Page 64 of Presenting Miss Letitia (Once a Wallflower 1)

He cupped her chin with a thumb and forefinger. “I won’t wait that long,” he said huskily. He put a hand in his pocket and drew out the document. “Which is why I brought this with me.”

“What is it?”

“A special license. We can marry as soon as we wish, with your uncle’s blessing, I trust.”

“I’ve never heard of such a thing. How did you come by it?”

“Fraser Willard.”

He took her hand to lead her inside, but stopped before they reached the steps, reluctant to share her with the whole village just yet. “Willard is on good terms with His Grace, the Archbishop of Canterbury, who furnished me with this extremely useful document. Despite the notice of your engagement to Geoffrey in the newspaper, he and Mrs. Willard remained hopeful of our marriage. I think Willard expected me to fight your fiancé for your hand. Fortunately, I shan’t have to. Geoffrey looks quite fit,” he added with a laugh.

Letty grinned and shook her head. “Geoffrey is a peaceful fellow and perfectly content not to marry me.”

“I am glad he suffers from a disorder of the mind,” Brandon said.

“No, he’s just sensible.” She laughed and shook her head. “I would not have made him a good wife.”

“You’d run the poor fellow ragged. Which no doubt you will do to me.”

A smile tugged at her lips, and she raised a hand to trace over his chin. “Then perhaps you should not marry me.”

He caught her hand and pressed a kiss to her palm. “I suspect I am made of sterner stuff than Geoffrey. I won’t let you get away.”

She sighed. “Oh Brandon, I do love you.”

He kissed her again.

Finally remembering where they were, he released her. “The Willards intend to hold a party for us when we return to London. That is, if you would enjoy it?”

“Oh yes. I would. I like them both, very much.”

“Good. My digs aren’t suitable for us. I plan to purchase a house in a better street. Near the park perhaps. There will be furnishings to purchase, the staff to hire. You’ll be busy, Letty.”

Her eyes widened with delight and disbelief. “We are to live in London?”

“Yes. But first we will pay a visit to my parents.”

“Oh, Brandon, are you now on good terms with them?”

“A lot has happened that I must tell you about. I’m sure they will be pleased, my mother particularly, who has been trying to marry me off for years.”

She giggled, and then her eyes grew worried. “Shall we go in? I do want you to meet Geoffrey. I think you’ll like him.”

“I believe I like him already. But will he like me?”

She held his hand tightly in hers. “How could he not?”

Brandon looked up at the smiling faces of several young women clustered around the doorway. The musicians struck up, and they disappeared inside. Another dance had begun, feet marching over the floorboards. “Very well, let us face the music.”

Chapter Twenty-Four

“Oh Letty, Mr. Cartwright is so handsome,” Jane said. She had come straight to the vicarage as soon as she arrived back in the village and heard the news. “I am so happy for you! I expected you to marry Geoffrey, and then I come home to this! It’s like a dream.” She glanced half-accusingly at Letty, her eyes alight with warmth. “You only mentioned Mr. Cartwright once in your letters.”

Letty threw her arms around her. “I didn’t dare hope he would ever want to marry me.”

“Well, of course he would! Why ever not?” Jane said staunchly.

Letty grinned at her loyal friend. She’d pushed aside her fears that Brandon would one day accept another dangerous mission with the joy of being with him again. The very sight of him had stolen her breath away. She would have married him, anyway. Life was to be lived after all, she had only to read Lydia’s diaries to reinforce that view.

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