Confessions of Lady Tabitha, page 22
“Jeremy!” she sobbed.
“You must stop this wedding,” Jeremy demanded. “It is a travesty and cannot go on.”
The duke stepped in his way, his moustache bristling with anger. “How dare you, Jeremy! What is the meaning of all this?”
“I dare this and so much more, Your Grace,” Jeremy replied, not flinching. “You should never have allowed this wedding to take place.”
Tabitha’s watched her father’s face turn deep red. “Why you–”
“Alfred,” the duchess interrupted. “Let Jeremy speak. There must be a reason why he has interrupted the wedding. Come and sit down and let him speak.”
Tabitha was surprised at her mother but didn’t have the time to appreciate the duchess’ newfound backbone. Her eyes were only for Jeremy.
“Thank you, Your Grace,” Jeremy said, bowing towards her. “I do have a valid reason for interrupting this wedding, and it’s in my hand.”
Leo startled Tabitha when he began to clap. “What a dramatic entrance, Jeremy. Now, would you take you and your silly paper out of this chapel? Tabitha and I are in the middle of our vows.”
Jeremy looked at him coldly. “How can you marry Tabitha when you are already married?”
Already married? Tabitha watched the marquess’ eyes narrow. “Excuse me? How dare you accuse me of such treachery?”
“Because it’s true, and this is proof,” Jeremy declared, waving the paper before giving it to the duke. “Read it, Your Grace. You will find that Lady Whittier is not Lord Bazeley’s half-sister but his wife. They have used this lie of being siblings to trick people out of their money all across England. These people are nothing but frauds.”
The duke didn’t say a word as he read the letter, but Leo didn’t appear bothered. He turned to the vicar and asked the man to continue with the ceremony. Was he so confident that Jeremy’s proof would not affect him? Tabitha prayed that it would.
“Not a word, Reverend Abernethy,” the duke thundered as he got to his feet. “This wedding is over! Did you think you could pull the wool over our eyes and take my daughter, knowing that you’re already married? How dare you!”
“Surely you do not believe this servant?” the marquess asked with a laugh.
How did the man manage to be so confident when it was evident to everyone that he had been caught in a lie?
“Can you disprove this letter from the very reverend who married you?” the duke questioned. “Reverend Finch seems to remember you and your so-called sister well. Jeremy, hold onto Lord Bazeley until the bailiff arrives.”
“With pleasure, Your Grace,” said Jeremy and lunged for Leo.
Unfortunately, the man was faster and escaped Jeremy’s hands. The man was out of the chapel before anyone could make sense of his escape, leaving a hysterical Ellie behind.
“You idiot!” the woman screamed. “How can you leave me like this?”
“Calm down, Lady Bazeley,” the duchess commanded. “I have had more of you than I can take.”
Ellie shut her mouth, but she couldn’t hide the fear in her eyes. Tabitha didn’t feel a shred of pity for the woman. Ellie would have allowed her husband to illegally marry another and done nothing about it. She deserved whatever punishment came her way.
“I cannot believe this,” Tabitha heard her father say. “Lord Bazeley tricked all of us. How could I have been so foolish? Thank you, Jeremy. Thank you for saving our Tabitha from my own foolishness.”
Jeremy bowed towards the man. “It was my duty and my pleasure, Your Grace. Lord Bazeley had to be stopped.”
Tabitha stepped forward, gaining everyone’s attention. She had to admit something before losing her nerve but was worried about how everyone would receive her words.
I need to do this while Papa is in a good and charitable mood.
Tabitha didn’t dare look at Jeremy but approached her father. “Papa,” she said, gaining the man’s attention.
“Yes, dear?”
“There is someone that I wish to marry. I love him and only wish to marry him.”
Her father pulled his head back and drew his eyebrows together. “Who is this man? Why have you never spoke of him before?”
Tabitha looked at Jeremy and smiled. “Jeremy is the man I love, Papa. I wish to marry him.”
Jeremy appeared startled at first, but the smile he gave her said more than a thousand words. Tabitha blushed and looked away, happy to see that Jeremy did indeed feel the same way. Part of her had worried had Mandee was wrong, but taking this risk had paid off.
“Jeremy?” the duke repeated. “But he is our servant! I’m thankful to him for saving you, dear, but ...”
“I love your daughter, Your Grace,” Jeremy declared. “And I will treat her better than any man you could possibly choose for her.”
“But you don’t have any money!” the man spluttered.
