Lady Hawthorne bustled in closer, fighting back a sniffle. “Oh, dear. Now, I believe that I may cry from sheer joy.”
“No tears until the wedding, Louisa,” Katherine admonished gently. “Lauren is already nervous, and besides, I’m not sure she’s completely forgiven either of us for our subterfuge in bringing her and Hawthorne back together. Isn’t that right, darling?”
“Of course, I’ve forgiven you. Theodore and I are in love, so our marriage is a logical conclusion,” Lauren replied, slipping an arm around the waist of both women. “Neither of us desire a longer engagement when there is little purpose for it. I hope Theodore concludes his business quickly and returns to us safely.”
Remembering the conversation now, Lauren felt that odd pang in her chest again. She did not know what the business matter could be, but she suspected it involved the factory Theodore wished to purchase. Although it was just as likely to be the procurement of the special license enabling their hasty marriage.
Oh, it will drive me mad thinking about it, so I must stop.
“Yes, I will stop thinking about it,” she muttered aloud to the sky, eyes closed as a light breeze drifted over her face and a cloud darkened the sun’s rays for a brief moment.
“What is it you will not think about, my love? Tell me, for I’ve thought of nothing but you for days and days, and the sun refused to shine until this moment.” Theodore brushed a soft kiss across her lips.
Lauren’s eyes fluttered open to see him silhouetted against the brilliant blue sky.
Her heart quivered wildly. Theodore was here. He came for her. To marry her and make her his. A small moan worked its way up her throat.
“You’ve come,” she managed to say as he remained bent over, blocking the sun as his mouth hovering above hers.
“Of course, I came. My entire world is waiting right here.” Theo rubbed his thumb over her lips then down to the hollow of her throat and the tiny patch of skin exposed by the cloak she wore against the occasional chilly breeze. “As beautiful and delicate as those winter roses and just as precious.” He tested the pulse beating erratically just below the surface of her skin and frowned. “Did you doubt my commitment?”
“No, Theo. I only thought you would arrive sooner. I-I missed you.”
He smiled down at her. “And I missed you. I stopped in the village and made arrangements with Reverend Hapstone. Our wedding will take place in the morning. Does this please you?” Taking her by the elbows, Theo pulled Lauren to her feet. “It was either that or wait until after Christmas. I cannot wait any longer, for you see, I’m horribly impatient.”
“Yes,” she said, wrapping her arms around his waist. With her face pressed against his overcoat, she breathed in his scent. It was crafted of sandalwood and leather, a touch of juniper perhaps. Utterly delicious and tempting. The heat of his body leached through their clothes to warm her as he engulfed her in his embrace.
“You are melancholy for some reason. What is it, darling?” Theodore whispered against her ear.
Lauren sucked in a breath and held it. How could she tell him she worried he was getting his way with the use of her inheritance? How could she explain her insecurities when it came to such things? Especially when she had buried them so deep after witnessing her mother’s happiness and Lady Hawthorne’s excitement over the impending marriage. She would look a fool if she brought it up now.
“It is nothing, Theo. Just nerves, I suppose. Do our mothers know you’ve arrived? They will be so happy knowing you are finally here.”
Theodore pulled away, staring down at her with a tilt of his head. “We won’t start our marriage with a lie, Lauren. We’ve promised ourselves that, remember?” His eyes, the color of the brilliant blue sky, darkened. “Now, tell me what is the matter. Did something happen at your cousin’s? You were not insulted, I hope?”
Lauren sank back down on the bench, and after a moment, Theodore sat beside her. The question she most wanted answered bubbled inside her to the time of Lady Melanie’s vengeful voice. While she wanted to shake her head to clear the doubts away, for they clung like spiderwebs, her pulse thumped furiously with apprehension to hear his answer.
Truthfully? She did not want to know his answer. It would hurt too much.
“Did you purchase a cotton factory while in London?” she abruptly blurted out.
Theodore’s expression registered surprise before hardening into one of agitation. “I see the gossips could not help themselves.”
Stomach roiling with sudden nausea, Lauren considered that answer.
Because it was not a denial.
“You did, and you used my inheritance.” Her voice came out soft and sad. Dizzy with realization, she shot to her feet. “How could you do this to me? How could you use me so callously after I gave you my heart? My… my soul.”
Theodore yanked her back down to the bench, his chin clenched tight with annoyance. With the pressure of a steel trap, his fingers wrapped around her elbow and held her hostage. “You know I would not do that, Lauren. Not after what we’ve been through. Not after our fathers tried using us both to further their own agendas.”
With his free hand, he rifled through his overcoat pockets, searching for something while still keeping his grip tight on her elbow.
“Contrary to popular thought, I did not purchase a cotton factory. I did, however, enter into an agreement upon it with a contingency in place. It depends on whether you would like me to purchase it for you—with my funds. Not a shilling of yours would be used. Of course, today’s archaic laws being what they are, I must do things this way before placing the title in your name. But it’s a damn fine investment. Not to mention, it could be managed in a proper, humane way if someone honorable was in charge of things.” His words came out in a growl. “I told you before, Lauren. I won’t ever use your inheritance for my own gain. It is yours. Yours alone. Our barristers drew up the proper documents yesterday, placing all your money in a separate account under your name upon our marriage.”
He withdrew three folded sheets of vellum from an inner coat pocket, the gold seals gleaming in the sunlight as he handed them to her.
One was the special license for their marriage, one was an agreement to purchase the cotton factory in Leeds with the title to be placed in her married name upon her approval of the transaction, and the third was a document placing all inheritance funds into a special account only she had access to.
There was silence as Lauren gathered the documents in hand. She keenly felt Theodore’s disappointment. His indignation at his honor being questioned pricked at her heart, and shame for her reactions to another’s jealous gossip sent a hot flush of scarlet across her cheeks.
“I’m sorry, Theodore,” she said simply.
Theodore’s eyes were still that dark indigo shade. A muscle in his jaw ticked, a sure indicator he was upset with her lack of faith.
“I meant it to be a surprise,” he explained gruffly.” A sort of wedding gift, if you will.”
There was nothing she could say, so she just nodded, drowning in misery that she’d upset him.
After a few uncomfortable minutes of silence, Theodore released her arm. Rising from the bench, he stood gazing down at her, his face now an inscrutable mask.