Read Online Only Beloved by Mary Balogh - Free Book Online Page B

insult me, George,” Vincent said with a grin. “Thomas, my lad, Papa’s hair was not made to be pulled, you know. Those curls are attached to my head.”
    Sophia had linked an arm through Miss Debbins’s and was drawing her in the direction of the house.
    â€œI cannot tell you how excited I am,” she said. “Are we the first to be told? How splendid. Come up to the drawing room for some tea and tell me about your plans. Every single one of them. Did you know George was coming? Did he write to tell you? Or did he just turn up on your doorstep unannounced? How very romantic that must have been.”
    â€œI cannot have any tea,” Miss Debbins protested. “It is time for Lord Darleigh’s lesson.”
    â€œOh, but we would not dream—” Sophia began.
    â€œI am not married yet, Lady Darleigh,” Miss Debbins said briskly. “I still have work to do.”
    George took the child from his father’s arm and grinned at Sophia.
    â€œOff you go, Vince,” he said.

5
    M iss Debbins’s list, neatly written in a small, careful hand, was indeed very short. It consisted of her father and his wife—whom she did not call her stepmother, George noted—her brother and his wife, her sister and Flavian, her aunt and uncle from Harrogate, three couples from Inglebrook, and one from her former home in Lancashire.
    George handed it to Ethan Briggs when he returned to Stanbrook House after being away for five days.
    â€œHave I kept you very busy while I was away, Ethan?” he asked.
    His secretary looked pained. “You know you have not, Your Grace,” he said. “I have paid twenty-two bills and refused thirty-four invitations, some of which needed to be worded more tactfully than others. I have not done sufficient work to justify the very generous salary you pay me.”
    â€œIs it generous?” George asked. “That is good to know, for you will soon be earning it and more. Your time and energy will be taxed, Ethan, as they were during the weekspreceding Lady Barclay’s wedding. Invitations are to go to everyone on this list. It is admittedly short, but Miss Debbins assured me she has included everyone of any importance to her. Ah, and there is this one too—my own list. It is lamentably long, I am afraid, but Miss Debbins did agree with me that if we are to do this thing properly, then we really ought to invite everyone who is anyone. There are certain expectations when one holds the lofty title of duke.”
    â€œMiss Debbins?” Briggs asked politely, taking both lists from his employer’s hand.
    â€œThe lady who has been good enough to consent to marry me,” George explained. “There are to be wedding invitations, Ethan. To St. George’s, of course, at eleven o’clock in the morning four weeks from this coming Saturday if I am in time to have the first banns read this coming Sunday. As I daresay I will be.”
    His secretary, who had never before displayed anything approaching open astonishment, looked up at him with a slightly dropped jaw.
    â€œI daresay it was that other nuptial service last week that aroused in me a distinct hankering to have a wedding of my own, Ethan,” George said apologetically. “I am afraid your rest period is over. There will be a great deal more work for you to do even after you have written and sent the invitations. But at least you have had some practice.”
    His secretary had recovered his usual poise. “May I be permitted to wish you all the happiness in the world, Your Grace,” he said.
    â€œYou may,” George said.
    â€œNo one deserves it more,” the usually impassive Briggs added.
    â€œWell, that is remarkably handsome of you, Ethan.” George nodded genially and left him to the arduous work ahead.
    His own next task, not to be delayed one moment longer than necessary, was to make arrangements for the banns to be called. Not much