Mutual Consent by Gayle Buck Read Free Book Online

Mr. Cribbage grunted, recalling yet again that his lordship had warned him that he “called no man master.” The earl would bear watching, thought Cribbage dourly.
    Lord Chatworth had not deigned to argue the matter of the wedding arrangements with his future father-in-law, but instead immediately arranged for the chapel and a minister. He had asked his secretary to send out the necessary notifications to members of his family and those of his friends whom he could trust not to thereafter rush to the gossipmongers. Almost as an afterthought, he had consulted briefly with his intended. Miss Cribbage had readily fallen in with his proposal for a small simple affair. He had half-expected some sort of dust-up, since females were so attached to such things as bridal clothes, but Miss Cribbage had surprised him. He had come away from their second interview with a feeling of satisfaction and the reinforced conviction that this marriage of convenience could suit him well enough.
    As for Babs, she sent word posthaste to her aunt to come to London. Ostensibly, Lady Azaela was to aid her in the planning and ordering of her trousseau, but in actuality Babs wished her aunt to be in time to be present at the hurriedly arranged ceremony.
    While awaiting Lady Azaela’s arrival, Babs and her maid concentrated on putting together a proper wedding ensemble as soon as could be. The seamstresses were adjured to whip up at lightning speed the satin gown and swansdown-trimmed pelisse. The necessity of traveling clothes could safely be set aside, for the earl had made clear that there would not be an extended bridal trip.
    Babs shopped for white gloves and satin slippers, camisoles and slips and white silk stockings, a straw bonnet with a white net veil attached to its brim, a reticule knotted of gold string, and myriad other items. She did not count the cost but chose exactly what she wished, with the faintly humorous thought that since it was the only time she was likely to be wedded, she intended to look every inch the fashionable bride in the short time that was allowed to her to arrange it.
    Her father approved of her expenditures, seeing glimpses of bandboxes and packages before they were whisked upstairs to Babs’ bedroom. Given the bills, he measured the extravagance of his daughter’s purchases in direct proportion to how important she was going to appear, which would naturally be a direct reflection on himself. He ordered up a new suit of clothes for himself, and confident in his power, he began to make grandiose plans for the wedding without consultation with either the earl or his daughter. They would accept whatever he chose to give to them.
    Mr. Cribbage was not best pleased at the arrival of his sister-in-law, Lady Azaela Terowne, but he recognized the importance of having a member of the quality occupying the bride’s pew. He was therefore on his best behavior with Lady Azaela, even going so far as to compliment her on her bonnet and to offer a glass of Madeira to her upon her arrival when she was ushered into the drawing room.
    Lady Azaela regarded Mr. Cribbage with a touch of amusement in her sharp blue eyes. She drew off her gloves in a matter-of-fact way. “I am astounded by your affability, sir. We have not dealt so well together in the past.”
    Mr. Cribbage smiled, hooking his hands into his vest pockets. “Quite true, my lady. However, this morning I have been consulting with caterers in ordering up the wedding feast. Such work has put me into an expansive frame of mind and even your presence cannot mar the satisfaction that fills me at the thought of my daughter becoming a countess.” He gave a loud laugh. His black eyes glittered triumph at Lady Azaela. “A countess, my lady! I have bought my daughter—my daughter!—a fine title. What say you to that?”
    Lady Azaela’s eyes became frosty. “Certainly such a title is no less than my sister’s daughter deserves.” She gathered her gloves and her reticule. “I