Page 94 of A Slight Problem with the Wedding
“That would have been a disaster,” Octavian remarked. “Glad you came to your senses, you dolt.”
Julius spared a loving glance at Gory. “I will admit that I was unpardonably slow to act. But never doubt I was going to be the one to marry Gory.”
“Thank goodness,” Syd murmured.
“However, there is still much to do if anything is to happen tomorrow,” he cautioned. “First, the matter of Gory’s betrothal needs to be undone. Next, I must obtain the marriage license. If you will excuse me and Mr. Havers, we must get on the task.”
He walked out with Havers, but his brothers followed after them.
Ambrose was frowning. “Do you really think Allendale will release Gory from the betrothal? Perhaps he will see reason if Octavian and I join you.”
Octavian nodded.
Julius sighed. “I do not need my big brothers protecting me. Havers and I have it all under control. Just watch over Gory while I am gone.”
Ambrose arched an eyebrow. “That’s it?”
“And show up at the church tomorrow morning. That’s all I need you both to do. Do not forget. Ten o’clock sharp.”
Octavian gave him a light smack on the head. “We all still live together. Do you think our wives are ever going to allow us to oversleep? They’ll be up at the crack of dawn to attend to Gory. We’ll be tossed to the dogs if we dare show up a minute late.”
“Better get on your way now,” Ambrose advised. “However, I’ll be waiting for you at the parish church. See you there in about an hour. Is that enough time for you? Well, no matter. I’m going to wait there no matter how late you are. I’ll make certain they have the license ready for your signature. They won’t dare turn a duke away.”
“Or an admiral,” Octavian added. “I’ll be waiting there with Ambrose.”
Julius released a breath once he had climbed in the carriage and settled on the bench opposite Havers.
Havers chuckled as the conveyance rolled away. “So, this is what having a loving family looks like.”
Julius arched an eyebrow. “You mean me and my brothers?”
He nodded. “Every male in my family line is a complete and utter arse. The woman are no prizes, either. When I was younger, I was convinced I was a changeling. Who were these people, I would often ask myself as I watched them make the stupidest mistakes imaginable? But as I grew older, there was no mistaking I was a Havers. I have the uncanniest resemblance to my father. Fortunately, it is only a physical resemblance.”
“All the brains and common sense were concentrated on you?”
Havers shrugged. “I am observant, for certain. Not sure how smart I am.”
“You did not get to be the magistrate’s top investigator by sheer luck or good connections. You earned your status.” Julius was serious about this, for he had not met a man more sensible or with more solid instincts than Havers.
“For all the good it does me,” he muttered, shrugging again. “I did not wish to say anything to Lady Gregoria, but it is possible Lady Easton will get away with her husband’s murder.”
Julius shook his head. “No, she won’t. If you understood Gory, you would know she will never let the matter rest until all the responsible parties are brought to justice. She needs to have the matter resolved for all the reasons she mentioned. Vindication. Preserving her good name and that of the Huntsford Academy. Certainty in the outcome, which is the only way to dispel rumors of her guilt.”
Havers arched an eyebrow. “Why did you express reluctance when you obviously agree with her concerns?”
“Because I still want to protect her. If there is any way to bring this matter to an end without involving her, I am all for it.”
“So am I,” Havers admitted. “What good are all my efforts if I cannot ensure her safety?”
“What you do is invaluable,” Julius insisted. “You’ve rid London of many evildoers. You’ve saved countless lives. Do not shrug off your importance, even if you are momentarily stymied in putting this case to rest. Lady Gregoria and I, for all our wisdom, had not figured out who murdered her uncle. We had our suspicions, of course. But you were onto Lady Easton from the start. She had planned it all out so carefully, but you were not fooled.”
“Just working the probabilities,” Havers said as the carriage rolled smoothly along the London streets toward the solicitor’s office. “That is all it is. Probabilities.”
The hour was growing late by the time they arrived at the offices of Deacon & Mosley, but theirs was a busy practice and there were always solicitors and clerks working late into the night. Julius went in on his own to retrieve the document to be signed by Allendale.
He was not surprised to find Deacon still there, for the man was as dogged a fellow as Havers. Assign him a task, and he was going to stick to it until it was done.
“Lord Thorne, I did not expect you until tomorrow morning.”
