If I Loved You (Matrimony! Book 1) by Cerise Deland

Author:Cerise Deland [Deland, Cerise]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Historical, Romance
Publisher: Dragonblade Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2023-04-19T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

“Tonight, we must rest,” Miles said as he opened the door to their suite. “Tomorrow the celebrations in Hyde Park will test our endurance.”

The past three days in London had seen a feast of spectacles. Royalty from the Continent had arrived in London last week, and each day since last Thursday, there was a momentous dinner or parade. The prince regent was in his glory, leading his royal guests in state coaches to the London Guildhall, Burlington House, dinner parties, and the theater. Tomorrow were the promised Hyde Park festivities. Traffic was at a standstill to let all royalty pass. To go anywhere in town by carriage was nigh unto impossible. Miles had given up and declared if anyone in the house wished to attend any appointment, they should keep only those they could reach by foot. Verity had decided to go nowhere. Home was safest. Lord Croyden’s approach had upset her. Her lingering memory of seeing someone who resembled Thomas Frobisher compounded her desire to go north soon. When Miles assured her they would leave in a week, she looked forward to the Hyde Park celebrations.

“We will never see the Russian tsar and the Prussian princes again in our lives,” he said with a boyish anticipation. “Plus, I understand that our cavalry and infantry march and that we shall have twenty-one-gun salutes by the artillery. Even East India Company soldiers will march, and I wish to see them.”

She had to smile at his pride of country. “You like all this drama.”

“I do. If I’d not been so involved in business, I would have liked to make my mark in the army. Do my duty, and such. I like to applaud those who have risked their all for us.”

She kissed his cheek. “I shall be proud to go with you, too.”

The next day, Verity strode beside him, her arm in his, with all their house staff welcomed to walk down to the park with them. The day was bright and crisp for June. The attendance was quite a crush. They thrilled to the pomp of the bands and the drums, the artillery barrages and all-too-brief glimpses of the prince regent, the tsar, and his sister.

Miles caught one man attempting to lift a few coins from his pocket. He grabbed the fellow’s hand and twisted it. The scoundrel yelped but slithered away. Pickpockets, Miles told her as they walked home, always saw full employment on such public occasions.

“Cannot the Bow Street Runners do more to deter such thieves?” she asked him, as irritated as he.

“They are a small number of men. And they are more interested in capturing those who commit more horrendous crimes.”

At home that night, Miles and she and their staff dined on cold sandwiches and beer and went to bed early.

“My lord! My lord!” Miles’s valet called to him hours later.

Miles caught up his banyan as the valet knocked repeatedly on the bedroom door and left their bed.

She rose, but he waylaid her. “Stay where you are, my dear.

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