CHAPTER TWENTY

 

 

 

Three months later…

The day of Lady Penelope Hunt's marriage to Lord Edmond Ingham dawned bright and clear, the heat of the approaching summer a pleasant balm. It seemed the whole of the ton had turned out for what was being hailed as the most shocking union of the Season. Penelope Hunt, sworn spinster, joined in marriage to the best friend of the man everyone assumed she would have married after her first Season. Much gossip had made the rounds as to the circumstances of the match, yet Colin knew none of them could ever come close to the truth—which proved far more scandalous.

As he stood in St. George's at Edmond's back, Colin watched Penelope walk toward them down the aisle with his heart in his throat. She looked beautiful, in a demure, baby blue gown with a train that hung from the draped back, a silver-embroidered sheer material that trailed behind her as she walked. The pearl-encrusted bodice drew his eye to the swell of her décolletage, above which rested a pearl choker. All that vibrant red hair piled atop her head in a shower of curls showcased her heart-shaped face, one fat spiral hanging down to drape over one shoulder. Silk flowers adorned the coiffure here and there, matching those in her bouquet.

Beside him, Edmond drew a sharp breath in—he was certain—the same wonder and awe he was experiencing.

When they had first decided that Edmond would be the one to marry Penelope publicly, Colin had experienced a bit of sorrow. He could never openly declare her to be his wife. Sure, he could escort her about town, as it was par for the course for married women to spend time with men they were not wed to. When Edmond was busy, Colin would keep her company, escorting her to any engagement he could not attend with no one the wiser. Still, the thought of possibly siring a child that everyone would assume to be Edmond's, of hearing people call her by his name and title … it had stung.

It was for the best, he knew. Edmond would be an earl, and Penelope his countess. Her dowry would see his damaged estates set right, and she would give him his heir. Colin, who had no need of an heir to inherit, and a promising career with the War Office ahead of him, would live the life of a confirmed bachelor as far as the ton was concerned. In secret, only they would know the truth.

However, now that he saw her coming toward them, her gaze meeting first his, then Edmond's, he felt as if this was his wedding, as well. As she stood before them, he saw her happiness and realized he'd had a part in that. She was just as much his, and damn what society knew or did not know. She would always be his, too.

As Edmond spoke his vows to her, Colin met her gaze and hoped she saw in his eyes that he said them in his mind, and meant to uphold them. As she recited her vows, he noticed she took the time to look at them both, to show them that she held them equally in her heart. It was everything he could have asked for.

After a long ceremony and tedious wedding breakfast, he had retired to his newly purchased townhouse in Grosvenor Square—right next door to the newly wed Lord and Lady Ingham. As fate would have it, an old viscount who had grown weary of city life had decided to sell the place in order to retire to the country. The arrangement would benefit them all, putting him in close proximity while keeping up appearances.

It had already been established that they would split time between the two houses during the season, then spend their winters at Kesbridge, their summers in Bath or Brighton. No one would think it unusual if the bachelor friend of the earl spent his time in their home while not in London during the Season. It was the eternal fate of all bachelors to rely upon dinner invitations to eat many a night and the hospitality of others in order to escape boredom in the country, especially when one was not a first son with unlimited wealth at his disposal.

Though his new position with the War Office meant he was hardly hurting for money. Combined with his army half-pay, and money he'd wisely invested, he was well set.

Waiting for the day to come to an end so he could visit his bride had him on edge, and by the time the sun had gone down, he had to fight not to run next door and kick the door down. Taking his time, he left his own house through the servants' entrance, entering their garden by the back gate.

He was brought up short to find them waiting for him, Edmond in his shirtsleeves and waistcoat, Penelope in a simple pink gown, with her hair hanging down her back in soft waves.

She held Edmond's hand, but when she spotted him, she let go and ran forward to meet him. Colin reached for her, catching her up and lifting her against his chest. Their lips met, and he savored the moment, thoroughly tasting her before setting her back on her feet.

