Seduced at Midnight

She shook her head. 'Mother is off on her social calls, and father is at his club.'

'I'll speak to them afterward, then.'

'Afterward?'

'After the wedding. Which, if we don't want to be late for, we'll need to hurry, because it's starting in…' he glanced at the mantel clock, 'twenty-four minutes.'

Her jaw dropped. 'Wedding? Our wedding? In twenty- four minutes?'

'Did I not mention that?' He shook his head. 'Sorry. I was a bit rattled.' He quickly told her about the special license and the planned ceremony at Matthew and Sarah's house, concluding with, 'When I asked you to marry me, I suppose I should have added, now. Will you marry me now?' He looked into her glowing eyes. 'Will you?'

Her smile could have lit a dark room. 'Yes!' Then she sobered. 'But first, there's something I must tell you. Something I should have told you before. I… I lied to you, Gideon. That first night I claimed to hear ghost noises? I actually didn't. I did so because I wanted you to investigate. Wanted to see you again. So then I hired Johnny Burns the coal porter, to make ghostly sounds, but his wife had a baby and he couldn't make it and then a real ghost came to the balcony and-'

He touched his fingers to her lips to stop the rapid flow of words. 'You did that just so you would see me again?'

She nodded. 'I'm sorry,' she mumbled against his fingers. 'I shouldn't-'

This time he silenced her with a long, deep, tongue-dancing kiss that left them both breathless. 'A clever ruse to get me back into your life. Have I told you how much I love you?'

'Yes, but I suspect I'll never grow tired of hearing it.'

'Good. Because I intend to tell you ten times a day.'

She heaved a sigh. 'Only ten? I shall perish from neglect.'

'Fine. Twenty. Has anyone ever told you you're… wonderful?'

She smiled into his eyes. 'Yes. The man I love.'

He was about to kiss her again but recalled the time. After a glance at the clock, he grabbed her hand and started toward the door, giving a whistle for Caesar, who trotted after them, Princess Buttercup following faithfully. 'The wedding is now scheduled to start in nineteen minutes. Matthew loaned me his carriage. It's waiting out front, so we can be on our way immediately.'

'I just need to run to my bedchamber for a moment,' she said. 'I'll meet you outside.'

By the time Gideon loaded the dogs in the carriage, Julianne was hurrying down the walkway toward him. 'Besides Princess Buttercup, this is the only thing I couldn't bear to leave behind,' she said.

And they both smiled down at her Box of Wishes and Dreams.

Epilogue

Gideon stood in Matthew's drawing room, sipping a glass of champagne, and reached out to touch his hand to his wife's back. His wife. Who stood next to him, laughing at something Carolyn said. His wife, who looked absolutely radiant and still clutched the wilted daisies he bought her. His wife, who had refused the fancy wedding bouquet Sarah had waiting for her and instead insisted on being married carrying the strangled flowers Gideon had given her. His wife, who turned to look at him with all the love he could ever hope to see shining in her eyes.

Matthew's butler approached Gideon. 'Excuse me, sir, there's a gentleman to see you. He's waiting in the foyer. Said to tell you his name is Jack.'

Gideon went still then nodded. After excusing himself to Julianne, he followed the butler from the room. They were halfway down the corridor when a door on the right opened, and Lady Emily emerged.

'Oh!' she exclaimed, clearly startled to see him. 'I didn't know you were… I wasn't expecting…' Her face turned scarlet. 'I'm just returning to the party.' She hurried off.

Curious, Gideon stuck his head through the doorway from which she'd emerged. It was the library. And in the middle of the room stood Logan Jennsen. Brushing his finger over his bottom lip and looking as if he were in some sort of trance. Interesting.

Gideon cleared his throat. 'Is there a problem?'

Logan turned toward him and frowned. 'Ten minutes ago I would have said no. Now… I'm not so sure.' He approached the doorway and gave Gideon a hearty clap on the back. Gideon noticed Logan's hair appeared a bit disheveled. Very interesting. 'Nothing I can't handle,' Logan said with a small smile. 'But I definitely could use a brandy. See you back in the drawing room.'

Gideon continued to the foyer, where he found himself staring at a very nattily dressed Jack Mayne.

'Could you excuse us for a few minutes, please?' he asked the butler.

After the servant withdrew, Gideon said, 'What are you doing here?'

'Heard there was a wedding.' He flashed a grin. 'Was going to come in through the window and surprise ye, but decided this were better. More proper. And I wanted ye to have this.' He held out his hand. In the palm rested a plain gold band. 'I know it ain't fancy, but it were yor mother's. Thought ye might like to give it to yor bride.'

Bloody hell, a damn lump clogged Gideon's throat. With all the servants in this house, you'd think they'd be able to keep up with the dust. He took the ring and slipped it into his pocket. 'Thank you.'

'Yor welcome. Congratulations, son. I wish ye every happiness.' He tentatively extended his hand. Gideon hesitated, torn between what he knew his father was and the fact that, regardless of it, he was still his father. He reached out and shook his hand.

'Heard ye caught that murderin' ghost robber. Good for you. Nasty business.' He shot Gideon a speculative look. 'Surprised ye didn't think I might be yor ghost.'

Actually, the thought had crossed Gideon's mind, but he'd quickly discarded it. 'You're many things, but you're not a killer.'

Jack nodded. 'Glad ye know it. After all, a man has to have his standards, ye know.'

'Yes, I know.'

Silence stretched, then Jack said, 'Well, I guess I'll be goin'.'

'Before you do-I met a couple of friends of yours,' Gideon said. 'Will and Perdy. They told me some interesting things about you.' He fixed a steady stare on Jack. 'Were they true?'

To Gideon's amazement, Jack appeared to blush. 'Wot they say?'

'About you helping people.'

Jack shrugged. 'Oh, that. That's nothin' but a hobby of mine. Just tryin' to be neighborly.'

Gideon could tell there was more to it than that, and the realization hit him with a shock. 'You really are helping people.'

Another shrug. 'I suppose.'

Suspicion instantly set in. 'Where are you getting the funds and supplies to help them?'

A devilish gleam lit Jack's eyes. 'Ye probably don't want to know the answer to that, Son. You bein' on the wrong side of the law and all.'