“Before I give you back into your mother’s keeping, I must ask if we’ve a bargain?” Griff reminded her.
“Yes,” Alyssa said.
Griff nodded. “Then I’ll speak to your father as soon as it can be arranged.”
Alyssa groaned. “Can we not simply elope to Gretna Green? You have a coach. It would be much less bother than the alternative.” And much more romantic.
Griff shook his head. “I’m afraid running away to Scotland is out of the question.”
“You wouldn’t say that if you knew my father—” Alyssa began.
“I do know your father,” Griff replied. “At least, in passing.”
“Then you understand how much simpler it would be not to seek his permission.”
“You’re forgetting that I, too, have parents to consider,” Griff reminded her. “And my parents would consider my elopement a great insult to you and to them. No,” he murmured almost to himself. “I won’t disappoint them or make them or us fodder for gossipmongers. If we’re going to do this thing, we’re going to do it properly with a wedding at Saint Paul’s and a breakfast to follow.”
The wheels began turning in Alyssa’s head. “For how many guests?”
“However many you think proper,” Griff answered. “You’ve more experience in this sort of thing than I.” Alyssa narrowed her gaze at him. “I hate to disappoint you, Lord Abernathy, but I’m not quite as experienced as you seem to believe. This is, after all, my first wedding, too.”
There was no escaping the biting sarcasm in her voice. “I meant that you had more experience attending—perhaps even, participating—in weddings and wedding breakfasts than I,” he amended. “I haven’t any siblings, and as a bachelor, I rarely attend weddings.” The truth was that he had never attended any weddings. “Surely, you know more about how it’s done than I. How many guests would you suggest in order to quell gossip and speculation among the ton?”
She tapped her bottom lip with her index finger as she considered his question. “Fifty or so of our closest friends would be a minimum.”
“Then invite two hundred,” Griff advised.
“That sort of wedding takes months of planning.”
“We don’t have months,” Griff said. “So you’ll just have to do the best you can.” He smiled at her. “If Wellesley can move an entire army to Spain and Portugal in mere weeks, you should be able to plan and execute the sort of wedding we require within days.”
“Spoken like a man who has no experience with this sort of thing,” Alyssa retorted, refusing to be cajoled by his blue eyes or his incredible smile.
“I have complete faith in your ability,” he added. Alyssa snorted in an unladylike fashion.
“Would it help if I told you that money was no object?”
She smiled at him. “It might, but you’re forgetting about my father. He and my mother have their hearts set on a duke or at the very least, a marquess, for me. He might not consider a viscount.”
Griff had forgotten about that. “I’ve good prospects. I’ll take my chances.”
“Then you should speak with my mother.”
“I can’t agree more,” Griff said. “Unfortunately, it isn’t done. Duty and honor require that I speak with your father.”
Alyssa nodded. “More’s the pity.”
Griff fought to keep from laughing aloud. “It isn’t too late to change your mind.”
“Are you suggesting I should?”
“No,” Griff said. “I’m not.” He paused and looked down at her. “I’m quite satisfied with my choice.”
“You’re certain of that?” Alyssa asked.
“Yes,” he said. “Are you?”
“Of course, I’m certain,” Alyssa told him. “This is my second season. I had suitors and offers last season, but fortunately my two older sisters received better offers. Since two weddings a season were all my father would agree to finance and attend, I was spared. But if I don’t find a husband this season, my parents will find one for me.”