Eris supposed she should be tired, but she had trouble sleeping that night. She was much too excited to sleep. It had to be love. She’d never been in love before, but this had to be what it felt like. When Charles was with her, she felt like all was right with the world, and when he was gone, she missed him terribly. He stirred up feelings of hope and joy she hadn’t ever experienced before. And if that was due to love, then she concluded love was the most wonderful experience in the world.
Finally, she was able to drift off to sleep, and she didn’t wake up until someone knocked on her door. She reluctantly stirred from her slumber, but when she realized it was well past dawn, she hurried to put on her robe so she could answer the door.
Charles glanced at her robe in surprise. “I thought you’d be up and ready to leave by now.”
Her face warmed. “I can be ready in ten minutes. Do you mind waiting a little longer?”
“No, I don’t mind. I’ll tell the innkeeper to bring us something to eat and have it delivered to my room. Come when you’re ready.”
“I’ll do that.”
As he turned to go back to his room, she shut the door. She hurried to wash up and get dressed. The only thing that took her more time to get ready than it should have was deciding how to wear her hair. She wished she knew how Charles preferred ladies to style their hair. She’d choose that hairstyle. She supposed it didn’t matter. She was going to wear a hat to cover her head anyway since they were going to spend most of their day in the carriage. After she pulled her hair back into a bun, she put on her boots.
She put the coat over her arm then gathered the valise. When she got to Charles’ room, the door was ajar. She tapped on the door and peered into it. He was putting the chairs at a table.
He glanced her way and his eyes widened in surprise. “You’re actually ready?”
She chuckled as she stepped into the room. “I said I would be ready in ten minutes.”
“I have a mother, three sisters, and a cousin who say they can be ready in ten minutes but end up taking a lot longer than that. When I point out how much longer they take, they only say I can’t expect a lady to rush. You have just proved them wrong.”
“I don’t know what to say.” Maybe some ladies took a while to get ready, but she’d never had trouble with being quick.
He came over to her and took her valise and coat. “If I were to tell them I have proof a lady can get ready in ten minutes, I don’t know if they’d be disappointed or if they’d be upset with you for revealing the truth.” He offered her a smile that made her entire body flush with pleasure. “I think this will be our secret.”
“Yes, that’s probably best,” she replied as he hung her coat by the door and set her valise under it. “They don’t have to know that you know the truth.”
“No, they don’t.” He placed his hand on the small of her back and led her to the table. “The cook is making waffles and poached eggs. I hope that’s all right.”
“It’s perfect.”
Everything during this entire trip had been perfect. For the first time in her life, she was getting the thrill of knowing what it was like to have a love match. He could have said they were going to eat porridge, and she would be happy.
She sat in a chair, and he helped push the chair in for her.
“Are you looking forward to returning to London?” he asked.
“It will be nice to see your cousin and my brother.” Her eyes lit up. “We can invite them over for a dinner party.”
He sat across from her. “I thought your brother was busy with his work.”
“He is, but there will be a time when he’s between jobs.” She sensed his surprise and asked, “What?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know. I assumed you had no intention of introducing me to someone whose job it is to solve crimes.”
She laughed. “My brother’s job has no bearing on whether or not I’d introduce you to him. Of course, I want you two to meet. You’re both important to me.”
He didn’t answer right away, and when he did, he said, “That’s actually nice.”
Someone called out that the meal was ready. Charles jumped up from the chair and opened the door. The innkeeper’s wife came in and placed the tray on their table. Eris placed the napkin across her lap but waited until Charles returned to the table before she began eating.
***
As soon as they entered her townhouse, Charles told the footman, “Have my things brought here. This will be my new residence.”
Eris waited until they were alone in the drawing room before saying, “Are you sure you don’t want me to move to your townhouse? Just because you said that’s what you wanted on our way to get married, it doesn’t mean you can’t change your mind.”
“I still want to live here.” He drew her into his arms and smiled. “You don’t mind it if I move in here, do you?”
“No, of course not. If you want to be here, that is fine. I should ask the maids to clear the bedchamber for you, though.”
He stopped her before she could leave his arms. “There’s no need for that. I’ll take care of Jonathan’s things. Besides, it’ll be nice to have his things around me.”
Noting the pain in his voice, she hugged him. “I’m sorry. I wish you didn’t have to go through the pain of losing someone so close to you.”
