into this wedding as possible.
He’d never forgiven her for making such a display of the event in an attempt to prove she didn’t care about the lower status of Elizabeth’s birth when everyone knew she did.
“And what’s all this about having a small wedding?” she demanded, putting her hands on her hips. “Your bride-to-be is an earl’s sister. We should be celebrating the joining of our bloodlines in the most impressive manner possible.”
He rolled his eyes. Of course she was happy to celebratethismarriage. It could only make their family look better in the eyes of theton.
“Lady Katherine wants a small wedding, and that is what she’ll have.” He may not be able to give her everything he wanted to, but some things were within his power to provide, and he’d do so to the best of his ability.
“It is a shame you didn’t summon me earlier. I could have talked her around. You know how adept I am at handling large affairs.” Her gaze raked over him, and she finally seemed to notice he was dressed to leave. “Where are you on your way to, then?”
“I’m to call on Lady Katherine to confirm our plans for tomorrow. Mrs. Taylor has prepared your room for you if you wish to retire to catch up on rest. I’m sure your travels were wearying.”
