Page 10 of A Suitable New Year’s Revenge (Ladies’ Wagering Whist Society #42)

Despite wanting nothing more than to stand on the terrace and kiss Helena, he was getting rather cold—especially since Helena was wearing his coat.

“Shall we join in the celebration?” he asked.

She gave a nod, and they went in, but not before Helena quickly gave him back his coat. She helped him shrug back into it, as it was a precise fit across his shoulders.

“Should we tell you parents?” she asked as he grabbed two glasses of champagne from a passing footman’s tray and handed one to her.

“I would like to.” He gave a nod.

She tucked her hand into the crook of his arm, and they set off to find Lord and Lady Hazelton amid the crush of people quickly getting drunk and having, perhaps, too much of a good time.

They finally found them speaking with Lord and Lady Blakemore. Pine’s mother was laughing at something, and his father was looking slightly bored.

“Happy New Year,” Pine said as they joined them.

“Happy New Year, my love,” his mother said, giving him a bright smile. It looked as if she might have drunk a little too much of the wine. “Oh, and you found Helena. My dear, so good to see you. Happy New Year.”

Helena gave a little curtsy. “Happy New Year,” she said. “My lord, my lady.” She gave another curtsy to the Blakemores.

“Helena, do you know Lord and Lady Blakemore?” Lady Hazelton asked.

“We’ve met,” Lady Blakemore said. “But I don’t believe you’ve been introduced to my husband.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, my lord,” Helena said, giving yet another curtsy.

His lordship bowed to her. “Lady Hazelton was telling us about what a lovely stay you had at Hazelton Hall this past week.”

“Oh, indeed. It was wonderful,” Helena agreed. She then turned to Pine with an expectant smile.

Pine took that as his cue. “Actually, Mother, my lords and lady, we have an announcement to make.”

His mother’s eyes widened in anticipation.

“I have asked Helena to marry me,” he told them.

“In truth this time?” his father asked skeptically.

Pine laughed, refusing to allow his father to bring his mood down. “In truth.”

“Oh, how wonderful!” Lady Blakemore said with enthusiasm.

“Congratulations,” her husband said. “That is wonderful news.”

“Your father will be so very happy,” Lady Hazelton said to Helena.

“I do believe he will,” she agreed.

“I would like to have the wedding quickly,” Pine said, thinking of her father. But then added, “I don’t know how long I could wait for the joy of being with Helena every day.”

The two married couples laughed. “You will have the rest of your life, son,” Lord Blakemore said. He gave his wife a loving smile. “But it never becomes any less wonderful.”

“Oh, you!” Lady Blakemore said with a little giggle.

It rather surprised Pine, as he’d never thought of her as the giggling type. She was always a rather stern and upright lady. But in the presence of her husband and his obvious love for her, she softened like butter left out in the sun.

“I was thinking of going out to the Doctor’s Commons tomorrow to see if I can’t get a special license,” Pine told them.

“You’ll need permission from the archbishop,” his father pointed out.

“I’ve got connections,” Lord Blakemore said. He turned to Pine. “Stop by my home first thing tomorrow morning, and we’ll get it done.”

“Thank you, my lord!” Pine was incredibly grateful. He also suspected the gentleman knew the true reason why it was so important that they marry quickly.

“And bring your mother when you come, Mr. Teviot,” Lady Blakemore added in. “We have a lot of planning to do in very little time.”

“Oh, please, don’t go to a lot of trouble,” Helena said quickly. “I’m certain that a very small, simple affair would be best.”

“For the marriage ceremony, yes. But we should celebrate with a scrumptious breakfast afterward,” Lady Hazelton said. She and Lady Blakemore shared some sort of look that showed that both of their minds were working on the problem and coming up with all sorts of plans.

“Well, then, it sounds as if we’ve all got our work planned,” Pine said.

“I would like to help with the breakfast, my lady,” Helena said.

“Of course! You must! You will join us as well. Ten o’clock at my home. Oh, I must spread the word to the other ladies. Do excuse me,” Lady Blakemore said. She rushed off.

“By ‘other ladies’ does she mean the ladies of the Wagering Whist Society?” Pine asked, beginning to feel a little in awe.

“I’m certain she does,” his mother said.

“Well, in that case, this is going to be a very special wedding, indeed.” Pine shared a look of surprise and perhaps trepidation with Helena. She smiled and shook her head as if she couldn’t believe her luck. He certainly couldn’t.