Page 61 of The Lady's Forbidden Marquess
“Easier said than done, I’m afraid.”
“I’m aware.”
“At lease she won’t likely come up with a mad and bold plan to reform a rake, eh?”Henley teased.
“I think the plan worked out quite well,” Hawthorne replied, chuckling.
“I suppose it did, but I’ll never admit that to her.”
Hawthorne took a deep breath and thanked heaven for the camaraderie of a friend who would soon be a brother.With marriage to Peregrine, he was gaining so much more than a beautiful, bold, and tempting wife; he was gaining a brother, a crazy family, and a future that was certainly going to be filled with wild, unhinged mayhem and fun.
All she was receiving from him was his name and his heart.His fortune as well, but it was unneeded as she was more than generously dowered, but he would give her what money could never buy.
His devotion.
Chapter Twenty-Five
“And to think,some women have to wait for weeks for their wedding!”
Anna, who had begun fanning herself as she sat, rather slouched, on the chair in Pere’s room, gave her friend a glare.“What you mean to say, is that most women have weeks to do what we’re trying to do in two days.That’s a little more accurate.”
“Your wedding was by special license as well.”Pere gave the cheeky reminder.
“Yes, well, we needed to abate the scandal,” Anna said dismissively.“You… are just impatient.And your betrothed is equally as such.Thus…” She waved dramatically at the dresses strewn across the bed and resting on every other surface aside from where she sat.“This mayhem.”
Pere took in the scene and started to giggle.“It really is rather hilarious when you think of it.I mean, I want to be beautiful, and wear the perfect dress, but… it really won’t matter, will it?I will still arrive unmarried and leave married to Hawthorne.That, I would think, is the priority.”
“Agreed, and since we have tried on every dress in your extensive wardrobe…”
“It was a blessing to pack up my things from my mother’s residence, at least we don’t have to do this in two locations.”Pere sighed.
“Thank God for small favors!”
“I think…” Pere considered the sea of fabric before her, and as her eyes settled on the dress she wore at the first ball of the season, the one where she’d all but bullied Hawthorne into asking for a dance, and then in a fit of pique, stepped on his boot.“This one.It’s perfect.”She lifted the lavender silk dress from a chair and nodded.“I’ll have it readied and the rest can be… packed.”Pere turned to her friend.“Because tomorrow, I’ll have a new home.”
Anna’s eyes were suspiciously bright as she gave a warm smile.“Yes, yes you will.But you must visit often.Drat, I’m going to miss you.”
Pere blinked back a tear and nodded.“You’ll miss me.Henley… will likely not,” she goaded.
“Oh, he will.But maybe it will take a few weeks,” Anna baited.
“Or months,” Pere added.
Anna shrugged and then sobered.
Determinedly, she straightened her posture and nodded once.“Speaking of your new home, I think there’s a conversation we must have…”
Pere’s face flushed as she assumed her friend’s intentions.“No… I’d…”
“It’s either me or your mother,” Anna shot back, her eyebrow raised in challenge.
“Good Lord, not my mother.Not that she’d have that long of a conversation with me to begin with.”Pere gave a delicate shiver.
“Then you’re stuck with me.”
“I… would rather not,” Pere hedged.
“I didn’t ask for your permission or leave.”Anna’s tone rose as she speared Pere with a strong glare.
