Page 119 of Marigold and the Marquess
But Leo was born with a proud and valorous heart.
A warrior’s heart.
When he stood in his knightly garb at times like these, she felt as though he had the reborn soul of an ancient Celtic king. Even the motto of this most noble Order of the Thistle described him to the last detail.Nemo me impune lacessit.No one provokes me with impunity.
She thought of Denby and Cummings, both long since dead, and Beldon who was imprisoned for life and would never be set free, for his dealings had gone beyond mere envy of Leo, as it turned out. Denby had dragged him into other Crown dealings. Not often, but it only took the once or twice to bring him down along with Denby’s other cohorts. In paying Denby to arrange for Leo’s capture, he had given Denby and the others involved in the scheme to cheat the Crown a blackmail hold over him. It could be said he had a hold on them, too. But apparently, these were not men to cross and Beldon feared for his life.
It was a bad business all around.
But justice had been served.
These men had provoked Leo and met their fate.
She shook out of the unpleasant thought as she watched Ethan assist Leo into his attire that befitted a royal courtier, for this is how he was garbed, in shirt, doublet, breeches, and silk hose.
Marigold watched in awe as Ethan placed the magnificent, velvet mantle denoting his status as a Knight of the Order of the Thistle around his broad shoulders. Over that splendid robe was placed the riband and star. The star was a jewel-inlaid brooch that had the order’s motto inscribed:Nemo me impune lacessit.
Marigold could not help but smile.
Leo looked so fierce and serious, yet she and Mallow ran roughshod over him, and he never once complained. She and Mallow had a propensity for leaving bones all over the house, she with her ancient relics, and Mallow with his leftover scraps from the kitchen.
She suspected Leo loved all of it, especially their little girls who thought of Leo as their moon and stars.
Tears formed in her eyes as the jeweled collar was placed over his head to rest upon his shoulders.
Here stands a knight.
Indeed, she could see Leo among King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table.
“Are you ready, Sir Leonides?”
He arched his eyebrows. “Must we go? You know how I hate these formal affairs.”
“You’ll survive it, my brave and gallant hero. It is not every day England receives a new king.” She had also taken care in choosing her attire, although it was much simpler for her. She only had to look smart by society’s standards and not put on any elaborate renaissance gown.
The investiture of King William IV was to take place before hundreds of lords and ladies, with a good representation of her own family in attendance since many of her cousins had married into the nobility, including herself.
Who would have expected any such thing while growing up in Little Mutton?
When they arrived at Westminster Abbey, Leo was escorted into a chamber behind the nave while she was led to the pews. To her delight, Dillie and Adela were seated beside her, for their husbands were dukes of the highest rank, only the royal family being superior to them. Their husbands would be in the procession that included Knights of the various Orders, bishops, chancellors, highest ranking peers, not to mention the king, queen, and royal princes.
After the ceremony was over, it was time to welcome the new king.
Marigold smiled and bowed, and thoroughly enjoyed the reception that followed. She met crowned heads of state, princes royal, and even bowed before their newly invested king. But the moments she loved best were the precious few she had with Leo who was in demand and being pulled every which way. But he always spared a moment to touch her hand lightly or cast her a private smile.
He approached her now, his eyes alight and his smile enchantingly wicked. “Love,” he whispered, putting his mouth to her ear just as she took a sip of a most delicious India tea, “I think this momentous occasion calls for a special celebration, just you and me. Sex. Carriage. Meet you outside in five minutes.”
She choked on the tea and had a fit of coughing as it swallowed down the wrong way.
It had become a private jest between them. After two children and possibly a third on the way that Leo did not even know about yet because she had only begun to suspect the possibility a few days ago, they had certainly not doneitin a carriage. Nor would they ever, if she had her way.
The very idea.
He would never be able to lace her back up properly or put her hair back in order, so everyone would know at once what they had done.
He knew the suggestion riled her.
Not that she was unreceptive to his advances, but their activities were confined to the bedchamber, and one naughty incident in Leo’s library against his bookshelves that had led nine months later to Gwendolyn, their first child.
