Snowflakes and Scandals

Chapter 8

Chapter 8

Lord Sutton did not appear nearly as ill as Septimus had expected. Margaret had said that her father had seemed much better after she’d told him she would consider Septimus’s suit. Clearly that had been the medicine the older gentleman had needed. Once the introductions had been made, they all retired to the study where Maryville’s lawyer and clerk were waiting.

“Lord Sutton.” Septimus indicated the chair closets to the fireplace. “Please sit here. It is warmer.”

“Thank you.” His future father-in-law gave Septimus a brief smile as he helped the older gentleman to the chair. Lord Sutton then glanced at Margaret. “Well then. What am I doing here?”

Margaret took the chair next to his. “Septimus and I have decided to wed. Naturally, we would like your approval.”

Her father nodded. “You have it. It is what I wanted.” Lord Sutton’s brows drew together. “Tell me the rest of it.”

She drew her bottom lip between her teeth and folded her hands in her lap. “I do not think you know that the reason the duke was in favor of my marriage to Septimus is that he wants the house and land that I inherited from Mama.”

Septimus watched Margaret as she regarded her father. He was holding his breath and thought she was as well. Finally, Lord Sutton cleared his throat. “You are correct. I was not aware of his goal. Are you willing to give it up?”

She slowly shook her head. “No. And Septimus will not ask it of me. He has decided that everything I own will remain mine in trust.”

Lord Sutton looked at her and nodded. “I approve.” Then he glanced at Septimus. “I take it that the duke will now oppose the marriage.”

“Yes, sir. We have a plan to wed without his knowledge. I do not require his consent to wed Margaret.” He motioned to the men at the desk. “As you can see, Lord Maryville’s lawyer is here to draw up the marriage contracts. His lordship was originally going to represent Margaret’s interests, and my brother was to represent mine. However, I think the only opinions we need are yours.”

The room was so silent the only sound was the scratching of the clerk’s pen. Finally, Lord Sutton nodded. “Very well. Let’s get on with it. You can tell me the rest of the scheme after the agreements have been signed.”

“Lord Sutton, my lords, Miss Sutton,” Mr. Wilkerson said. “The initial contract is completed.” He glanced at his clerk, who gathered the pages and carried them to Lord Sutton. “I stand ready to make any changes you desire.”

After taking the documents from the clerk, Lord Sutton looked at Margaret. “Have you read this yet?”

“No. We discussed what we wanted and sent the information to the solicitor.”

“Very well.” He started reading and as he finished a page, he handed it to Margaret who gave it to Septimus, who handed it to Hawksworth. By the time the document was read by all of them, Lord Sutton turned to Septimus again. “I did not know that my grandchildren would have the Sutton name.”

“It was what we both wanted.” He regarded the older man. Surely, he did not object. “There are more than enough Trevors, and, as I explained to Margaret, I will not be the first brother to take his wife’s name.”

Lord Sutton nodded again. “Everything seems to be in order. Lord Hawksworth, what say you?”

“I agree. It’s all as they wished it.”

“Someone help me. I’ll go to the desk to sign it.”

“Lord Sutton,” the solicitor said. “If I may. I would like to make more copies before you sign the contract.”

“Yes, of course.”

Amanda opened the door, spoke to someone, and closed it again. “Let us repair to the dining room and partake of some refreshments. Goodness, I have not even offered Lord Sutton any tea. I am very sorry, sir.”

“Nonsense. It was much more important to complete this business first.”

She bustled to him and took his arm. “Please do me the honor of escorting me.”

“It is my honor. I cannot believe you have grown into such an accomplished lady. I remember you better as a young girl in braids with tears in your gown from climbing trees.”

“What’s this?” Maryville said. “Why have I never heard this before?”

“I had grown out of that kind of behavior long before I met you.” She smiled at Lord Sutton. “Come along. You must be parched.”

Margaret caught Septimus grinning at her. “Yes. I was right there with her. The two of us were always getting into trouble for ruining our gowns.”

They made their way to the family dining room where tea, cakes, cold meats, bread, and cheese were laid out. Once everyone had a cup of tea and filled their plates, she exchanged a glance with Septimus. “Papa, you asked how we planned to accomplish getting married without the duke’s objection. I will tell you . . . ” She described the problems, and the subterfuge Meg had planned. Margaret was half afraid that her father would object to the whole scheme. “We will wed on Christmas day.”

“I have to say, if I had known what a blackguard Somerset was, I would never have agreed to this match.” Papa glanced around the table and stopped at Meg. “I congratulate you for being so devious, my lady.”

A pretty pink infused her cheeks. “Thank you, my lord. Unfortunately, I have had a great deal of experience. However, we must not count ourselves safe yet. We still have much more to do.”

“I can see that. Margaret, it will be good to have Christmas festivities at the Hall again. It’s been much too long.”

Another fence taken. Next to her, Septimus took her hand and squeezed it. “Indeed, it will be. I have already set the plans in motion.”

