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.‘However, I would rather you did not tell your mother that we are to marry, until you are in the coach and on the way to the ceremony.’Deborah blinked.‘It is the only way to be sure she does not let slip what is about to take place.She is clearly very fond of Miss Hullworthy.Would she be able, do you suppose, to keep the news of your marriage from her? Would she be able to keep it from anyone? Most mothers are so pleased to know their daughters are to wed, they cannot keep a still tongue in their head.’Deborah chewed on her lower lip as she pondered this aspect of the case.Her mother would indeed be thrilled to hear she was getting married, doubly so that it was to Captain Fawley.And if she knew that he planned to take her into the marital home, and care for her in her old age, nothing would keep her from flinging herself on his neck and weeping all over him, before she proudly announced to all her cronies what a splendid son-in-law she had managed to net.And as for keeping the news from Susannah… She sighed.Captain Fawley would not want her to be present at the ceremony that represented a final farewell to the woman he loved.In fact, if she was honest with herself, having Susannah there would ruin the event for her, as well.It was bad enough knowing she was a poor second-best, without having her husband’s first choice there in person to remind her what a second-rate marriage he was embarking upon.She hated subterfuge, or anything that smacked of dishonesty in any form, yet refraining from telling her friend her news would certainly save both Captain Fawley, and herself, some pain.‘How long would you expect me to keep our engagement from my mother?’She could not miss the flare of triumph that lit his eyes as he recognised her capitulation to his terms.‘Now that I have your promise, I can obtain the special licence required to marry without the need for banns.We will have to meet with the lawyers who are acting as executors of the will of which I am a beneficiary too.It is no use marrying without their prior knowledge and agreement.Providing all goes well, the ceremony itself can take place the day after tomorrow.We shall leave town immediately after the ceremony.Walton can send the notice to the Morning Post once we are safely out of the way.’‘Just a minute—what will happen if the lawyers do not give their agreement?’‘I am sure they will.You have no need to worry.I did not mean to imply they might not approve you.I just need to make sure I fulfil all the terms to the letter, so that nobody may contest my claim.’‘Contest your claim? Is that likely?’What would happen to her, if she did not fulfil the requirements of this will? Or if someone contested his claim? He had only proposed because he wanted to inherit this property.He would have no use for her at all if the lawyers decided she was not fit for some reason.She went cold inside.What would he do in such an event? Take her home and wash his hands of her? Could he be so ungallant?Was that why he had sworn her to secrecy? So that she would not be able to complain that he had proposed and then jilted her? For she had too much pride to admit to another living soul that she had done something so improper as entering into a secret engagement.Suddenly, she felt very alone, and very afraid.But then, to her surprise, Captain Fawley reached out and placed his hand over hers as she twisted them together in her lap.‘I know it will not be easy for you to creep out of the house, without your mother’s knowledge.’She had not even considered the practical aspects of attending an appointment at the lawyers’ office without her mother’s knowledge until that moment.Now she had another worry to add to those already tormenting her!‘But only think how happy she will be when she finds out it was all in a good cause,’ he cajoled her.‘And you will not have to keep her from our plans for more than a day, if all goes well.’If all went well.But would it? It would be the longest day of her life.Lying to her mother, dreading that something might occur to prevent the wedding taking place….‘Trust me,’ he said, giving her hands a little squeeze.‘I will arrange everything.’Trust him? Oh, how she wished she could!‘It is only one day, Miss Gillies.I am sure you have the courage to endure just one day.You have gone through far worse since your father died, and emerged unscathed.’She blinked up at him.He had said he would never resort to honeyed words, and yet here he was uttering another compliment.Did he mean it? He must do, for he had declared he could only speak the plain truth.He must think she had fortitude.Yes, this was an aspect of that dratted inner beauty he had claimed to admire.‘Just one day.’ She sighed.It would not seem all that much to him, for he did not know that she loved him.He assumed her torment would end, after that one day, whatever the outcome.She looked up into his face, wondering whether this was the moment to tell him the truth.Surely he would not abandon her, even if she did not pass the examination of his lawyers, if she told him she loved him.He could not be so cruel….But if she pressured him into keeping to his vow to marry her, how would they live? They would not have a feather to fly with.Every time a bill landed on their doorstep, he would resent her for preventing him from marrying a woman who would have enabled him to inherit that property.Better for her to become a lonely, desiccated teacher, and know that at least she had not robbed him of his happiness, than to endure his hatred.She would have to keep her feelings for him to herself then, until after they were married.‘It will only be for a day,’ she said again, returning the pressure of his hand.Even if it meant a lifetime of misery for her, she would not let him down.Was that not what love meant? Putting the beloved’s happiness before one’s own?‘You will not regret it,’ he declared fervently.But she was regretting it even before she got back to the house.Her mother was bound to want to know what had passed between them in the garden
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