Page 45 of One Night of Temptation
Hugh picked up the thread of why he was here. “Thank you for summoning the tailor. Now, what do I need to know about having dinner at the Marquess of Bramber’s?”
Cole finished a swallow of brandy and fixed Hugh with a curious stare. “What I would like to know iswhyyou were invited to Lady Penelope’s engagement dinner.”
Eastleigh leaned toward Hugh. “Yes, that.”
“I ran into Lady Bramber and Lady Penelope in the park today, and the marchioness invited me,” Hugh said.
“How peculiar,” Eastleigh said.
“What’speculiaris Hugh walking in the park.” Cole narrowed his eyes at Hugh. “What aren’t you telling us?”
Eastleigh’s fair brows climbed his forehead. “I daresay it has something to do with the mysterious details of his rescue of Lady Penelope.”
Hugh looked from Eastleigh to Cole. “Yes, which brings us to the other thing I may need help with.”
“There’s more?” Cole asked.
“I plan to ask Lady Penelope to marry me.”
Cole slapped his hand on the arm of his chair. “The devil you say!”
Eastleigh lifted his brandy glass. “Splendid news!”
“But she’s already betrothed.” Cole waved his hand in the air. “Any right-headed woman would choose you over him.”
“I am not an earl.” Hugh didn’t think Pen cared about that, but her parents did.
Eastleigh braced his hand on his thigh. “Are you worried she won’t say yes?”
“That’s a concern, but mostly I fear she won’t beallowedto say yes.”
Cole and Eastleigh frowned in unison. “She’s of age to make her own decisions,” Cole said.
“While that’s true, she’s been raised to wed whomever her parents deem best.”
Eastleigh looked to Hugh. “I want to understand—you rescued Lady Penelope, and in the amount of time it took you to convey her home, you fell in love with her?”
“He didn’t say he was in love with her.” Cole slid a glance toward Hugh. “Are you?”
“I am absolutely in love with her, and I have reason to hope she might return my affection.”
Eastleigh grinned. “Well then, we will do everything in our power to help. Just say the word.”
“Yes, how can we help?” Cole asked, also grinning.
“I’m not certain yet, but I have an idea for a plan, and if it goes the way I hope, Pen and I will marry Thursday morning at St. Giles.”
Cole stared at Hugh in confusion. “You can’t perform your own ceremony.”
“No, but we’ll need to marry in one of our parishes, and mine seems easiest. I’ve no desire to make this public before it has to be—I’d like to marry her as quietly as possible so as not to invite her parents’ interference.” That was going to be the hardest part.
Cole narrowed his eyes. “I begin to understand. Maybe.”
Hugh’s mouth curved into a bare smile. “Tom will marry us, and I am hopeful you will join us for the ceremony. It would be comforting to have two dukes present, I think. Especially if her parents do show up.”
“Of course we’ll be there!” Eastleigh exclaimed.
“It will be very early,” Hugh said. “I want to start the ceremony the moment the clock strikes eight.” Perhaps it would be early enough that the marquess and marchioness would not arrive in time.
