Page 82 of The Untamed Heart

He would have to move out. Though he intended to stay in Little Valentine. Perhaps he could swap with Marcus and take on the rent of his little cottage. For he liked it here, and he’d not like to be too far from Eustacia. Besides, one never knew what life would bring you. For all he knew, there might be a surprise around the very next corner.

“So long as it isn’t a fellow waiting to club me over the head,” he muttered dryly, and closed his eyes to sleep.

“Have some more pie, Colonel,” Mrs Wainwright said, cutting another large slice and depositing it on Marcus’s plate.

“I have suspected for some time you are fattening me for Christmas, Mrs Wainwright,” he replied, gazing down at his plate, which was now just as full as when he’d begun. Not that he was complaining. Eustacia was right; Mrs Wainwright was an artist, and her pastry was something that deserved an ode, or perhaps a sonnet written about it.

“Well, you need to keep your strength up, what with you getting married,” she said, giving him a cheeky wink that made him laugh. Neil looked up from his own plate, blushed scarlet at his mother’s insinuations, and returned his concentration to the pie with a determined air. “When are you going to tie the knot, then? You’re not thinking of a long engagement, I hope?”

Marcus glanced at Eustacia, who was trying not to laugh.

“Well, it seems a long way off to me, but no. We shall be married on Tuesday, next week.”

Marcus reached out and took Eustacia’s hand, his heart swelling as she smiled at him.

“Will you make a bride cake for us, Mrs W?” Eustacia asked, at which the woman gave a little shriek of delight.

“Well, of course I will. I’ve been champing at the bit. Lord, I must go shopping for everything we need. What about the wedding breakfast? Will you have that here?”

“I’m afraid we’ve not had time to think about it,” Eustacia said, smiling as Mrs Wainwright snatched up her notepad and began writing a list.

“Well, you’d best get a move on. A week today and you’ll be man and wife. It’s no time at all to arrange such an important celebration. The moment you finish your dinner, you’d best start making lists. Who you want to invite, where to have the wedding breakfast, oh, and miss, will you have a new frock for the occasion?”

Eustacia laughed and shook her head. “I should marry him in my painting overall and be glad to do so.”

“Indeed, you will not,” Mrs Wainwright said sternly. “You’ll look as beautiful as you know how and make your brother proud when he gives you away.”

Eustacia looked immediately guilty at the mention of her brother. “Poor Seb. I do hope he’ll be better by then, or we shall have to delay it.”

“He’ll be well enough,” Marcus said sternly.

Eustacia chuckled.

“And you’ll have Reverend Honeywell, of course, and be married in the town?” Mrs Wainwright persisted, thoroughly over-excited now.

“Well, of course,” Eustacia replied with a laugh. “Who else could we possibly want?”

“Well, no one, obviously. Now then, for the wedding breakfast, what do you think? We’ll have a nice ham and cold tongue, of course, and I’ll make a wonderful, raised pie. Do you think a game pie is more autumnal, or ought it be a pork pie?”

Mrs Wainwright chattered on happily, heedless of what their opinions might be, and Marcus exchanged a smile with Eustacia. She glowed with happiness, her eyes shining so brightly that his breath caught. Lord, but she was beautiful. How on earth had he persuaded such a lovely, accomplished and kind creature as Eustacia Foxworthy to be his bride?

He did not know, but he was not about to look a gift horse in the mouth. In one week, they’d be married.

Marcus had never been more impatient in his entire life.

Chapter 23

The Beginning of Forever

Hatherley Hall, Little Valentine, East Sussex, 8th October 1816

Eustacia stared at her brother with tears in her eyes. “Oh, but Seb, we couldn’t. It’s your home.”

Sebastian only laughed and shook his head. There was still a livid bruise at his temple but somehow it only made him look more broodingly poetic than ever.

“Don’t be daft, Stacy. It’s your home. You made it a home the moment you arrived there. I’ve only ever been a visitor. No, Ocean View Villa will do me very nicely. I’m only sorry I couldn’t give you a proper dowry.”

“Don’t be foolish, Sebastian,” Marcus said gravely. “You have been extraordinarily generous, but Eustacia is right. Seagull Heights is your home. We would not dream of turning you out of it, it’s unthinkable.”