Cordie shook her head slightly. “Oh? I’m sorry I didn’t get a chance to see her before she left.”
As Bella had been more than embarrassed at the prospect of visiting with Cordie after she’d stumbled upon them, Greg had promised to speak with his sister first. She was, after all, his sister; and therefore his to deal with. “I’m sure you’ll be happy to know that she and I have decided to marry.”
Cordie grinned at him. “You’re not toying with me?”
Greg shook his head. “Our betrothal is no longer a pretend one.”
His sister’s green eyes lit with joy. “Oh, Greg! I am so happy for you, for both of you.” She dropped her book onto the settee and leapt from her spot, navigated the chair before him to throw her arms around his neck. “She is a charming girl, isn’t she?”
She was more than charming. She was…perfect in nearly every way.
“As soon as I met her, I hoped you’d love her. She’s—”
Love. There was that word again. “—mortified that you stumbled upon us. She’s quite shy, Cordie.”
His sister pulled back slightly from him. “And that’s why she left without saying goodbye to me?”
He nodded.
“Oh, Gregory.” She shook her head, making her dark tresses bounce against her shoulders. “I don’t care about any of that. Just that the two of you found each other! I am beyond thrilled.”
His sister wouldn’t care about any of that. She had, after all, cavorted with the Marquess of Haversham before eloping with Clayworth in Gretna Green. Cordie had never been a beacon of propriety.
“Please tell her I’m overjoyed for both of you and not to worry about anything else.” Then she took his hand in hers and dragged him over to the settee where she’d previously been. “And I’ll want to help with wedding arrangements since her mother is not available. You should acquire a special license first thing in the morning, and—”
Greg shook his head with a laugh. “I told her family I wanted to wait until Russell could be here.”
His sister frowned up at him. “Heavens, that’s not a very good idea.”
Well, at the time he’d said it, he’d meant to stall Ayelsford from wanting a quick wedding. And even now, “There’s no need for us to rush. Mother would probably kill me if I married while she’s on the Continent.” Even if it might kill him to wait any amount of time to make Bella his.
Cordie did laugh then. “Gregory, you should marry her now before Mother can scare her away.”
“You may have a point.” He couldn’t help but laugh right along with his sister. Dealing with Mother was not for the faint of heart.
“No reason to risk it,” she agreed.
“But, honestly, Cordie, if Russell could be here…”
His sister blew out a breath and her brow furrowed just slightly. “Russell is very much in love with Bridget, but there is still so much animosity between him and Tristan. They nearly came to blows at Bayhurst Court, and he told Tris he never wanted to see him for the rest of his days.” She shook her head. “I hope the two of them can find their way back to each other at some point, but neither of them have made any sort of effort to do so. And it hasn’t been that long since Tristan absconded with Phoebe, not really.”
“And it could be a millennia before they can be in the same city again, let alone the same room,” Greg agreed, knowing she was right. Unfortunate as that was, it did seem to be the case.
His sister shrugged. “Do you really want to wait that long?”
No, he really didn’t. After kissing Bella the better part of the afternoon, Greg was rather anxious to have her in his bed, but he wasn’t going to say that to his sister of all people, even if she hadn’t ever been a beacon of propriety. “A special license first thing in the morning.”
“Perfect.” Cordie grinned. “And I am already preparing the guest list in my mind. But we’ll need to speak with Mr. Bailey about availability at St. George’s.” She clapped her hands together with glee. “Oh, Greg, this is going to be wonderful. The absolute, most perfect wedding ever.”
* * *
Bella was nearly floatingup to the clouds when she and her maid reached Chatham House, the memory of each of Greg’s kisses fresh in Bella’s mind. She was going to be his baroness. Lady Avery of Rufford Hall. She hoped she’d love Nottinghamshire as much as he did, but she suspected she would love any place as long as Greg was there.
Lady Avery of Rufford Hall.
The name rolled around and around in her mind. It was the last thing she’d expected when she’d left home that afternoon. She’d been so focused on…
Drat!