Daventry’s men. Randall happened to be visiting in Hartley and came after me when he heard the news. He rescued me from four villains, suggested we marry, and here we are.”
Kirkland and Mackenzie were both staring. “Only four, Randall?” Mackenzie said ironically. “Hardly worth mentioning since there were fewer than six.”
Randall shrugged. “No combat was involved. While the carriage horses were resting, I located Julia and we decamped under cover of night.”
“Let me see if I understand this properly, Randall,” Kirkland said slowly. “You are marrying the widow of your cousin. Your uncle, whose heir you are, considers her a murderer and wants to seek vengeance now that he knows she’s alive. Do you look for trouble, or does it just find you?”
“I’m not sure that wanting to marry Julia falls into either category,” Randall replied. “While it’s a complication that she is my cousin’s widow, I wanted to marry her before I learned that. Even if I hadn’t, I could hardly stand by when I heard that men had broken into her home, tied up her apprentice, and carried her off in broad daylight.”
“Certainly not.” Kirkland frowned. “Is Julia still in danger? It seems likely.”
“I think Daventry will call off his dogs after I visit him and tell him of our marriage. He wants to see a healthy heir to the earldom before he dies, and that means accepting Julia as my wife.” Randall’s brow furrowed. “I doubt that Daventry’s men will find us now that we’re away from Cumberland. But until we reach London and I’ve talked with my uncle—yes, there might be some danger.”
“I’m about to return to London,” Mackenzie said, serious for once. “If you like, I can travel with you.”
“I can’t say that I ever imagined having you along on my honeymoon, Mac,” Randall said, his mouth quirking up. “But yes, that would be very helpful. Just in case.”
Mackenzie smiled beatifically, seriousness abandoned again. “Splendid! A long journey is much more interesting if there is a possibility of mayhem.”
“We will be taking a detour into Cumberland to collect some of Julia’s belongings,” Randall warned. “That will add a couple of days to the trip.”
The other man shrugged. “I shall see a part of the country new to me.”
The dining room door opened and a well-dressed woman of middle years swept in. “I can’t leave the house for the day without matters getting out of hand!” She smiled affectionately at her nephew as she scanned the guests. “Tanner says Major Randall has returned with his betrothed, and I am to organize a wedding?”
Kirkland chuckled as the men arose to their feet. “He spoke true, Aunt Maggie. Unless Randall’s betrothed prefers to make other arrangements. Lady Julia Raines, meet Mrs. Margaret Gowan, the most alarming of my aunts. I shall leave it to the two of you to work out wedding plans.”
Julia rose. “Since my presence is no longer needed, I’ll bid you good night so you gentlemen no longer have to be on your good behavior.”
“Your suspicions wound me,” Mackenzie said soulfully.
Randall grinned. “I would say she’s taken your measure, Mac. Sleep well, Julia.” His glance said clearly how much he wished he could join her later.
Surprised at how much she wanted the same thing, Julia joined Mrs. Gowan. “Let’s have a nice pot of tea while you tell me what you’d like for your wedding,” the older woman said. She had a cheerful, no-nonsense quality that reminded Julia of Mrs. Ferguson at the King’s Arms.
After ordering tea to be delivered to her private parlor, Mrs. Gowan led the way to a comfortably furnished sitting room. “Make yourself comfortable, Lady Julia.” She waved toward the chairs. “I’m sure you have an interesting tale to tell if you wish to tell it, lass. Major Randall had no thoughts of marrying when he left here last week.”
“The decision was sudden, but we’ve known each other for some
Kirkland and Mackenzie were both staring. “Only four, Randall?” Mackenzie said ironically. “Hardly worth mentioning since there were fewer than six.”
Randall shrugged. “No combat was involved. While the carriage horses were resting, I located Julia and we decamped under cover of night.”
“Let me see if I understand this properly, Randall,” Kirkland said slowly. “You are marrying the widow of your cousin. Your uncle, whose heir you are, considers her a murderer and wants to seek vengeance now that he knows she’s alive. Do you look for trouble, or does it just find you?”
“I’m not sure that wanting to marry Julia falls into either category,” Randall replied. “While it’s a complication that she is my cousin’s widow, I wanted to marry her before I learned that. Even if I hadn’t, I could hardly stand by when I heard that men had broken into her home, tied up her apprentice, and carried her off in broad daylight.”
“Certainly not.” Kirkland frowned. “Is Julia still in danger? It seems likely.”
“I think Daventry will call off his dogs after I visit him and tell him of our marriage. He wants to see a healthy heir to the earldom before he dies, and that means accepting Julia as my wife.” Randall’s brow furrowed. “I doubt that Daventry’s men will find us now that we’re away from Cumberland. But until we reach London and I’ve talked with my uncle—yes, there might be some danger.”
“I’m about to return to London,” Mackenzie said, serious for once. “If you like, I can travel with you.”
“I can’t say that I ever imagined having you along on my honeymoon, Mac,” Randall said, his mouth quirking up. “But yes, that would be very helpful. Just in case.”
Mackenzie smiled beatifically, seriousness abandoned again. “Splendid! A long journey is much more interesting if there is a possibility of mayhem.”
“We will be taking a detour into Cumberland to collect some of Julia’s belongings,” Randall warned. “That will add a couple of days to the trip.”
The other man shrugged. “I shall see a part of the country new to me.”
The dining room door opened and a well-dressed woman of middle years swept in. “I can’t leave the house for the day without matters getting out of hand!” She smiled affectionately at her nephew as she scanned the guests. “Tanner says Major Randall has returned with his betrothed, and I am to organize a wedding?”
Kirkland chuckled as the men arose to their feet. “He spoke true, Aunt Maggie. Unless Randall’s betrothed prefers to make other arrangements. Lady Julia Raines, meet Mrs. Margaret Gowan, the most alarming of my aunts. I shall leave it to the two of you to work out wedding plans.”
Julia rose. “Since my presence is no longer needed, I’ll bid you good night so you gentlemen no longer have to be on your good behavior.”
“Your suspicions wound me,” Mackenzie said soulfully.
Randall grinned. “I would say she’s taken your measure, Mac. Sleep well, Julia.” His glance said clearly how much he wished he could join her later.
Surprised at how much she wanted the same thing, Julia joined Mrs. Gowan. “Let’s have a nice pot of tea while you tell me what you’d like for your wedding,” the older woman said. She had a cheerful, no-nonsense quality that reminded Julia of Mrs. Ferguson at the King’s Arms.
After ordering tea to be delivered to her private parlor, Mrs. Gowan led the way to a comfortably furnished sitting room. “Make yourself comfortable, Lady Julia.” She waved toward the chairs. “I’m sure you have an interesting tale to tell if you wish to tell it, lass. Major Randall had no thoughts of marrying when he left here last week.”
“The decision was sudden, but we’ve known each other for some
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