Passions of a Gentleman (Gentlemen of Honor Book 3) (16 page)

R
ae stared at Simon
, the man never ceased to stun her.

“You have to leave today?” she asked the next morning in disbelief.

Simon nodded once. “Seth’s mama doesn’t know he’s come on this adventure, and I need to have him back by tomorrow when she and Giles are expecting his return.”

Rae was torn between laughing and crying. Instead, she grinned and was touched. Knowing Simon had been desperate enough to come see her with such a small window of opportunity, made his visit that much more romantic.

“Before you go, we need to discuss a few wedding details,” Juliet said. She walked over to the little oak secretary in the corner of the room and withdrew a quill, a little stack of paper, and a calendar. “First thing we need to settle on is a date.”

Rae ground her teeth. “How about Scotland on Wednesday?” she suggested airily.

“Perfect,” Simon said at the same time Juliet said, “Absolutely not.”

Juliet narrowed her eyes on the pair of them sitting on the settee. “You two will not be making a trip to Gretna Green.”

“And are you planning to tie us to our beds to ensure we don’t?” Rae asked her sister.

Juliet smiled smugly. “Never underestimate the will of an older sister.”

Despite herself, Rae laughed. Juliet would never admit such, but planning Rae’s wedding was just as much for Juliet as it was for Rae. Juliet hadn’t had a word of input about anything from the date she married…or who she married.

“All right, we will get married here,” Rae allowed.

Juliet’s face brightened. “Thank you,” she said. “I wasn’t sure if you’d want to marry here, but I am honored.”

Rae didn’t know why Juliet would think she wouldn’t want to have her wedding at Juliet’s home, but she couldn’t think of anywhere else she’d rather have it.

“Now for a date,” Juliet chirped.

“It takes two weeks to cry the Banns,” Drake reminded them.

Juliet started. “Two weeks isn’t enough time to plan the wedding of the Season. How about next April.”

“Next April,” both Rae and Simon said in unison. It was bad enough that Simon would have to leave for London in another hour at the latest, asking them to spend almost a year apart would be maddening!

“I don’t think I could attend otherwise,” Juliet said weakly, pressing her lips together in a way that would suggest she was trying not to cry. Rae doubted it was that important to Juliet, given normal circumstances; however, every time her mother increased she turned into a watering pot about the most inconsequential things. Juliet was no different, it would seem.

“How about we do it here. In August?” Rae suggested. “That will give you plenty of time to have your grand event and not require that you travel, and everyone will be getting ready to leave London for their country homes so they can come here first.”

“Whoever would have known that the wedding of the Season would be held right here at Crumbles?” Drake commented dryly, shaking his head.

“I suppose we can make this happen in August,” Juliet said primly, her eyes bespoke a different story: she was just as excited as Rae that it’d be able to happen sooner. “But we’ll have to send for the modiste this afternoon, and you
will
be fitted for a proper gown.”

That didn’t bother Rae so much; there was only one thing that concerned her at the moment. “Will I have to stay here until the wedding, or will I be allowed to visit London?”

Juliet’s triumphant smile would have annoyed Rae even a day ago, but today it made her all giddy and excited like a young girl. “Of course, far be it from me to force you to resort to scandalous measures to see your beau before the wedding.”

“Oh, so I won’t be staying with Lady Townson this time?” Rae quipped.

“Perhaps the dowager. I hear she can tell stories about her wedding night that will make even the most experienced madame find a way to attach weights to the hem of her skirt.” She winked. “But I won’t subject Simon to that.” She jotted down a few notes. “How about in a week?”

A week seemed like an eternity, but she’d survive it if it meant she’d be in London and able to see Simon every day until they married.

* * *

“
I
think
I can manage another week,” Simon said. It wouldn’t be easy, but it was necessary. For as much as Simon would have loved to leave for Scotland that very minute, he was somewhat relieved to know he had a little while yet to get things settled in London—namely a house to take his new bride home to! A week should give him plenty of time to find such. And then there was Giles. Not that Simon had any part in helping Giles plead his case of competency, but he did need to see to their clients’ investments while Father helped Giles or there wouldn’t be any money to spend on a wedding trip with his new bride.