"I've missed you," she murmured, breathless from his kiss.

He kissed the tip of her nose and smiled. "And I you, my love. You did not have to wait for me. Leaving the door unlocked would have done."

"There's another bit of business we must attend to," Edmond said, coming forward to meet them. "And Penelope insisted it must be by moonlight."

He wrinkled his brow and glanced from Edmond to Penelope and back again. "What business?"

Clearing his throat, Edmond folded his hands before him and began intoning in his most solemn voice, "Dearly beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God, and in the face of … well, in front of many flowers, to join together this man and this woman in holy matrimony…"

Colin frowned. "What the devil are you doing?"

Edmond grinned. "Marrying you and Penelope, naturally."

Taking his hands, Penelope smiled at him. "You stood up with Ed today, but we didn't get to make vows to each other. I want that for us, Colin. I want you to know that you have the same permanence in my life as Edmond."

Overcome by this gesture, particularly on Edmond's part, Colin felt his throat burning, his eyes stinging as if he might shed a tear. Clearing his own throat, he blinked it back and clasped Penelope's hands.

"I appreciate both of you for doing this for me."

"As Penelope's society husband, who better to marry you than me? Now then, shall we continue?"

Staring into Penelope's eyes, Colin saw her joy and experienced it as his own. "Yes, please."

Edmond continued on, leading them in the shorter version of a church wedding ceremony, complete with vows. Then, reaching into his pocket, he chuckled.

"Ah, I almost forgot. My wedding gift to you."

He produced two jeweler's boxes, glancing at their contents before handing them each one. Inside his was a woman's ring—a beautiful ruby set in gold and flanked by diamonds. The ruby was as large as the sapphire she already wore on her left ring finger. In Penelope's was what would appear like any man's ring to anyone who noticed him wearing it. However, he saw it for what Edmond intended it to be—a wedding band.

"Ed, you shouldn't have," he said.

His friend nodded, his jaw set in determination. "Like hell, I didn't. She's your wife, too, Colin. Now give her the bloody ring."

Chuckling, he removed the ring from the box, placing the little square into this pocket. Taking Penelope's right hand, he lifted it to his lips, kissing the knuckles.

"With this ring, I thee wed," he murmured, never breaking her gaze. "With my body, I thee worship, and with all my worldly goods, I thee endow: In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen."

Tears streaming down her cheeks, Penelope placed his ring on his right hand, and recited the same vow between sobs. Smiling, he cupped her face, wiping her tears away as Edmond pronounced them husband and wife.

He kissed her, understanding now that he'd needed this moment. That Edmond had thought to help in providing it showed him that he took Colin's place in Penelope's life as seriously as she did. With Penelope held against his side, he extended a hand to the best friend he'd ever had, the likes of which he knew he could never find again.

"Thank you."

Shaking his hand, Edmond shrugged. "I'm beginning to think that as Penelope's secret husband, you get all the perks. An intimate wedding without all the stiff formality, secret rings, clandestine walks through gardens in the middle of the night. Perhaps we went about this wrong."

Turning to him, she gave his chest a playful swat. "Quiet, you. It is too late to change things now. Nevertheless, no matter how things were planned, I could never have imagined it would be like this. Thank you both, for loving me the way you do."

Edmond frowned. "You don't need to thank us, darling. Love is love. You love us; we love you."

Shaking her head, she smiled. "But I do want to thank you. There was a time I thought love could not possibly be real. You both showed me how real it could be, and I am the most fortunate woman alive to have found it with not one man, but two."

Colin stroked a lock of her hair and kissed her forehead. "You're welcome, love."

"Now," she said with a coy smirk. "I can think of one benefit both my wonderful husbands get to take part in. And please, do so now before I die from anticipation."

Exchanging a glance with Edmond, Colin grinned. With a laugh, he reached for her, lifting and tossing her over his shoulder before darting through the garden toward the door with Edmond hot on his heels. The sounds of her laughter rung out through the dark garden.