Tabitha’s heart sunk. Would her father deny her the man she loved over money? Hadn’t he learnt his lesson?
“Would it help if I told you that Lady Bazeley was not the only thing the marquess left behind?” Jeremy asked.
The duke frowned. “What do you mean?”
“Lord Bazeley has left a considerable sum in the Manor, Your Grace. That should be enough to cover your debts. As for having money to take care of your daughter, I have savings, and I’ve wisely invested my money in lucrative ventures. Tabitha will never want for anything.”
The duke looked between Tabitha and Jeremy, doubt still clouding his face. “Do you really love this man, Tabby?”
“With all my heart, Papa.”
The duke nodded. “I suppose Jeremy has proven himself, but I cannot say that I am too thrilled about the match.”
What was her father saying? Tabitha wished he would stop beating around the bush.
“Put them out of their misery and say what you mean, dear,” the duchess admonished.
“Fine! I approve of this match, but there must be a courtship before we even discuss an engagement.”
Tabitha gave a cry of joy and flung her arms around her father’s neck. “Thank you, Papa!”
The duke awkwardly patted her head before she drew away from him and shyly glanced at Jeremy. Tabitha wanted to run into his arms but wisely stayed put. There would be enough of that for the rest of their lives.
Epilogue
Three Months Later
Jeremy looked at the scene before him, marvelling at how much had changed in just a few months. Did he ever think in his wildest dreams that the duke would throw a party for him? No, not once. He hadn’t even believed that he would be allowed to court Tabitha, and yet he was. Jeremy was careful not to look a gift horse in the mouth, but he had to admit that his life appeared surreal.
“Jeremy!” the duke said, clapping a hand on his shoulder. “I have some friends I want you to meet.”
Jeremy was about to say, ‘not gambling friends, I hope,’ but he wisely held his tongue. The man had mended his ways and stopped gambling, but Jeremy still kept his eyes on him. He didn’t want the same situation as the last time to come up and take away his chance to be with the woman he loved. Tabitha was nearly his, but Jeremy had yet to make it official by asking the duke for his daughter’s hand in marriage. Jeremy planned to do just that soon and was merely looking for the right time.
The duke steered him to a group of men and introduced Jeremy to all of them. Jeremy recognised one or two but greeted them as though he didn’t know them.
“Did you know he now holds a seat in Parliament?” the duke said proudly, pushing out his meaty chest.
“Oh, indeed?” the one man asked, sounding impressed. “Good on you, Mr Gibbs. We need a pair of fresh eyes and a new voice in Parliament.”
Jeremy thanked the man. “I hope that I can represent my county in the way it needs, Mr Banks.”
Although the duke had given Jeremy his permission to court Tabitha, the man had still felt some doubt about his position as a servant. He had taken it upon himself to launch Jeremy’s political career, which was somewhat ironic considering the duke had laughed when Jeremy had told him about his political aspirations. However, it had become a reality, making Jeremy good enough for the duke’s daughter. Jeremy would have agreed to anything if it meant keeping Tabitha.
“I’m sure you’ll do stupendously,” Mr Banks assured. “Storping tells me you have a natural ability for it. That certainly helps.”
“I’m counting on that,” Jeremy agreed.
The men continued to discuss Parliament issues, and all wanted to hear Jeremy’s take on the latest political developments in the land. Jeremy answered truthfully and appeared to impress the men so much that he earned another warm clasp on his shoulder from the duke.
“You’ve done well, son,” the man said, obviously happy. “You’ve done well.”
Jeremy realised that now was the time to broach the subject of getting engaged to Tabitha.
“May I speak to you privately, Your Grace?” Jeremy asked, leaning towards the man’s ears.
“Now?” the man asked, frowning.
“Yes, please. I have an important matter to discuss with you.”
“Very well,” the duke replied, nodding. “Lead the way. I’ll be with you in a moment, gentlemen,” the duke told his guests. “I have a few matters to attend to.”
Jeremy went straight to the duke’s study, vaguely realising that the estate would one day be his if he married Tabitha. That wasn’t the reason he was marrying her, but it was something to think about.
He took his usual seat once the duke had settled behind his desk and suddenly felt his nerves get the best of him. Was this the right time to ask for Tabitha’s hand? The household was currently celebrating its good fortune with all the servants, tenants, and friends with a feast that could last a day or two. Perhaps Jeremy should wait until it was all over, but he found that he didn’t want to. He didn’t want to go another day, not making his love for Tabitha official.
