Daniel quickly tied his cravat in its intricate knot around his neck, but his gaze was on Suzette as she went and a smile was trying to claim his lips. Any other woman would have been mortified at what had just happened. She however was annoyed and even exasperated. There was nothing usual about Suzette Madison. If nothing else, she would certainly keep him entertained the rest of his days, and not just in the bedchamber. Somewhat reassured by that thought, Daniel turned back to Richard and Langley as he finished with his cravat, and then grimaced when he saw Langley’s glowering look.

“We are getting married,” he announced at once to forestall any outraged accusations the man might be nurturing at that moment.

“You’ve decided for certain, have you?” Richard sounded amused.

“I am not sure that is the correct phrasing for it,” Daniel admitted with a wry smile. “It would be more fitting to say I have bowed to the inevitable. The woman is a force of nature.”

“That she is,” Langley agreed, appearing to relax. “So, when is the trip to Gretna Green to occur? I should like to accompany you.”

“The sooner the better,” Daniel decided grimly. “If Suzette jumps out and drags me into one more room, I cannot guarantee she will reach Gretna as pure as she is now, and she is already less pure today than she was yesterday.”

Chapter Seven

Chapter Seven

They’re going to be very, very angry.”

Daniel noted the way Richard grimaced at Robert’s prediction, but held his own tongue. He was pretty sure Langley was right and the women would be angry at their defection, but then he wasn’t too pleased about it himself at the moment.

It was nearly midnight the day after he’d encountered Langley and Richard in the hall. As he’d suspected, Christiana and Robert Langley now knew about George and all he’d done. Taking everything into account, the men had decided to head to Gretna Green at once and had immediately joined the women in the parlor to make the announcement. The suggestion had been met with horror and the assurance that “they couldn’t possibly!” What the men hadn’t considered was that the women would want to look nice for their weddings. They’d insisted they needed the rest of the day to pack and that they couldn’t possibly go without their maids.

Rather than the swift journey in one carriage that the men had planned on, they had ended leaving the next morning, that morning in fact, with three carriages to carry the six of them, as well as the girls’ maids and several chests. Three of the chests contained dresses, one held clothes for all three men, and one held George’s body.