“Other than watch it all, will I have a roll?”

She should have anticipated that he would want to do something other than watch. She glanced quickly at Meg. “I am certain we can find something for you to do.”

“If you wouldn’t mind,” Septimus said. “I could use a great deal of instruction about the estate. As you know I’ve been in government and haven’t had much to do with helping to manage property.”

Margaret’s heart fluttered.

Her father gave him a look of warm approval. “I’d be happy to. As I’m sure you have surmised, there is a great deal to know.”

Tears of joy came to her eyes. “Thank you, Papa.”

“Think nothing of it.” He raised her brows, but his eyes twinkled. “I still want to be part of this scheme of yours.”

A knock came on the door and the butler entered carrying a silver salver. “Lady Hawksworth, this just arrived by messenger for you.”

Meg popped open the seal and spread the letter out. “It’s from Aglaia, and it is excellent news. She is expecting Catherine to arrive tomorrow with the younger children. Anna and Quartus will come with her. As I thought, the other sisters are already there. Octavius wrote to ask if they were planning anything for Christmas. He and Marcella have planned a Twelfth Day event for their dependents, but they are free until then. She responded to him and told him what was going on.” Meg glanced up. “She told him to go directly to Sutton Hall in an unmarked coach.” Then she looked at Margaret and Septimus. “Would you like Quartus to perform the ceremony? I am positive he would love to do it.”

“I would.” Septimus glanced at her. “How do you feel about it.”

It would truly make it a family celebration. “Yes. I love the idea.”

“I agree,” Papa said. “Our rector will be too busy planning the church service.”

She had completely forgotten about that. “We must attend. Our wedding must be before we go to the church.”

“Don’t forget, you want your dependents at the wedding.” Septimus raised her hand to his lips.

“Yes.” They would have to come up with a reason. “We would need to have a reason for them to come to the hall.”

“A Christmas Day dinner for everyone,” Papa announced. “Then we can all go to the service together.”

“An excellent idea, sir.” Septimus smiled. “The dinner would be in the way of a wedding breakfast.”

“Perfect.” Meg folded the letter. “I will write to Aglaia and tell her the family must arrive early that day.”

“Hmm.” Amanda pressed her lips together. “They can all meet here, and we can travel down to Sutton Hall together.”

That was another excellent idea. Margaret grinned at Septimus. “I feel as if it if our wedding is finally taking form.”

Septimus held Margaret’s hand as they returned to the study. Mr. Wilkerson, a pair of spectacles perched on his nose, was reading a document. Three neat short stacks were set before him on the desk.

As they entered, he placed the paper he’d been reading face down on one of the stacks and turned it over. “I have three copies which you will sign. One for Miss Sutton and her father. The second for Lord Septimus, and the third for Lord Maryville who will act as trustee for Miss Sutton’s property. Do you have any questions?”

Margaret glanced at her father, Maryville, and finally Septimus. “I do not.”

He glanced at Maryville who gave a slight shake of his head. “Nor I.”

“Neither do I.” Lord Sutton sat in one of the chairs arranged in front of the desk. “Let us finish this.”

The solicitor inclined his head, and the clerk placed a pen and standish in front of Lord Sutton. “I will show you where you must sign.”

Margaret read through the document before signing it and the other two. Then Septimus added his signature to them.

Mr. Wilkerson rose. “I will leave two copies with you and take the third with me. I shall have another copy for my office made.” He glanced at Maryville. “As soon as it is competed, I will send you the signed copy.”

“Very well, and thank you for agreeing to accomplish this so quickly.”

“It was my pleasure. It is rare that everyone agreed to all the provisions.” He glanced at Septimus and Margaret. “I wish you a long and happy life.”

She pressed his hand. “Thank you.”

He squeezed her hand in response. “Yes, thank you.”

Amanda tugged the bell-pull. “It is time for champagne.”

I was almost like a dream that he was marrying the only lady he could imagine being with. The only thing lacking was that she was not yet in love with him. They had been so focused on the contracts and the arrangements to have the ceremony, that he hadn’t had any time to consider how to convince her to fall in love with him. Or whether that was even possible. Then again, his brother had convinced his wife to fall in love with him. Septimus would have to ask Hawksworth how he’d done it.

The butler entered the room carrying three bottles of champagne followed by a footman with a tray of glasses.

Amanda stood in the middle of the room and raised her glass. “To Margaret and Septimus. Congratulations on your betrothal and coming marriage.”

“Hear, hear,” Hawksworth and Maryville said at the same time.

Lord Sutton held up his glass. “I too wish to toast to Margaret and Septimus. I was beginning to think my lovely daughter would never wed. I could not be happier.”

A pretty blush infused her cheeks, and he felt his face warm as well. “Thank you all for helping to bring this about. I never thought I would meet a lady I wanted to marry.”

Margaret stood. “I wish to make a toast as well. To Septimus for wanting to marry me, and to Amanda and Meg who were responsible for bringing about our meeting.”