“What did you need to talk to me about?” the duke asked. “Whatever it is, seems important. I do not think I’ve ever seen you this nervous.
Jeremy hadn’t thought he was so transparent. “It is important, Your Grace. Perhaps more important than anything I could ever want in my life.”
“Then spit it out,” the duke said with a chuckle. “I rarely see you looking so tense.”
Jeremy nodded, taking a deep breath. “I’ve thought long and hard about this, Your Grace, and I believe this is the perfect time for it. May I please have your daughter’s hand in marriage? Nothing would make me happier than making her my wife.”
The duke’s eyes widened for a moment before he sat back in his chair. “I wondered when you would come to me about this.”
“I wanted to wait for the right moment, Your Grace,” Jeremy explained. “We were so busy establishing my political career that I thought I would wait until I secured my seat. We’ve done that. Now, I simply wish to marry your daughter.”
The duke smiled. “I never thought I would allow my steward to marry my daughter, but you’re no longer just my steward, are you? You’ve become a well-known man with your own little wealth that keeps growing. It would be foolish of me to deny my daughter the man she loves.”
Jeremy held his breath. “Does this mean yes?”
“Yes, Jeremy. You have my blessings.”
Jeremy grinned, standing up and holding his hand out to the duke. “Thank you, Your Grace. You have no idea how much this means to me.”
The man shook his hand warmly. “Oh, I think I do. I suppose you’ll go and tell Tabitha now. I might as well tell my wife. She has been just as impatient to see her daughter married.”
Jeremy thanked the man again and went in search of Tabitha. He didn’t find her anywhere in the house, which meant she was probably in her favourite place. Would she be as happy as he was once he told her the good news? Jeremy smiled, feeling the answer in his heart. Tabitha loved him-- that was answer enough.
Parties could quickly become overwhelming, but Tabitha didn’t mind. It was for Jeremy and his success, a success that he richly deserved. She knew he was proud of his achievement but probably not as proud as her father.
Tabitha’s father had wasted no time telling people about Jeremy’s new position in Parliament and openly boasted that it was his idea for Jeremy to try for the county seat. She knew that Jeremy had had the ambition to do just that, but her father had certainly helped him along. Would her father now feel more at ease with having Jeremy as a son-in-law?
Tabitha pushed herself on her swing, crying out in alarm when she felt hands cover hers on the rope. She looked up, laughing, when she saw Jeremy’s smiling face looking down at her.
“Why must you always give me a fright?” she complained.
“Because I love your adorable expression. May I push you?”
“I suppose so, but I should really scold you. Why have you left your party?”
“Do you not wish to have me by your side?” he asked.
“Do not put words in my mouth, Mr Gibbs,” she told him sternly, smiling to take the bite out of her words. “Of course, I love being with you, but you do know that the feast is mainly for you.”
“I know, and your father can handle it. He seems to be enjoying it more than I am.”
Tabitha nodded. “Papa does love a good party. Did you sneak away as I did?”
“No, I came with your father’s blessing.”
“I find that surprising. I thought he would have kept you tied up with his friends for hours to come.”
“He might have, but he knows I have something important to do,” Jeremy said.
Tabitha felt he was telling her something, but she couldn’t tell what it was. He was beating around the bush, wasn’t he?
“More important than enjoying your success?” she asked.
“Much more important.”
Jeremy began to push her, saying nothing for some time. Tabitha wanted to turn around and ask him what was on his mind, but she had a feeling he was about to do just that.
“Are you happy with me?” he enquired of her.
“That’s an odd question. Do you doubt my love for you?”
“No, but I wanted to hear you say you love me before I told you the good news.”
Tabitha did look up at him then, putting her foot out to stop her from moving. “You’re acting a little strangely. What is this good news?”
“I spoke to your father a few moments ago and gained his blessing to ask for your hand in marriage.”
Jeremy spoke so quickly that Tabitha asked him to repeat himself. Jeremy did so, this time stretching every word as his adoring eyes gazed into hers. Tabitha said nothing for several seconds before giving a shout of joy that made Jeremy chuckle.
“Do you really mean it, Jeremy?” she asked. “We can finally be married?”
“Yes, my love. I would marry you now, but we have a few necessities to get through before I can get you to the altar and make you all mine.”
This was the best news Jeremy could have given her. “I’m so happy that I could just scream.”
