Late For The Wedding

Thirty-Two

Three days later they walked through the large park to the remote, overgrown area where Tobias had long ago established his private retreat. They spread a blanket on the grass in front of the old Gothic ruin and unpacked the picnic lunch Mrs. Chilton had prepared.

Sunlight slanted, warm and dappled, through the leaves of the trees.

Tobias examined the array of small savory pies, pickled vegetables, cold chicken, hard-cooked eggs, cheeses, and breads as he opened the bottle of claret. “Mrs. Chilton has outdone herself.”

“She always does where you are concerned.” Lavinia reached into the basket and removed the package wrapped in paper and string and handed it to him. “This is for you. To celebrate the conclusion of the Memento-Mori Man affair.”

He looked at the package with a decidedly bemused expression. It occurred to her that, although he had given her several gifts, this was the first one she had presented to him.

“Thank you,” he said.

He took the package from her hand and opened it with such exquisite care that she suddenly wished she had found something far grander and more expensive to give to him. But when he got rid of the paper and string and held the lamp in his hands, the pleasure she saw in his eyes told her that she had made the right choice.

He examined the intricately worked relief. “Alexander cutting the Gordian knot.”

“I thought of you immediately when I saw it in the shop window.

He lowered the lamp and looked at her. “I shall treasure this, my sweet.”

“I’m glad you like it.”

He poured claret into two glasses and handed one to her. She cut two slices of one of the pies and arranged them on the plates together with some pickled vegetables, chicken, and eggs.

They ate and talked for a time. When the meal was finished, Tobias leaned back on his elbows and drew up one knee. He looked at her.

“It would seem that love is in the very air these days,” he said a little too smoothly. “Anthony has made it clear that he and Emeline will soon announce their engagement.”

“It was inevitable. They are made for each other.”

Tobias cleared his throat. “It is also very apparent that Dominic and Priscilla are enthralled with each other.”

“Indeed,” she murmured. “Priscilla’s mama is quite pleased. Dominic has charmed her.”

“Yes, well, I have it on good authority that marriage involves great risks for a woman.”

“Mmm.”

He hesitated. “Is that how you see it?”

She stilled in the act of replacing an empty plate in the picnic basket. For some reason it was suddenly very difficult to order her thoughts. Her pulse started to race madly.

“It involves risks for a man as well,” she said cautiously.

“Perhaps, but not quite the same sorts of risks.”

“No, I suppose not.”

There was a short silence.

Tobias cleared his throat. “I have been given the impression lately that our current arrangement may not set the best example for Emeline and Anthony.”

“If they choose to disapprove, that is their problem, not ours.”

“Well, that is certainly one way of looking at the matter.” Tobias drummed his fingers on the blanket. “Anthony mentioned the other day that if you and I shared Number Seven Claremont Lane, he and Emeline could move into my house.”

“Tobias, if you are hinting that we should get married merely for the convenience of Anthony and Emeline, I must tell you-”

“No.” His jaw tightened and his eyes heated. “I am suggesting that we get married for my sake. I had intended to wait until the ship in which I have an investment returns, but I cannot put this off any longer.”

She stared at him, feeling trapped and breathless. She had spent the past few weeks wondering what she would do if he asked her, and now the moment was upon her.

She licked her dry lips and swallowed. “Oh.”

“I do not have a great deal to offer you, but I am not entirely destitute. In addition to the house that I own, I have some other, smaller investments that I have made over the years. The private-inquiry business seems to be getting somewhat more reliable of late, possibly because I now have you for a partner. I cannot give you diamonds and private carriages, but we will not starve nor will you lack for a roof over your head.”

“I see.”

“I love you, Lavinia.” He sat up slowly and reached for her hand. “I have come to dread going home to my lonely bed. I want to spend my nights with you. I want to sit by the fire with you on cold winter evenings and read by the light of my new lamp. When I am unable to sleep at three in the morning because I cannot stop thinking about a case, I want to be able to wake you so that we can talk about it.”

“Tobias.”

“I am asking you to take the risk of marrying me, my love. I swear, I will do everything in my power to ensure that you never regret it.”

She twined her fingers tightly with his. “Tobias, you misunderstand. I think everyone misunderstands. Yes, marriage is a risk for a woman, but I do not fear marriage to you. Rather, I am afraid that you are the one who would regret such a close and unbreakable alliance.”

“How can you even suggest that?”

“I am so very different from your beloved Ann. From all accounts she was an angel, good and kind and sweet-tempered. I cannot possibly take her place.”

His hands enclosed hers. “Heed me well. I loved Ann, but she has been gone a long time. I have changed in the years without her. If she had lived we would no doubt have changed together, but that was not to be. I am now a different man in some ways. I seek a different kind of love. I am hoping with all my heart that you can say the same after all these years without your beloved poet husband.”

Joy flowed through her, pure and clean and certain as the sun that warmed them.

“Yes. Oh, yes, my love.” She leaned forward and kissed him on the mouth. “And, yes, life has changed me also. Tobias, I must tell you that until I met you, I never dared to dream that love could be this rich and deep and wonderful.”

He smiled and slowly, deliberately, pulled her into his arms. She was intensely aware of the strength in his hands and the certainty in his eyes. The summer day was as perfect and clear and dazzling as an exotic gem lit by fire.

“Does this mean that my offer is accepted?” he asked, lowering his mouth to hers.

“With all my heart.”

In the instant before he kissed her, she had a fleeting memory of her conversation with the old man on the park bench.

Some dreams are worth the risk required to make them real.