Snowflakes and Scandals

Chapter 11

Chapter 11

After leaving Septimus, Margaret laid in bed and thought about everything that was happening and about Septimus. He was the kindest gentleman she knew other than her father. He was patient, as proven by insisting on waiting until they were wed before they consummated the marriage. He had offered to give up his family’s name and take hers. That could not have been easy. He liked her father. That was important to her. He was finding ways to fit in her life.

I am in love with him.

She had not believed it could happen so quickly, but it had. All that was left was to tell him.

The next morning after they broke their fast and convened in the morning room, and just as Septimus had suggested a stroll that would most likely not go further than the parlor they had used. William Coachman knocked and entered the parlor. “Miss Margaret, I have a letter from Mr. Whittle. He has some questions for you.”

What was he so happy about? Her coachman’s smile could not be any wider. “Thank you. I will answer him now. I’ll call you as soon as I am finished.”

“Yes, miss.”

She sat at the table and opened the letter. “Oh, good Lord. We do not have to worry about your sisters taking over, it appears that my staff have done it.” She looked at Septimus. “Have we decided on a time?”

He glanced around the room, and everyone either shook their heads or shrugged. “In that event, it will be at four o’clock. Dinner will be at five.”

“That sounds good to me.” Septimus kissed her hand. “The sooner the better. What did he write?”

That I am not to worry about a thing. He, my housekeeper, and cook have it all in hand.” She set the letter down on the table. “He also said that William Coachman gave him an excellent account of you, my lord. I must say you work quickly.”

A silly grin appeared on Septimus’s face. “Years of diplomatic experience. I think this was my hardest case. I wasn’t at all sure your coachman would approve of me.”

Shaking her head, she pulled a piece of paper to her and assured her butler that she trusted his arrangements, gave him the times then signed, sanded, and sealed it. “I will wager you that he is waiting outside the door.”

“I won’t take that bet.” He opened the door and, as they thought, the coachman was on the other side.

Margaret handed the man the missive. He was much too happy for someone who had just made the round trip to Sutton Hall and must do it again. There was only one reason she could think of for that. “Here you are.” She turned to her betrothed. “He knows about the wedding. My only question is did Whittle tell him or did you?”

Septimus appeared sheepish. “I did. He was ecstatic. He even shook my hand. I did impress upon him that he couldn’t tell anyone.”

“He must have been overcome. I suppose it doesn’t matter. We will be on our way to the hall soon.”

He gave her a hard look. “And married. Don’t forget that we will marry.”

“I will not forget.” Reaching up she kissed his cheek. “How could I? I am looking forward to it as much as you are.” Finally, they will be able to finish what they had started in the small parlor. She still needed to tell him that she loved him. “Let us take a stroll.”

“Inside or outside?” A distinctly wolfish glint entered his eyes.

“Outside I think.” If they went to the parlor, he might believe she was telling him she loved him because of their sensual activities.

They sent for their hats, gloves, and coats, but as soon as they arrived, the sound of wheels on the drive could be heard.

“Don’t tell me they’re already here?” Septimus stepped to one of the side windows.

“Your family?”

“Yes.” He signaled to the footman. “Find your butler and tell Lord and Lady Maryville that my siblings are here.”

Something was wrong. Margaret had a pit in her stomach. “They were not supposed to arrive until Tomorrow.”

Before the first coach stopped at the front of the house, the butler, Amanda and Maryville appeared in the hall. Meg and Hawksworth followed.

“Do they often come without notice?” Amanda asked Septimus.

“No. Something must have occurred.”

The duke . Margaret knew it. Everything was proceeding too smoothly.

The front door opened, and, with a hand on her waist, Septimus guided her out to the porch. Thankfully, she had had plenty of time to learn the names of all his siblings and their spouses.

“Are you ready?” he asked in a whisper as they approached.

“I am.” She took a breath.

They all smiled as they approached en masse . Perhaps nothing had gone wrong after all.

“My love.” He spoke to her loud enough for his family to hear him. “Let me make you known to my sisters, brothers and their husbands and wives.” She was first introduced to Anna, Aglaia and their husbands then to the rest of the family. The last to arrive was Septimus’s mother.

