Under His Protection

Chapter 10

Chapter Ten

"The announcement of our wedding is in the morning papers," Oliver said as they sat in the dinning room later that morning. The children had already finished their breakfast and returned upstairs to the nursery with their nanny. "I'm sure once they received the notice from Markham they stopped the presses to add this announcement in today's papers afraid one of the others newspapers would be the one to first announce our marriage to the world."

"Are we still planning on attending the opera tonight then?" she asked him.

"Yes, I think I'd rather tonight then tomorrow night, since we will be rising early to leave for Wainwright Hall the next morning. What do you think?"

"I agree, we can retire early and get plenty of rest for our train ride to Clun and see to the last minute packing," she answered as she looked over the announcement in the paper Oliver handed her. "I'm just not sure I won't sleep through the opera tonight. Between you and the children I did get much rest last night."

"If you fall asleep I'll wake you," he teased. "Maybe this afternoon you can find the time to take a nap."

"What are your plans for today?" she asked him.

"I shall see my solicitor's this morning about Richie and Margie's adoption." He would also see to having a new will made in favor of her and their future children with provisions for both Richie and Margie. He planned to live Richie the estate his great-aunt had left him and his townhouse here in London to Margie. "Then I have to stop by my office and see how things are there and let them know of our plans to retire to the country for a while. What are your plans?"

Josh was out of town looking into Baron Wynter, Rider was undercover in the East End trying to see if he could learn the man's name that'd been hired to kill Val. He wanted to find out if either man had learned anything and had left word for him at his office.

"I have some shopping to do for the children before we leave, Rhiain is coming with me to help," she replied. "We do have another coach, don't we?"

"Yes and I will make Foster is aware you will be using it later this morning," Oliver replied smiling. He would also make certain several armed footmen accompanied his wife and her maid as usual. "Please stay alert for any sort of trouble. This will be the first time you have traveled alone since returning to London." He didn't care for the idea of her being without him after all. "Maybe I should come with you."

"Piffle," she replied. "I will be fine. Rhiain will be with me and your coachman and footman will be close at hand. The few places we plan to stop will not take us long and each place is at a different shop so we will walk directly from the coach to the building. We should return in time for luncheon if we find everything we are looking for. Don't worry about me, Oliver you cannot be by my side every minute of the day and night."

"Well...not the day, perhaps, but most certainly the nights," he gave her his rakish grin then rose from his chair. "I'll be off then. You, my lovely new wife, be careful."

"I will," she replied smiling at him, "my handsome new husband."

"Your ladyship," Foster said upon entering the room, "Madame Benoit has sent several large boxes and one of her assistants here this morning. The assistant said they are part of the order his lordship placed with Madame Benoit and hopes you have time to try them on this morning to see if any alterations need to be made."

"Oh yes," Val replied. "I'm surprised Madame has finished them so soon. Have Rhiain show Madame Benoit's assistant to my rooms, Foster."

"Yes, my lady."