“Now, about the decorations…”

Simon ignored Juliet and looked to Rae. She looked just as excited about this talk as he felt. He reached for her hands and gave it a light squeeze.

She squeezed back, her face relaxing marginally.

“Perhaps you could wait to torture Henrietta until after her beau has left,” Lord Drakely intoned, looking as disinterested as Simon felt.

Simon gave a curt, grateful nod in the man’s direction. “Shall we take a turn of the garden before I have to leave?” he asked Rae before her sister could press forward with more details.

“I’d be delighted to,” Rae said, standing.

Simon was on his feet less than a second later, holding his arm out to her.

“Perhaps while the two of you are out there, you can be thinking about wedding flowers,” Juliet said helpfully.

“I’m sure that’s exactly what they’ll be doing.” Drake’s lips dripped sarcasm.

“This way,” Rae murmured. “Through that door.”

Simon opened the door and ushered her out. Then as soon as the door closed behind them, Rae’s lips were on his. He reveled in her taste and pulled her closer, crushing her breasts against his chest. Winding her arms around his neck, she dug her fingers into the back of his hair.

His blood thundered in his veins and his kiss became more needy. Rae responded by parting her lips beneath his. Simon took advantage of her parted lips and swept his tongue inside her mouth. She tasted of plums, sweet. Simon pressed even closer to her, his body thrumming with excitement.

“We should stop,” he panted, pulling back.

Rae blinked, her kiss-swollen lips, forming a perfect O, drawing him right back to her like a moth to a flame.

Cupping Rae’s face, Simon kissed and tasted her supple lips and she matched him kiss for kiss, passion for passion.

“We really should stop,” Rae murmured between kisses. “You need to leave.”

“I do,” he agreed, kissing her again. Then again. “But not yet.”

“One more?” she asked, her lips already against his.

“One more.”
Simon kissed her once again, pressing his body so close to hers he was certain she could feel his erection but couldn’t bring himself to care. Besides, she didn’t seem to mind. If she did, surely she’d put some space between them.

“I need to go soon,” he said, drawing her lower lip between his then running his tongue along it.

She gasped and curled her fingers tightly into his hair. “I know.”

“But I can’t.” He pulled back, taking in her exquisite features. “Not yet.”

“Perhaps one more kiss,” she suggested.

Simon obliged her with one more kiss.

Then another.

And another.

And then perhaps one more.

T
hree days
later

R
ae’s body
hummed with anticipation as the coach drew near the outskirts of London. She’d been able to think of little else except Simon and his farewell kiss…well,
kisses
, to be precise.

Just how might he greet her,
she wondered, another wistful smile stealing over her face.

According to Juliet, all week she’d worn that same smile.

On Sunday afternoon the modiste had arrived…

“Oh, that is a beautiful design,” Juliet cooed. “What do you think, Henrietta?”

“Uh huh,” Rae nodded, feigning interest so she could keep Juliet occupied with something while she thought about Simon’s warm kisses that had the power to still make her lips tingle hours after he’d gone.

Juliet shook her head. “You could fashion her a grain sack to wear and she’d be content,” she teased then pointed at the modiste. “But don’t.”

Monday they’d gone to the bakery…

“Which flavor of cake sounds good?” Juliet asked Rae.

“Can’t Cook make a cake?”

Juliet cringed. “Only if you like cake that tastes like dirt.”

Rae shrugged “I’m sure it’ll be fine.”

Sighing, Juliet spoke to the baker and Rae took a seat at the table she and Simon had occupied their first day in the village.

Tuesday, they’d visited with Drake’s gardener who was overseeing what kinds of flowers were in the hothouse at Briar Creek, the actual seat of Drake’s viscountcy.

“Lilacs, violets, and roses are all we have this year. Of course each would be lovely for a wedding,” he said, scratching his temple.

“Which would you like to see in your bouquet?”

Rae bit her lip. “Tulips.” Mr. Stone had said tulips, hadn’t he?

Mr. Stone stared at her blankly, neither he nor Juliet saying anything.

“Yellow tulips,” she clarified.

