De Palma. To their frustration he was being reticent in providing Arend with a name or any other information.
Arend looked thoughtfully at Marisa. Maitland simply pulled her closer and said, “I have agreed to let her help capture the villainess. Her life has been impacted too.”
Arend cleared his throat. “Perhaps we can discuss this after the wedding.”
“We have to wait for the bishop, so let’s talk now.” Marisa seemed very determined.
“I have a plan that might get Angelo to give us the information we need. It hinges on you, Maitland.” No one said anything to that, so Arend continued. “I think we should bring Angelo to his knees financially by beating the house, and Maitland with his skill at cards is the man to do it.”
“I’m happy to give it a try, but why would Angelo let me into his club? Won’t he be suspicious?”
Just then Sebastian arrived with Beatrice, Marisa’s Aunt Alison, and Helen. Little Henry, Sebastian and Beatrice’s adopted son, was too young to be present. Talk of card games dissolved into chatter about how beautiful Marisa looked. The room was soon abuzz with talk of the marriage vows, and Maitland was relieved to see how comfortable Marisa was with her situation.
The bishop didn’t seem to mind the hastiness of the marriage. It never ceased to amaze Maitland how the church overlooked many sins when generous donations were on hand. The service was over quickly, and under the circumstances, the little emotion in the ceremony made the impact of what was occurring surreal.
He was getting
married.
On the words “husband and wife,” Sebastian shook Maitland’s hand warmly and welcomed him to his family, and all animosity between them slid away. His new brother-in-law opened champagne for the women and a bottle of his finest whiskey for the men, and over a joyful meal they toasted to new beginnings.
Later, as the night sky darkened, Maitland approached Marisa, hesitant to interrupt. She stood, quietly talking with Helen. “It’s time to go, little one. I’ll leave you to say your goodbyes and meet you by the front door.”
Sebastian followed him out of the room. He looked back to see the two girls hugging each other, hiding tears at being parted for the first time. Beatrice joined them, and something she said made them smile and wipe away the tears.
He waited for his wife—
his wife.
His hands trembled, and he almost dropped his gloves and hat, which the doorman had just passed to him.
Sebastian settled an arm around his shoulders and steered him to a private spot near the door. “Who would have believed my best friend—as close as any brother—is in fact now my brother-in-law. You will be kind to her? Marisa has had her dreams shattered. I know you think you know her, but in reality you are both strangers who have simply been in each other’s company recently. Don’t expect too much of her tonight.”
Maitland understood Sebastian’s brotherly concern. “I’m not going to pounce on her the minute I have her alone. I do have some finesse in this area, although not as much as you.” Sebastian’s worried face did not alter at his words. “Look, we are both exhausted after last night’s ordeal. I shall simply see her settled into her rooms tonight.”
“Thank you.” The tight clasp of Sebastian’s arm disappeared and Maitland stuck out his hand and Sebastian took it. They shook for longer than normal, and both ended up clearing their throats.
Maitland reassured his friend. “This marriage is for a lifetime. I’m more than content to wait until Marisa feels comfortable sharing my bed.”
“That’s more than I needed to know.”
“But that is what you are worried about, isn’t it?” he asked. “Her sharing a virtual stranger’s bed.”
“Sometimes I wish you weren’t so direct.” Sebastian patted him on his back. “Usually I’d be teasing you about the night to come, but I’d rather not think about it.”
Maitland nodded. “I’ll
Arend looked thoughtfully at Marisa. Maitland simply pulled her closer and said, “I have agreed to let her help capture the villainess. Her life has been impacted too.”
Arend cleared his throat. “Perhaps we can discuss this after the wedding.”
“We have to wait for the bishop, so let’s talk now.” Marisa seemed very determined.
“I have a plan that might get Angelo to give us the information we need. It hinges on you, Maitland.” No one said anything to that, so Arend continued. “I think we should bring Angelo to his knees financially by beating the house, and Maitland with his skill at cards is the man to do it.”
“I’m happy to give it a try, but why would Angelo let me into his club? Won’t he be suspicious?”
Just then Sebastian arrived with Beatrice, Marisa’s Aunt Alison, and Helen. Little Henry, Sebastian and Beatrice’s adopted son, was too young to be present. Talk of card games dissolved into chatter about how beautiful Marisa looked. The room was soon abuzz with talk of the marriage vows, and Maitland was relieved to see how comfortable Marisa was with her situation.
The bishop didn’t seem to mind the hastiness of the marriage. It never ceased to amaze Maitland how the church overlooked many sins when generous donations were on hand. The service was over quickly, and under the circumstances, the little emotion in the ceremony made the impact of what was occurring surreal.
He was getting
married.
On the words “husband and wife,” Sebastian shook Maitland’s hand warmly and welcomed him to his family, and all animosity between them slid away. His new brother-in-law opened champagne for the women and a bottle of his finest whiskey for the men, and over a joyful meal they toasted to new beginnings.
Later, as the night sky darkened, Maitland approached Marisa, hesitant to interrupt. She stood, quietly talking with Helen. “It’s time to go, little one. I’ll leave you to say your goodbyes and meet you by the front door.”
Sebastian followed him out of the room. He looked back to see the two girls hugging each other, hiding tears at being parted for the first time. Beatrice joined them, and something she said made them smile and wipe away the tears.
He waited for his wife—
his wife.
His hands trembled, and he almost dropped his gloves and hat, which the doorman had just passed to him.
Sebastian settled an arm around his shoulders and steered him to a private spot near the door. “Who would have believed my best friend—as close as any brother—is in fact now my brother-in-law. You will be kind to her? Marisa has had her dreams shattered. I know you think you know her, but in reality you are both strangers who have simply been in each other’s company recently. Don’t expect too much of her tonight.”
Maitland understood Sebastian’s brotherly concern. “I’m not going to pounce on her the minute I have her alone. I do have some finesse in this area, although not as much as you.” Sebastian’s worried face did not alter at his words. “Look, we are both exhausted after last night’s ordeal. I shall simply see her settled into her rooms tonight.”
“Thank you.” The tight clasp of Sebastian’s arm disappeared and Maitland stuck out his hand and Sebastian took it. They shook for longer than normal, and both ended up clearing their throats.
Maitland reassured his friend. “This marriage is for a lifetime. I’m more than content to wait until Marisa feels comfortable sharing my bed.”
“That’s more than I needed to know.”
“But that is what you are worried about, isn’t it?” he asked. “Her sharing a virtual stranger’s bed.”
“Sometimes I wish you weren’t so direct.” Sebastian patted him on his back. “Usually I’d be teasing you about the night to come, but I’d rather not think about it.”
Maitland nodded. “I’ll
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