Mistress - Amanda Quick [103]
“If you choose to wed Juliana Dorchester, rest assured that you will be able to keep her in suitable style. You will continue to have full access to your income. Tomorrow I shall have my man of affairs draw up papers that will protect your inheritance.”
Bennet looked completely nonplussed. “I don’t understand. Are you telling me that you will give your approval to my betrothal to Juliana?”
“Yes.” Marcus paused. “On the morrow I shall make it clear to Dorchester that I have no objection to the announcement of an engagement.”
“But earlier this evening you implied that you would never tolerate it.”
“I said a great many things earlier this evening. I regret all of them. You have my apologies.”
“Your apologies.” Bennet sounded thunderstruck.
Marcus raised his eyes to meet Bennet’s. “My only excuse is that I believed that I was protecting you from suffering a fate similar to my own.”
“Juliana is not Nora, damn it.”
“You are correct,” Marcus said. “She is not Nora.”
Bennet shook his head as though to clear it. “I do not know what to say.”
“You are my brother, the only family I have. I would no more cut you off than I would cut off my right arm. In truth, I would sooner lose my arm than your affection and trust.”
“I do believe you really mean what you are saying.”
Marcus turned his glass in his hand and watched the firelight dance through the facets. “You may instruct Dorchester to have his man of affairs call upon mine to begin work on the marriage settlements. This sort of thing takes a great deal of time, you know. Several months is not unusual when there is so much money involved.”
“Uh, Marcus, I haven’t actually asked for Juliana’s hand yet.”
“No?” Marcus shrugged. “Well, I expect there is no great rush now that you know that there will be no objection from me.”
“I shall speak to her at once,” Bennet said eagerly. “She will no doubt wish to send the announcement to the papers before the end of the Season.”
“No doubt.” Marcus took another swallow of brandy. The end of the Season was a month and a half away.
“Marcus, I don’t know what to say.” Bennet ran his fingers through his carefully tousled curls. “I was not expecting this change of heart from you.”
“Neither was I,” Marcus said under his breath.
Bennet frowned. “What was that?”
“I acted in haste and I have since had time to evaluate my actions. I pray you will forgive me.”
“Yes, of course.” Bennet hesitated. “Thank you. I cannot tell you how much this means to me. You will see that Juliana is a fine, gracious lady. She will make me an excellent wife.”
“I expect you will want to set the wedding date sometime in the spring of next year?”
“Next year?” Bennet looked disconcerted. “That is a long time off.”
“We might be able to manage with a six-month engagement, but a year is a more acceptable period, I’m told.”
“Well, as to that, I had not really considered a proper engagement period. To be perfectly frank, Marcus, I was looking into hiring a carriage to take Juliana and myself to Gretna Green.”
Marcus nearly strangled on his brandy. “I see.”
“Are you all right?”
“Yes.” Marcus recovered, took a breath, and then another swallow of the brandy. “Gretna is out. I’m sure Mrs. Dorchester will want to plan a fashionable wedding for her only daughter.”
“No doubt. And Juliana does try to be a dutiful daughter. It is one of her many virtues.”
“Indeed.”
“Well, then.” Bennet grinned. He looked as though a tremendous weight had been removed from his shoulders. “I shall discuss the engagement with Juliana and let you know what length of time we wish to choose.”
“Of course. Your decision entirely. Just be certain to allow Dorchester’s man of affairs sufficient time to confer with Barclay.”
“I will. Marcus, I don’t mind telling you that I find myself amazed by this turn of events.”
“Do you?”
“You must admit that it is not like you to change your mind, especially on a matter such as this. You have a rule against altering a decision once it’s made.”
“Perhaps I am mellowing as I age.”
“It is even less like you to apologize.