He hesitated to return the hug, and she reasoned it was because he was a gentleman and gentlemen weren’t known for expressing their grief. So as not to make him uncomfortable, she pulled away from him.
“I think I’ll go upstairs,” Charles said. “I’d like to get an idea of where I’ll put my things.”
“I’ll show you to the bedchamber,” she offered.
“There’s no need to do that. I know where Jonathan’s bedchamber is. He showed me around the place after he first got it. I won’t be long. I only want to know where I should tell the coachman and footman to put my things.”
“Oh, all right.” She smiled. “You probably know more about this place than I do. So far, I haven’t ventured much beyond my bedchamber, the drawing room, and the dining room.”
The butler came into the room with a tray of tea and crumpets.
Charles gave her a light pat on the small of her back. “Why don’t you sit and pour us both some tea? I’ll return to you shortly.” He gave her a quick kiss then headed out of the room.
She turned to the butler and thanked him as he left. She went to the table in front of the settee and poured tea into the two cups.
The footman came into the room. “Your brother wishes to visit. Should I let him in?”
“Yes, bring him in!” She put the teapot down and hurried to the doorway just as her brother was about to enter the room. “Byron!” She hugged him. “I’m so happy to see you.”
He returned her hug then led her further into the room. “I’m glad to see you’re all right.”
“I’m doing fine. I eloped.”
“Yes, I know.”
She didn’t hide her surprise. “How could you know? I left at night without telling anyone.”
He urged her to sit on the settee and settled next to her. In a low voice, he said, “I’m a Runner. It’s my job to figure things out. You weren’t here when I came by the other day, and word around London is that Mr. Duff went missing at the same time. Then I recalled Mr. Duff was a friend of Jonathan’s.” He shrugged. “It was easy to piece everything together. But Eris, are you sure rushing into marriage to someone neither one of us knows was a good idea?”
“I know him. He came by soon after the funeral to ask if he could have something of Jonathan’s. I gave him Jonathan’s cane. I thought that was going to be the end of it, but it turns out he is the cousin of a new friend I made. So we got to know each other better, and we ended up falling in love.”
His eyebrows furrowed. “It’s a strange coincidence that he happens to be the cousin of a friend you just made.”
“I think it’s more than a coincidence. I think God took pity on me after Jonathan’s death and gave me another chance at a love match. Oh, Byron, Charles is just wonderful. He’s kind, sweet, and attentive. We get along so well. I hesitated to marry so soon after Jonathan’s death, but I’m not getting any younger. A lady my age doesn’t get many chances. I hope others in London will understand.”
“People in London care mostly about themselves,” Byron replied. “They’ll talk about this for a while, but the gossip will quickly be replaced with something else.” He accepted the cup she offered him.
“I don’t care what others say. I did worry that my actions would upset Jonathan, even though he’s no longer alive.”
“Jonathan wouldn’t hold any ill will against you for wanting to be happy, Eris. That’s not the person he was. He was a decent, honorable gentleman. That’s why I arranged for you to marry him.”
Hearing her brother’s words only confirmed what Charles had told her, and that eased the last of her discomfort about marrying so soon. “I never would do anything to hurt Jonathan or his memory.”
“I know you wouldn’t. You’re not that kind of person.”
“Are you happy for me?”
“I’m happy that you’re happy. I only hope it lasts.”
Some of her enthusiasm waned. Why would he say such a thing? “Do you think I made a mistake?”
“I don’t know what to think yet. I have to get to know Charles. I only met him once, and that was for a brief moment. I knew Jonathan, and he was someone I trusted.”
She let out a chuckle. “You can trust Charles. He’s a lot like Jonathan. Besides, why would Jonathan be friends with someone who isn’t trustworthy?”
Her brother shrugged. “I’m sure Jonathan trusted him.”
“Well, there you are. That’s the answer we both need. And I know Reina. She’s Charles’ cousin. She’s a delightful person. I should have you over for a dinner party. You can get better acquainted with both of them.”
“I would like that.”
“Good. A dinner party will be fun.”
Someone entered the room, and they directed their gazes to Charles. She jumped up from the settee and ran over to him.
“I have good news,” she told Charles. “My brother came by for a visit.” She took his hand and led him to the settee where her brother was rising to his feet. “Do you remember him?”
“A little,” Charles said. “Jonathan introduced us.”
Her brother nodded. “Yes, and that wasn’t all that long ago. I happened to notice that my sister was back in London and thought I’d find out where she’d run off to. I was beginning to think she disappeared.”
