“For now,” he whispered, “for the moment she will be my priority. Not Thorpe.”
Cecilia suddenly straightened from her work and looked over her shoulder. She looked directly at the window at which he stood and beamed. Lionel smiled in return. She waved, removing the wide-brimmed sun hat she wore and shaking her magnificent red hair loose. She beckoned to him and Lionel nodded. It took him a moment to find the door that led out to the balcony overlooking the garden. Then he trotted down the worn, ancient steps and across the neat lawn. Cecilia wore yellow today. She was a bright sun amid the lush greenery of the lawn and the bright primary colors of the flowers. Her smile was the most radiant thing about her, dimming even the sun. He embraced her and kissed her thoroughly.
“What did I do to deserve that?” Cecilia said, breathlessly, “tell me so that I may do it again.”
“Just being my wife,” Lionel murmured, “I am eternally grateful for it.”
“I’m glad,” Cecilia giggled, “you are done with your correspondence for the day?”
“Yes, just a letter from…” Lionel began.
He was about to tell her that it was from Lennox and explain its contents. He would also tell her that he had decided to ignore the letter. That their preparations for Court were his priority. But something inside stopped him. He looked at her beautiful face, her innocent smile, and her shining eyes. She was perfect, and in that moment, radiantly happy. He did not want to darken that smile, to see it slip and see worry take its place, marring her beauty.
“One of my business agents about the price of cotton. A good time to sell if I have a mind to,” he said.
Cecilia shrugged happily. “Not an area I have a great deal of knowledge in, I’m afraid. I’ve heard you talk about buying this and selling that but I don’t see mountains of cotton in the barn, or copper for that matter. So, I can’t conceive what it’s all about.”
“A man’s world. Don’t concern yourself,” Lionel replied with a wry smile, “concentrate on the flowers.”
Bad leg or no, he was prepared for the playful slap she directed at his shoulder and skipped clear, laughing.
“You have become intolerable with complacency. You would not have spoken to me so a few weeks ago. Do not think that you need to stop trying just because I am wholly smitten with you,” Cecilia chided lightly, pursuing him.
She caught him, putting her arms about his waist and settling into his embrace. He smiled down at her.
“I will never stop trying,” Lionel whispered, “and you can never be smitten enough for me. Or I for you.”
He kissed her again, ignoring the presence of the gardener not far away or any servant who might be looking out of a window at that moment. The kiss was warmer than the summer sun that stroked them with its light. Hotter than fire and deeper than the oceans themselves.
“When do we leave again?” Cecilia said after a long, silent moment.
“Eight days’ time. And our appointment at Court is set for eleven days’ time. We arrive on the 14th and will be received by the Regent on the 17th.”
“I have been reading up on etiquette,” Cecilia noted, “it is a veritable quagmire. So many ways to make a mistake. It is quitedaunting, you know? But I suppose you are more informed on it than I, being a Duke.”
He shook his head disarmingly. “From what I remember of the Regent, he is capable of wit and charm and he comes from rather earthy German stock. His father was fond of farming.”
Cecilia nodded, frowning, and looking nervous. “I just hope that he does not take against me. I have been reading of his appalling behavior towards his wife, attempting to get her divorced. It seems that if he takes against you, that is it.”
Lionel stroked her back, hoping to reassure her. “He is, I believe, extravagant and somewhat feckless. He delights in displays of wealth and surrounding himself with beauty. We shall present ourselves as representatives of one of the oldest Dukedoms in England. Our wealth will be ostentatiously displayed, much as it is against my nature to do so. And your beauty will be a shining star that the Regent will immediately want placed in his firmament.”
“And with the Regent’s acceptance, we will be accepted by the ton and our children’s legacy will be secured,” Cecilia added, smiling bravely. “I am quite literally shaking at the thought and it is still over a week away. I have nothing in my life to prepare me for meeting royalty. I spent most of my time among the servants when I was living with my aunt and uncle.”
“Royals are just people, after all. Eccentric. Odd, even, but just people,” Lionel shrugged. “Despite being a Duke, I do not havemuch experience at Court myself, though I was introduced to the old King by my father. A very peculiar man.”
“As long as you are there with me, I think I can face anything,” Cecilia smiled giddily.
“Of course. I will not leave your side. I swear it.”
CHAPTER 28
4Bruton Street was a tall townhouse fronted with black, wrought iron railings. Its facade was of the white plaster common in London and it had a brick arch at one end leading to stables. It looked out over Berkeley Square, a green oasis in the middle of London. Cecilia looked from the house to the park with wonder. The park was full of London gentry. Men with top hats and canes, women with parasols and beautiful dresses. She felt quite drab by comparison. London was a towering place that Cecilia found thoroughly intimidating.
“I did not expect it to be so big!” she exclaimed.
“It is that,” Lionel agreed, leaning out of the carriage window and taking it all in with her, “but just a place, for all its size. Only different to Thornhill in scope. Don’t worry, the first time I came to London, I felt much the same. You will soon get used to it.”
He squeezed her hand reassuringly, smiling. Cecilia forced a smile in return. She hoped that she looked reassured. Over the last week, Lionel had been… different. As though he werepreoccupied. Not all the time but as though it was something he had to make an effort to hide. It seemed to creep up on him at times, until he remembered to cover it with a smile.
