Rowles chuckled. “No, I can survive three weeks for the banns, and it will keep the gossipmongers at bay. No need to raise suspicions by a hasty marriage.” He paused a moment, then held up a finger. “But I would like the banns to be read this week, so that we can marry sooner rather than wait an extra week.”

Joan couldn’t hinder the wide smile that stretched across her face. “And I have plenty of preparations to see to before the wedding. Besides, I think it might be helpful for my poor brother to have some time to adjust to the idea of my absence. I think he misses me already.” She turned to Morgan, giving him a playful smile.

He narrowed his eyes. “Would you prefer that I be happy to be rid of your annoying presence?”

“You can say all you want about it, but I know the truth,” she sang out. “You’ll miss me.”

“I see him often enough, so I imagine I’ll see you every bit as often.” But Morgan’s expression softened. “I am happy for you.”

“That means much to me.” Rowles nodded, his expression sobering. “Truly, it does. And I will—”

Morgan held up a hand. “I know. You needn’t affirm your affections. You’ve proven them.”

Rowles gave a nod.

“Now the question is, can I stomach being around the two of you long enough to win at whist? Or are you not up to the challenge?” Morgan replied.

“Since you lost the five games I challenged you to the other night, I don’t see you as much of a threat,” Joan replied as she turned to meet Rowles’s playful expression. Her heart danced with a happy cadence. Could a person be too happy? Was it possible? Yet as she considered it, a slight tension bloomed in her chest. She needed to talk with Rowles, explain how she helped at the War Office, and what the study and application of that knowledge that allowed her to do so. But as her brother set up the whist table, she turned to her betrothed and decided that tonight was not the night.

No. For now, she would celebrate the joy of returned love.

Tomorrow, or maybe the day after, she’d offer new love’s first potential challenge: the truth.

Twenty-three

Rowles awoke before dawn. Filled with anticipation and purpose, he set out to begin all the preparations for his upcoming wedding. The thought had a physical reaction of joy so powerful, it almost hurt. The sheer force of his emotions was unlike anything he’d ever experienced.

She had accepted him.

Joan would bear his name, his title, their children.

A smile tripped across his lips, refusing to be restrained as he made his way to the study to begin sending out the proper notifications.