“That sounds perfect,” Juliet said with a clap of her hands. “You shall wear a grain sack, eat dirt, and carry imaginary flowers.”

“Well, it
is
my wedding,” Rae pointed out.

Juliet flinched as if Rae had slapped her. “You’re right,” she said. She quickly dismissed Mr. Stone. “I’m sorry, Henrietta. I shouldn’t force you to do all of these things. You’re the one marrying him. It should be how you want it.” She smiled. “And
when
you want it.”

For the first time since Simon had left two days ago, she pushed him out of her mind long enough to be in the present. “What do you mean?”

“Go back to London tomorrow. Talk to Simon and marry him when and where the two of you want. Marry at St. Gregory’s in London in three weeks or hie off to Scotland and send me a letter.”

“You won’t be angry?”

Juliet laughed. “No.” She looped her arm through Rae’s and led them toward a little bench along the west side of the conservatory. “I remember the summer I got married, you used to recline on Mama’s old settee as if you were a regal queen. You’d prop pillows up behind you so you were at a perfect forty-five degree angle and always positioned away from the window so you wouldn’t get sun spots.”

Rae grimaced at her own foolishness. “I used to think it’d be so grand to be a lady.”

“And now that you are one, I wanted to make sure I did everything a Matchmaking Mama—or sister in our situation—would do. Fawning and fussing and demanding there be nothing held back in your Seasons or with your wedding.” She nudged Rae. “To be honest, it’s been quite exhausting being your chaperone. But, I wanted you to be happy.”

“Oh, Juliet, I had no idea you were being annoying on purpose.”

“Thanks,” Juliet said dryly. She reached forward and readjusted Rae’s hatpin. “The truth is, I want you to be happy, and to me, I think what will make you the happiest is going back to London.”

“But what about the wedding?”

“I’ve already told you, you have my permission to elope. Or if you want to plan it while in London—keep in mind, Brooke might be more annoying than me when it comes to wedding plans, so you might want to find someone else, but not her mother…” She shuddered. “Whatever you want to do, Henrietta, I’m game for.” Juliet’s arm came around her shoulders. “Just remember to send me a letter…”

As buildings came into view and commotion floated to her ears, Rae’s heart squeezed. She wasn’t sure if she’d suggest to Simon to elope immediately. His parents were well known residents of London, they might prefer there to be a wedding at St. Gregory’s.

The coach pulled up to Lord Townson’s townhouse just as Brooke and Andrew were going out for a walk.

“You came back?” Brooke gushed.

“Juliet insisted.” That was true enough. “Can I stay?”

“Of course!” Brooke barked orders to the coachmen while Andrew went back inside his townhouse, returning with the butler.

In no time, Rae’s things were unloaded and being unpacked in her guest room.

“Come, walk with us.” Brooke’s offer held no question.

Rae smiled and joined the duo. “How was the house party?”

“Tedious,” Andrew answered for his wife.

Brooke shook a finger at him. “It was only tedious for you because you had to behave.”

“It’s so much more fun when I don’t.”

Sighing, Brooke turned toward Rae. “Andrew and the Duke of Gateway detest one another. Unfortunately for both of them, they married sisters.”

“It wouldn’t be so bad for Madison to become a widow,” Andrew said jovially. “Then she could marry proper.”

“I’m assuming her husband would say the same of Brooke,” Rae ventured.

Andrew scowled, and Brooke laughed. “I daresay, you have them pegged,” she said.

“So if the two of you don’t like each other, how do visits work?” Rae asked. Simon and Giles didn’t seem to like each other from what she’d gathered. Perhaps Andrew and the duke’s method could work for them.

“Well…” Andrew said slowly.

“They’ve both been threatened,” Brooke said.

Rae frowned. She doubted Brooke actually threatened her husband.

“We just make it work,” Andrew said softly. “Our dislike for one another began long before either of us met our wives and is of little consequence now. We just like to goad the other.” He tipped his left shoulder up in a careless shrug. “And if the opportunity presents itself to make the other look like a fool, we don’t hesitate.”

Rae couldn’t see Giles and Simon doing that, either. No matter. If the earl and duke had found a way, surely Simon and Giles would, too.