She turned a bright smile on Margaret. “You must be Miss Sutton. Welcome to the family! We are all absolutely delighted.”

“Thank you. I am very pleased to meet all of you.” She cut a look at Septimus who was staring down the drive. “Is there a reason you are a day early?”

“The duke is not the only one with spies.” Aglaia said. “We have a strong feeling that he will appear within the next two or three days.”

“If not before,” her husband added. “We agreed that you should be married as soon as possible.”

“What happened?” Meg asked.

Aglaia looked at Septimus. “He knows your ship docked early.”

Septimus just stopped himself from swearing. “It seems as if we must depart almost immediately for Sutton Hall.”

“At least you will not have to worry about notifying the rector.” Quartus grinned.

Margaret chuckled. “There is nothing like carrying one’s own around with one.”

The atmosphere had been tense, but they had managed to cause the rest of them to laugh lightly as well.

“We can make the journey in just over an hour if we take a short cut,” Maryville said. “The road is not as good as the highway, but it is much faster.”

“I wonder if that is the way William Coachman is going.” Margaret tilted her head to one side. “I would dislike leaving before he returns.”

“I’ll send a rider to tell him of the change in plans.”

Just over an hour later, they drove through an open black iron gate supported by a wall on one side and a gate house on the other. Septimus could only stare at the well-kept, massive Elizabethan house constructed in light gray brick. “It’s beautiful.”

He glanced to the sides. “It’s too bad you do not have a wall.”

“They took it down before my father was born, but we have paintings of the property with it.” Margaret frowned at him. “Do you think we need one?”

“Probably not. It would just be nice to be able to keep the duke on the other side of a wall with the drawbridge drawn.”

An older man who must be the butler stepped forward and waited for a footman to open the door of the coach. “Miss Margaret, welcome home.”

“Thank you, Whittle.” She drew Septimus forward. “This is my betrothed, Lord Septimus Trevor. We will be married this afternoon. In the blue drawing room in an hour.”

“Yes, miss. I will inform the staff. Everything is ready for your guests.”

“Thank you.”

“I’ll tell everyone,” Meg said. “You two go dress.”

Septimus stood with his brothers when Amanda opened the door and nodded at him. Then Margaret entered on her father’s arm wearing a yellow satin gown. She had never looked more beautiful, and she was his. Even if she had never proclaimed her love for him, he saw it in her eyes.

Then she stopped and glanced at him. “I love you.”

“I love you too.”

Quartus kept the ceremony short. Surprisingly Hawksworth had a wedding ring for Margaret. Septimus hadn’t even thought about getting one, even if he’d had the time to do it. He slipped it on her finger, and they were declared husband and wife. When they signed the register, everyone cheered.

They were in the middle of celebrating with champagne when a footmen ran into the room. “Lord Septimus, you said to tell you if anyone else arrived. There’s a coach coming up the drive.”

The room fell silent.

Calm infused Margaret. They had beat him. “He is too late to do anything.”

“Indeed, he is.” Meg came and stood next to her.

Septimus took her hand, and the rest of his siblings joined them.

Whittle entered the room and stood back. “The Duke of Somerset.”

Clearly he had once been as tall as his sons, but now he was nothing more than an old, bitter man. “I see you are all here. I want to read the marriage contracts.”

“No. They have nothing to do with you.”

He scowled at her. “I suppose you’re Miss Sutton.”

“I am Lady Septimus. I was told you wanted the property I inherited from my mother. You shall not have it. The contracts were signed by Septimus, my father and myself. Septimus and I are married. You may join us and celebrate our union, or you may depart.”

He switched his glare from her to her husband. “You will receive nothing from me!” Spittle flew from the Duke of Somerset’s mouth.

She raised her chin. “That is perfectly fine with me, your grace.” She flicked her fingers at him as if he was an insect. “I am quite capable of supporting my husband.”

“I wish you joy of him.”

He stalked out of the room. The next thing she heard was a carriage departing.

Margaret glanced at Septimus. “He has no idea you are wealthy.”

“None at all.” He drew her into his arms and kissed her. “When I first saw you, I thought you were a goddess. Now I know you’re a warrior.”

“I love you.”

“I love you too.”