XXVIII. Gossips-2

"You should not have allowed my daughter to check on our rooms. You should have done it yourself," Lady Edwina said, voice disappointed. Harold smiled. "If I did, I would not have this chance to talk to you alone." The woman raised her brows. "You wish to talk to me?" He nodded. "To apologize. And to promise you that I will give your daughter the wedding that she deserves." He took a deep breath and slowly let it out. "If you will give us your blessing, of course." The woman gave him a long, assessing look. "You do seem to know your way around negotiations." "If you know your daughter too well, my lady, you know how the skill is of utmost important." Her lips twitched into a smile. "Of course." Harold watched Alice talking to the hotel manager from the distance and returned his gaze to his mother-in-law. "I have to admit that I have always been hesitant to marry because of my family's... history," he carefully started. "It is mainly the reason why I have been avoiding your daughter." "And what changed your mind?" He looked at Lady Edwina in the eyes. "Her. She is enough reason for me to give up anything. Or to risk anything." "You are saying you are willing to risk her life?" Harold swallowed. His gaze went to Alice. "I am saying I am willing to risk years of sorrow if my family's history proves itself true." Lady Edwina slowly nodded. "I cannot say that you are to blame for this, my lord, for this incident would not have occurred if my daughter did not want it." The woman gave him a leveled look. "And if she is willing to risk her own life to have you, then she must want you desperately." "The feeling is mutual, my lady." Lady Edwina nodded. "You have my blessing. And you can give my daughter the wedding that she deserves, although I doubt she will have it." Harold smiled in understanding. "Do promise me one thing, Harold." Harold nodded. "Never ever break my daughter's heart again." Harold nodded. "You will have the privilege to hang me in front of the ton if that happens." His mother-in-law nodded with contentment. ***** "What did you say to your mother?" asked Harold later that night. "Nearly everything, of course. I just saved the bits about us being in different states of undress." Harold groaned. "You told her I broke your heart." "Which you did." He gathered her in his arms and buried his face in her neck. "I did, did I not?" "Well, not truly, but quite. In tiny bits, in minute moments." Harold groaned and murmured against her skin, "I'm sorry, darling." Alice sighed. "You are forgiven." ***** Alice and Harold stayed for a few more days in Tiny Town. Their friends had long departed to escort Lady Edwina and Lady Vivian back to Wickhurst. Lady Vivian was not wasting more time to be with Eva and her unborn grandchild. On their second day alone in Tiny Town, Alice and Harold were entertained by the new contents of the gossip section of the Town Herald. Sebastian was quoted by the writer denying having been mauled by an Everard and his friends. The paper went further as asking Eustace Theobald himself for a reaction and their friend was quoted, saying, "A true gentleman would not ask to be featured on a gossip section." Harold laughed when more gentlemen gave their own version of the fiasco, with one of them swearing he had never seen anyone call out for his mother while covered in blood like Sebastian did. "I would love to have been there," Alice wished with a sigh as she threw the paper to the corner. They were both having a bath in their bedchamber after taking a stroll around the nearby park. Alice proceeded to scrub her husband's back while he read the letter delivered to that morning. "What does it say?" she asked, kneading his shoulder. "Martin is asking us to return as fast as we can. Everyone demands to regain their membership at Grey's." "They expect you to solve this problem?" "Yes," Harold groaned. "Well, it was your fault." "They could have stopped us. This is as much as their fault as ours. They wagered on us while the fight was going on." "They did?" "Yes." "Then you should demand for your share." Harold erupted in laughter. He looked over his shoulder at Alice. "However your mind runs is a mystery, darling, but I love it nonetheless." She bent her head and gently bit his shoulder. "Would you wish to know what I have in mind now?" He turned in the tub faster than a blink, splashing water on the floor as he did so. Alice laughed as he pulled her closer, the motion fluid under the water. "We can choose not to go home for another month," he said, nibbling her ear. Her hair was gathered in a bun at the crown of her head, giving him freedom to explore her neck. Alice turned her head to find his mouth. "We can, but we should probably consider going home earlier. The gossips are not taking a rest." "Martin just confirmed that we are now husband and wife, darling. What else is there to gossip about," he asked. "You know them," she said with a shrug. "The gossip section is the most successful weaver of fiction. New ideas will always come to mind." Harold held her waist and guided her so she straddled his hips. "Such as?" "For one, it might soon be reported how I seduced you and forced you to marry me." "Hmm..." her husband only managed to say, closing his eyes as Alice ran her hand over his chest. "I like the seduction bit," he groaned as she moved her hips. Alice smiled, bending her head to whisper in his ear, "Or perhaps there was no seduction. I might have just simply pointed a knife at your neck and took you here." Harold's hand went to her nape and he searched for her mouth. "We should stop talking now, darling." Alice smiled. "We are going to be late for the theatre, are we not?" Harold groaned. "I do bloody hope we shall be very late."