Page 36 of Marigold and the Marquess
The following morning, Marigold decided to walk over to Leo’s townhouse with Mallow. After all, was it not right and proper that his staff should become acquainted with the incoming residents? “Good morning,” she said with cheer as Leo’s kindly butler opened the door.
Mallow squirmed out of her grasp and tore into the house. He ran down the hall before she could stop him. “Oh, dear. I do apologize to you, Sterling. As you can see, Mallow requires a little more training.”
The butler smiled. “He is a delightful, little fellow. I expect we shall find him scratching at his lordship’s study door. That is where Lord Muir happens to be at the moment.”
Marigold sighed. “Mallow does adore him.”
“He is a most worthy master and is respected by all of us.”
“Sterling, what do you know about his…” She did not know how much to say about Leo’s four years in captivity. What if his staff knew nothing? Well, that was unlikely. But who could say what they had been told? “Never mind. May I see Lord Muir?”
He led her into the parlor and had her wait there.
Marigold was not offended since Leo’s staff might not even be aware they were betrothed. If Leo had not told them, she certainly was not going to blurt the news.
It did not take long for Leo to enter the parlor and greet her, Mallow trotting in beside him.
Leo looked strikingly handsome in dark breeches, polished Hessians, a white lawn shirt, and silk cravat in a pinecone design of dark green and gray that was also shot through with threads of silver. The cravat was tied in an impeccably elegant and understated knot. His waistcoat was of green brocade that matched the green of his cravat. “Good morning, Miss Farthingale. I did not expect to see you this bright and early.”
Was he admonishing her?
Should she have awaited an invitation?
She blushed. “Forgive me, I did not think.”
“Neither of us was thinking too clearly last night, were we?” he said softly, as he leaned in and surprised her with a genuinely tender kiss on the cheek.
He then straightened to his impressive height and turned to his butler. “Sterling, kindly gather the staff in the hall. Miss Farthingale and I have an announcement to make.”
The man’s eyes popped wide and his smile stretched from ear to ear. “At once, my lord.”
He bustled out.
“I’ll be meeting your uncle at the bishop’s office this afternoon to obtain the license.”
Her heart did a little flip within her chest, for this marriage business was suddenly feeling very real. “Am I permitted to join you?”
He frowned as he shook his head. “I doubt your uncle will allow it. I’m sure he also intends to discuss the terms of our marriage contract and will not want you around while we negotiate.”
“I see. Leo, my parents and I lived modestly. We were not paupers, mind you. But when they died, I was left with very little. My mother’s family took me in and had me settle in with them. They were kind and I was comfortable. Their house was just down the street from ours as I was growing up.”
He nodded. “In the village of Little Mutton?”
“Yes. So, I do not require elaborate arrangements. Whatever I have now is due to the generosity of my father’s side of the family…the Farthingale side. My needs are not extravagant.”
He kissed her on the forehead. “And this is why your uncle does not want you with us while we discuss the terms. You are far too reasonable, as I knew you would be. However, you are to be my wife, Marigold. Whether I like it or not, you and I will soon be bound. I take care of what’s mine. You shall never be left wanting.”
She cast him a sincere smile. “Spoken like a true lion, Leo.”
His eyes lit up and he laughed. “Come on, I hear my staff gathering in the hall. Time to introduce them to my future marchioness.”
“When do you expect we’ll be married?”
“Now that the damage has been done?” He arched an eyebrow. “The sooner, the better.”
He did not appear overset by the fact.
In truth, he seemed to be taking this disaster quite well.
