Hearing pounding and voices in the corridor, Kendal dropped the sheet on a chair, pulled on a pair of trousers, then stepped through his door. Four men in Somerset livery were standing outside of Thalia’s bedchamber. One of them looked as if he was preparing to break the door down. In his most dukely voice said, “What the devil are you doing?”
Two of the footmen flushed red, and another slumped back against the wall, but the fourth one said, “We are to bring Lady Thalia to the Duke of Somerset.”
“You can go to perdition. I don’t care if you came from King George. You will leave now and not return, or I’ll have you all thrown into the dungeons until your master is ready to depart.”
Hamish the under-butler came around the corner from the main staircase. “Your Grace, may I be of service?”
“Remove these interlopers.”
Kendal wanted to laugh when the under-butler snapped his fingers smartly, and at least ten footmen came rushing over. “Remove these men.”
“Where would you like them put, Your Grace?”
He felt a particular glee in giving the order, “The dungeons.”
Hamish bowed. “As you wish, Your Grace.”
The rest of Thalia’s family piled into the corridor, and Hawksworth raised a brow. “What is going on?”
“Your father’s servants were attempting to gain access to Lady Thalia’s bedchamber.” Kendal watched a scowl form on her brother’s face. “They are being taken to the dungeons.”
Hawksworth turned a malevolent look toward Somerset’s footmen. “I cannot think of a better place for them.” Once the servants had been taken away, he glanced at Hamish. “See if you can get their names. When I eventually become Somerset, I will not have them work for me.”
“I will do my best, my lord.” Hamish turned to Kendal. “Will there be anything else?”
“Keep a guard on this part of the house.”
The corner of the under-butler’s mouth tipped up, as if he knew no one would be here any longer, and the guard was a ruse. “It will be done.”
“Where is Thalia?” Laia asked.
Of course they would all be concerned. “Safe elsewhere. I suggest we all dress and meet back here. I’ll lead you to the chapel.”
“There are things we need to give her before you marry,” Euphrosyne said.
He raked his hand through his hair. “I don’t know what to tell you. I don’t even know where she is.”
CHAPTER 9
THALIA FOUND herself in the same bedchamber she and her sisters had discovered yesterday. Now the only question was what was she going to wear to her wedding?
Mannering joined her. “If you come with me, there is a bathing chamber through that door.”
The room was tiled and had a fully tiled stove that went from the floor to the ceiling as well as a large bathtub. She had read about this from the accounts of travelers, but she had never thought to see one. “Does that pump bring hot water?”
“Yes, my lady.”
In much less time than it would have taken if servants had carried in hot water, she was in the tub soaking.
About the time the water was cooling, her maid returned. “I went to your old chamber and brought the gown Lady Hawksworth planned for you to wear to your wedding.” A pained expression crossed Mannering’s face. “Your sisters, aunt, and Lady Hawksworth insisted on coming with me.”
As Thalia got out of the bath and wrapped herself in a flannel robe, she couldn’t help but laugh. “I want a house with secret passages.”
“I have to say,” her aunt said entering the bathing chamber, “I have been trying to come up with a way to put them I our house.”
“I have as well,” Laia said.
“It is amazingly practical,” Euphrosyne said.
“I think Somerset castle already has them.” Meg’s brows came together. “At least I am sure that’s what your brother said.”
“I’ve never seen them. But how did you know where I was?”
“It was easy.” Meg fluttered her fingers as if anything she wished would appear. “I sent one of my maids to keep watch in your old bedchamber until your maid returned. You might like to know that every servant Somerset has sent to pester you has been locked in the dungeon.”
“That is the best thing that could happen to them.” Thalia had no sympathy for the men who had lost or misplaced their sense of what was right and did her father’s dirty work.
“I just wish I knew what he is thinking,” her aunt said. “He must have a feeling something is going wrong with his plan.”
The other murmured their agreement.
“I believe some sort of sustenance is to be brought to us and tea.” The way Laia said “tea” sounded as if she would perish without it.
An hour later, Thalia was dressed in the yellow gown she had not worn yesterday, and her maid was putting up her hair.
Euphrosyne handed Mannering two silver combs with pearls. “Can you find a place for these?” Euphrosyne’s smiling eyes met Thalia’s in the mirror. “They are new.”
Laia opened up her hand to reveal sapphire hairpins. “And I would like to give you these pins. They are blue.”
Her aunt moved to stand behind Thalia. “This necklace is very old, but I think it will suit.” Aunt clasped pearls and sapphires around Thalia’s neck.
Meg lifted Thalia’s arm and slipped on two silver bracelets. “These are borrowed.”
“My darling girl,” her aunt said. “It is time to go the chapel.”
They made their way down a different branch in the passageway—how many paths ended in that chamber?—and found themselves in the room that led to the chapel’s office.
“My ladies and Your Grace.” Mr. Kennedy’s smile included all of them. “I understand some unwelcome events have occurred this morning, but here we are. His Grace of Kendal and the other gentlemen are waiting.”
Thalia and her sisters and aunt followed the vicar to the nave. Giles came straight to her and took her hands. “Let’s marry.”
“Yes.” Before her father did anything else.
Remembering that her mother would be in the balcony, she said her vows in a firm, strong voice. When Giles promised to worship her body, heat rose in her cheeks, and she heard light laughter from the pews. As soon as the rector pronounced them man and wife and they had signed the register, she took his hand. “Come with me.” Thalia lifted the lever in a stone box and they were through the entrance before she heard her father cursing.
“That was close.” Giles took the lead up the stairs. “I’d forgotten where this went.”
“I am glad it was the closest one to the nave.”
They burst into a room, and Giles closed the door from the passageway and barred it, then did the same with the door to the rest of the house.
She turned her back to him so that he could unlace her gown. “Where are we in the manor?”
“I’m not exactly sure. I’ve never left this chamber except through the passage to the chapel.”
Her bodice sagged, and she turned around and started to untie his cravat. “I must say you looked very elegant.”
He threw the length of linen over his shoulder and pushed down her gown. “And you were exquisite. How do you manage to become more beautiful every day?”
He kissed her neck, and her stays dropped down. “The same way you become more handsome.”
Soon all their clothing was somewhere else in the room, and they were in bed. “Well, wife.” His eyes were silver and full of love. “Shall we make this marriage legal?”
“Yes.” Thalia drew him down to her and kissed him deeply.
He kissed and caressed her until she was begging to be taken, and this time she reveled in him entering her. They cried out together when they came. He stayed on top of her as their hearts thrummed, and she wanted to stay like this forever.
But someone knocked on the door.
Giles groaned. “When I get you to Kendal, I’m not letting anyone interrupt us.” He rolled off her, and she pulled the covers up. “Who is it?”