Married by Morning by Linda Hays-Gibbs

very happy that Lady Constance has been found.  I shudder to think that something could have happened to her.”  He stood and Sebastian followed him out.  Sebastian grabbed him by the arm before he went out the door.  “You think it is humane?  I really need to know.”  “Constable looked at his feet.  “I shudder to think that it could ever be.  I believe it is an animal and a bear had a feast.  It will not attack again.  We have set bear traps around the perimeter of your grounds so it should be trapped but if you have any more problems or incidents I should be notified immediately.”  Sebastian nodded his head and shuffled his feet.  “I will let you know if I hear of anything like that.  Thank you so much for coming.  I appreciate your response to my concern for my Lady Constance.”  “Good luck with your marriage.  She seems like a lovely lady.  I wish you all the best.”  “Thank you, Constable Spencer, I appreciate your sentiments.”  Jarvis handed the Constable his hat and gloves and he went out the door.  Sebastian sighed in relief.  “What am I to do with this family Jarvis?”  “I haven’t the foggiest idea, your lordship.  I must say you have done a magnificent job so far.  We have Lady Constance back.  I must report that Cousin Horace is still missing.  Do you suppose that he could be the…the…you know.”  “I don’t know Jarvis but I will certainly ask my family.  I assure you.”  He shook his head and headed back to the dinning room.  He turned and called over his shoulder.  “Tell me the moment the reverend arrives.  I am most anxious to have my marriage completed this morning.  I do not want anything else to happen to her.  You understand my urgency.”  “Yes, my lord, I will tell you as soon as he arrives.”  Jarvis looked at a vase over Sebastian’s head and never showed any emotion.  It was like the man was made of stone.  Sebastian wondered if anything ever rattled him?  He was the ultimate English butler.  Sebastian strolled into the dining room smiling at the table.  He wondered if they realized that Horace was gone.  His mother was the first to speak.  Sebastian have you noticed that Horace isn’t at the table.  He never misses a meal.”  “Yes, mother, I have.  I intend to talk to our cousins after I wed Lady Constance.”  “I would think you would check on Horace first.”  “Yes, I bet you would.  There will be no delay to my marriage.  Is that clear?”  Lady Darby snubbed and turned to Stella, rolling her eyes and sighing.  “It seems there is to be a wedding.”
        Jarvis stood in the doorway clearing his throat.  “The reverend has arrived.”
    The ceremony was quick and his sister Stella and Lord Avery said their vows after Sebastian and Lady Constance.  It was very appropriate and not very pretty but the job was done.  They were wed.  He looked down at his beautiful wife and shuddered all over with pure joy.  He was so lucky to have found her.  She was all he had ever dreamed of.  He ran his fingers down her face and kissed her lovely mouth.  She tasted of honey and sweet warm wine.  He would never get enough of her.
         Lady Darby snubbed and handed Lady Diane, Lady Missie, and Lady Rachael all handkerchiefs.  They were very upset that their sister had wed before them but their beaus had stayed for the wedding.  That was a good sign.  Lady Darby walked off with Lord Thornton.  He had two children and was a tubby barrister but he had the same sexual appetites as her.  She had never been so happy to find her a mate.  Her son had just made her a dowager and she hated that title.  She wanted her own place.  Lord Thornton wanted her too.  “I am so happy the children found each other.  It was a most distressing night.”  “Yes, I wanted to spend more time with you. May I call on you tomorrow?  Can we take a picnic to the park?”  “Why yes, that would be…oh…why don’t