“And that would be me.” She took a few steps forward and linked her arm through the one he offered and stepped out of the room that was no longer her bedchamber without looking back.
There was feasting and conversation and laughter. There were speeches and toasts and more laughter. There were stories told of Jessica’s childhood, some touching, some funny, a few embarrassing to her. There were stories told by Sir Trevor and Lady Vickers of the week they had spent in the small vicarage where Gabriel’s father had had his living, celebrating the christening of young Gabriel. They had told about how the baby had smiled sweetly and widely and toothlessly in Lady Vickers’s hold, waving his little arms about as he did so, and how she had threatened to take him home with her and never return him.
“I believe that was the moment when he vomited all over your best dress, Doris,” Sir Trevor said, and everyone laughed again.
“Oh, it was not, Trevor,” she protested. “That was a different time. You were very well behaved at your christening, Gabriel.”
Gabriel smiled at her. He knew so little of his early childhood. He had had no one after the age of nine to reminisce about it.
“He lived up to his angelic name, did he?” the Marquess of Dorchester said.
“Don’t I always?” Gabriel asked, and Jessica touched the back of his hand.
“I just wish,” her grandmother said, “you were not taking my granddaughter so far away, Gabriel. And so soon. Tomorrow is too soon.”
“It is,” Jessica’s mother said with a sigh. “However, it is what happens when a woman marries, Mama.”
Some of the laughter had faded from the gathering.
“Perhaps you will be happy to know, then, ma’am,” Gabriel said, addressing the dowager countess, “that we will not be leaving tomorrow after all. Or even the day after. We will be remaining in town for a while. I do not know for quite how long.”
A few faces noticeably brightened.
“Oh,” the dowager duchess said. “Thatisgood news. What made you change your mind, Gabriel?”
He got to his feet and looked down briefly at Jessica beside him. She nodded almost imperceptibly. “Something happened last night that I learned of this morning,” he said, “and it is time I shared some information that only a few of you already know. I am aware that most if not all of you have been curious about me and have wondered why, even though his permission was not necessary, the Duke of Netherby nevertheless gave his blessing on my marriage to his sister.”
“I believe we are all very glad he did,” Aunt Matilda said. “You do not owe us any explanation, Gabriel. If you have satisfied Avery, then we must all be satisfied.”
“Speak for yourself, Matilda,” Aunt Mildred said—Gabriel had been instructed by most of the family to learn and use their names. “I have been dying of curiosity.”
“That is kind of you, Aunt Matilda,” Gabriel said, and smiled briefly at both sisters. “I would hope this information will remain within the family for at least a few days longer, until I have settled some matters, but that will be up to you. But what I want to tell you now, as my new family, is that my legal name is Thorne. However, it is not the name with which I was born. That was Rochford. Gabriel Rochford. I am the Earl of Lyndale. Sir Trevor Vickers has had that fact officially confirmed. He was able to tell me that just before we sat down to eat.”
For a few moments the Westcotts were silenced.
“Thelong-lostearl?” Great-aunt Edith said, breaking the silence. “Well, bless my soul.”
“I say, this is splendid stuff,” young Boris Wayne said with youthful enthusiasm. “Rochford is not going to be at all happy, though, is he, poor fellow? Nor is his father, at a guess.”
“I think I decided to come up to London at just the right time,” Harry said. “This beats rusticating at Hinsford.”
“But what—”
“But why—”
Cousin Althea and Uncle Thomas began speaking at the same time. Gabriel held up a staying hand.
“It is a long story,” he said. “If you wish, I will tell it. But the reason Jessica and I will not after all be leaving for Brierley tomorrow is that Manley Rochford, my second cousin, who expects to have my title within the next few weeks, arrived in London last night with his wife.”
“Oh my,” Wren said. “We did not know that, did we, Alexander?”
“We knew he was coming soon,” he said.
Netherby, Gabriel noticed, did not look at all surprised.
“Wedowish,” Estelle said, leaning eagerly forward across the table. “To hear your long story, that is, Gabriel. Please do tell it. But I would wager—if it were genteel for ladies to lay bets—that what Mr. Rochford said of you at Elizabeth and Colin’s party was not true at all. But howpricelessthat you were there to hear him and he did not know you. I suppose he had never seen you before in his life until you appeared here a few weeks ago.”
“Let the man speak, Stell,” her twin said.
