Victoria started to protest, but Jason’s fingers tightened on her arm, warning her not to argue.

“And what have you there, my dear?” Charles asked, beaming at the necklace at her throat.

Her hand went automatically to the object of his gaze. “Jason gave me these tonight, to seal our barg—betrothal,” she explained.

When the interview with Charles was finished, Victoria pleaded exhaustion and Jason walked her to the door of her bedroom suite. “Something is bothering you,” he said calmly. “What is it?”

“Among other things, I feel wretched about being married before my mourning period for my parents is past. I’ve felt guilty every time I’ve gone to a ball. I’ve had to be evasive about when my parents died so people wouldn’t realize what a disrespectful daughter I am.”

“You’ve done what you had to do, and your parents would understand that. By marrying me immediately, you’re giving Charles a reason to live. You saw how much better he looked when we told him we’ve set the date for the wedding. Besides, the original decision to cut short your mourning period was mine, not yours, and so you had no choice in the matter. If you must blame someone, blame me.”

Logically, Victoria knew he was right, and she changed the subject. “Tell me,” she said, her smile lightly accusing, “now that I’ve just discovered we decided to be married in one week, could you tell me where we decided to be married?”

“Touche,” he grinned. “Very well; we’ve decided to be married here.”

Victoria shook her head emphatically. “Please, Jason, can’t we be married in church—in the little village church I saw near Wakefield? We could wait a little longer until Uncle Charles can make the trip.” Astonished, she watched a look of cold revulsion flash through his eyes at the mention of a church, but after a moment’s hesitation, he acquiesced with a curt nod. “If a church wedding is what you want, we’ll have it here in London at a church large enough to accommodate all the guests.”

“Please, no—” Victoria burst out, unconsciously laying her hand on his sleeve. “I’m very far from America, my lord. The church near Wakefield would be better—it reminds me of home, and ever since I was a little girl, I’ve dreamed of being married in a little village church—” She’d dreamed of being married in a little village church to Andrew, Victoria realized belatedly, and wished she’d never thought of the church at all.

“I want our marriage to take place in London, before the ton,” Jason said with absolute finality. “However, we’ll compromise,” he offered. “We’ll be married in church here, and then we’ll go to Wakefield for a small celebration.”

Victoria’s hand slid from his sleeve. “Forget I mentioned a church at all. Invite everyone here to the house. It would be little short of blasphemy to enter a church and seal what is nothing more than a cold business arrangement.” With a lame attempt at humor, she added, “While we were vowing to love and honor one another, I’d be waiting for lightning to strike.”

“We’ll be married in a church,” Jason said curtly, cutting short her diatribe. “And if lightning strikes, I’ll bear the expense for a new roof.”

Chapter Twenty

“Good afternoon, my dear,” Charles said cheerfully, patting the edge of the bed beside him. “Come sit down. Your visit last night with Jason has restored my health beyond belief. Now, tell me more about your wedding plans.”

Victoria sat down beside him. “Truthfully, it’s all very confusing, Uncle Charles. Northrup has just told me Jason packed the things from his study this morning and has moved back to Wakefield.”

“I know,” Charles said, smiling. “He came in to see me before he left and told me he’d decided to do it ‘for the sake of appearances.’ The less time he spends in close proximity to you, the less chance there is for any further gossip.”

“So that’s why he left,” Victoria said, her worried expression clearing.

Laughter shook Charles’s shoulders as he nodded. “My child, I think this is the first time in his life that Jason has ever made a concession to propriety! It irked him to do it, but he did it anyway. You have a decidedly good influence on him,” Charles finished merrily. “Perhaps you can teach him next to stop scoffing at principles.”

Victoria smiled back at him, relieved and quite suddenly very happy. “I’m afraid I don’t know anything about the wedding arrangements,” she admitted, “except that it’s to take place in a big church here in London.”

“Jason is taking care of everything. He took his secretary with him to Wakefield, along with the main staff from here, so they can make the preparations. After the ceremony, a wedding celebration will take place at Wakefield for your close friends and some of the villagers. I believe the invitation list and the invitations are already in the process of being prepared. So you have nothing to do except remain here and enjoy everyone’s surprise when they realize you are well and truly to be the next Duchess of Atherton.”

Victoria dismissed that and hesitantly brought up something that was much more important to her. “The night you were so very ill, you mentioned something about my mother and you—something you had intended to tell me.”

Charles turned his head away, gazing out the window, and Victoria said quickly, “You needn’t tell me if it will upset you to speak of it.”

“It’s not that,” he said, slowly returning his gaze to her face. “I know how understanding and sensible you are, but you’re still very young. You loved your father, probably as much as you loved your mother. Once I tell you what I have to say, you might begin to think of me as an interloper in their marriage, although I swear to you I never communicated with your mother after she married your papa. Victoria,” he explained miserably, “I’m trying to tell you I don’t want you to despise me, and I fear you might when you hear the story.”

Victoria took his hand in hers and said gently, “How could I possibly despise someone with the good sense to love my mother?”

He looked down at her hand and his voice was choked with emotion. “You inherited your mother’s heart as well, do you know that?” When Victoria remained silent, his gaze returned to the windows and he began the story of his involvement with Katherine. Not until he was done did he look at Victoria again, and when he did he saw no condemnation in her eyes, only sorrow and compassion. “So you see,” he finished, “I loved her with all my heart. I loved her and I cut her out of my life when she was the only thing worth living for.”