“I explained to him that we married,” she told Charles. Then, looking at her brother, she added, “We went to Gretna Green.”
“It sounds romantic,” her brother replied.
“It was,” she said. “Everything was perfect. I can’t think of a better trip. Charles, would you like some tea?” She picked up the cup she hadn’t taken a drink from. “You can have this. I’ll summon the butler to bring in another cup.”
“That’s not necessary,” Charles replied. “I’m not thirsty. You should have it.”
“You two should sit on the settee since you’re married,” Byron offered as he went to a nearby chair.
After they sat, Eris said, “I invited my brother to a dinner party. We can invite Reina and anyone else you wish.”
“A dinner party is an excellent idea,” Charles replied.
“Good,” Byron said. “I’d like to get to know you better.”
“I look forward to that, too,” Charles replied.
Eris smiled. It was nice to see Charles and Byron together. Who knew? Maybe they might become friends.
The three grew quiet, and after a minute, Eris gestured to the crumpets. “Is anyone hungry?”
“No, I’m not,” Charles replied.
Well, she was hungry. They hadn’t had anything since breakfast that morning, and that was eight hours ago. She picked up a crumpet then glanced at her brother.
“I’ll have one,” her brother said.
She gave one to him then began to eat hers.
“What do you do?” her brother asked Charles.
“Do?” Charles replied.
“For work,” Byron clarified.
“I invest,” Charles said. “The profits I earn make me a comfortable living.” He paused. “Eris told me you’re a Runner.”
Byron nodded. “Yes, but I have to wait until there’s some crime or suspicion of a crime in order to get hired. I make just enough to get by. I don’t have the luxury of spending time investing.”
Charles stiffened. “What I do is work. I don’t sit around and play card games all day or run off to dances or the theatre at night.”
“My apologies. I didn’t mean for my comment to come out the way it did,” Byron said. “I only meant that with how busy I am, I can’t make connections with other gentlemen to find out the best businesses to invest in. My job takes me all over London, and sometimes even outside of it. There’s also no consistent schedule. I’m up at all hours of the night part of the time.”
Eris noticed Charles relax and felt the tension leave her body. Though she hadn’t been directly involved in the conversation, she hoped things would remain pleasant. She couldn’t blame her brother for being shocked. She’d be shocked, too, if her brother left London for a week and returned with a wife. It was even worse that she hadn’t had a chance to tell him that she was falling in love with Charles before she left. How was he supposed to be prepared for this? Even she was still adjusting to everything that had happened.
“Byron,” she began, “I’m glad you came by. I would have introduced you to Charles earlier, but you weren’t in town. At least we have now and the dinner party. And, of course, we have the rest of our lives. I have no doubt that you two will be friends soon enough.”
She glanced between the two gentlemen and noted that while her brother remained expressionless, Charles gave a slight flinch. She frowned. Perhaps she hadn’t done anything to make the awkward situation better. It might have been better if she’d kept her mouth shut.
“I’m sure you’re right, Eris,” her brother said. “Since Charles and I both liked Jonathan, I see no reason why we won’t get along.” He paused then added, “It might be best if I give you two some time alone. I just wanted to make sure you’re all right. A brother can’t help but worry about his sister, even if she is older than him.”
She gave Byron a smile and stood up with him. “I’m glad you came by. I know this came as a shock. I promise not to do anything else to shock you.”
Her brother chuckled. “Good. In my line of work, there are surprises that come up, but that doesn’t involve my sister.” He gave her a friendly tap on the back then turned to Charles. “I look forward to talking to you again.”
Charles, who had gotten to his feet as well, offered a pleasant smile. “We’ll have a good time.”
At once, Eris felt better. Maybe things would be all right after all. She joined them as they went to the front door. As the footman opened the door, she saw that Charles’ carriage had returned, and the coachman was pulling a trunk from it. Another servant was gathering another trunk.
“I better show them to the bedchamber,” Charles said before he headed down the steps of the townhouse.
Byron turned to her. “He’s moving here?”
“He said he’d rather do that than have me move to his townhouse,” Eris replied.
“Did you ask him to move in here?”
“No.”
Her brother nodded but only said, “Let me know when you’ll have this dinner party.”
“I will.”
He smiled then put his hat on his head and left the townhouse.
Since she didn’t want to get in Charles’ way, she decided to go to her bedchamber and put her things away.