Truly a Wife (Free Fellows League 4)

“Very significant,” Daniel answered, relating the events that had transpired since he had left on his last mission—except, of course, his hasty wedding and the two days he’d spent with Miranda in the house on Curzon Street.

When he finished telling his tale, Lord Weymouth and the Free Fellows League devised a trap to catch a rat. Each of the Free Fellows had a role to play, but Daniel assumed the lion’s share of the trap because he was the man Espy had spent the past few days following.

They planned to spring it as soon as Jarrod returned from his wedding trip and began preparations for his meetings with Wellington, Scovell, and Grant.

In the meantime, there was a personal matter to which Daniel needed to attend.

Miranda.

He’d hoped to escape the meeting without revealing his plans for the remainder of the afternoon, but Griff had read the morning paper and demanded to know Daniel’s intentions toward Miranda St. Germaine.

“What about Miranda?” Griff asked.

“What about Miranda?” Daniel answered.

“Alyssa and I are very fond of her,” Griffin told him. “I’ll take great exception with you if Alyssa and I are called upon to help pick up the pieces of Miranda’s shattered heart.”

“You need not concern yourself with Miranda’s heart,” Daniel said. “For it’s still intact. I’ve no intention of shattering it, now or ever.”

“You never intend to hurt her,” Griff reminded him. “But you do.”

“Not this time,” Daniel swore. “Miranda became my duchess the night of my mother’s gala.” He faced his colleagues and told them the truth. “I married Miranda in order to protect us both. To protect her from the guilty knowledge of my injury and to protect the League and all of us in it from those that might try to force Miranda to bear witness against me should I be caught smuggling.”

“Why would you think that necessary?” Alex wondered.

“Because Lord Espy saw me leave the party with her,” Daniel explained. “I was very foxed, but something about Espy’s demeanor struck me as odd. And I was afraid Miranda’s reputation would suffer because he saw us alone together.”

“Her reputation has suffered because of it,” Lord Weymouth pointed out. “Everyone in town who reads the Chronicle already assumes she’s your mistress or that you are her lover.” He looked at Daniel. “And those who don’t read the paper will have heard the gossip and assume the same. And you know what will happen. Miranda will be ostracized by polite society unless you protect her. And the only way you can protect her is to reveal your marriage as soon as possible.”

“So everyone can speculate whether or not she’s with child,” Daniel finished.

“Everyone’s already speculating,” Jonathan reminded him. “Only they’re speculating whether the child will be a bastard or a marquess.”

“I’m picking Miranda up as soon as we conclude this meeting.” Daniel revealed his plans for the afternoon, not because he wanted to but because his friends were as concerned about his bride and her reputation as he was, and the least he could do was to ease their minds. “We’re going to St. Michael’s to sign the parish register.”

“Have you a ring?” Colin asked, knowing that in the haste to get married, important details like a ring for the bride were often overlooked.

“Not in my possession.”

“Might I recommend Dalrymple’s Jewelers?” Lord Weymouth suggested.

“I appreciate your suggestion,” Daniel told him, “because I’ve seen Dalrymple’s exquisite work, but I think Miranda might prefer a family piece.”

Griffin and Lord Weymouth frowned simultaneously. It was well known among the Free Fellows that the Abernathy family betrothal ring that had belonged to Lord Weymouth’s grandmother and Griffin’s great-grandmother was a forty-carat canary diamond with matching rows of lesser diamonds surrounding it. It was worth a fortune, but Griff disparagingly referred to it as the bird’s egg. The current Lady Weymouth had

preferred something a good deal less gaudy, and her son, Griffin, had shared her opinion and purchased a gorgeous ring from Dalrymple’s when he’d proposed to Alyssa.

“I thought I’d give Miranda the Sussex Emerald and the band to match it,” Daniel said upon seeing father and son’s expressions.

Griff nodded approvingly. “She’ll love it. The bird’s egg can’t hold a candle to the Sussex Emerald. There’s nothing gaudy about it. It’s big and bold, but simple and elegant. It will suit Miranda perfectly.”

Lord Weymouth and the other Free Fellows agreed.

“Anything else?” Daniel couldn’t keep humor out of his voice when he realized his friends were assisting him in making the most important decisions of his life.

“Speak to Aunt Lavinia first,” Jonathan advised. “It might be best to clear the way and move her into the dowager house before you take Miranda to Sussex House and present her as your duchess.”

Chapter Twenty-Six