Livvy raced down the stairs late the following morning when she heard Fletcher welcoming the new arrivals.
“Daisy! You’re here. Finally!” She launched herself into her friend’s embrace.
Devlin’s sister, formerly Dorothea Hamilton—now known to theTonby her married title of Her Grace the Duchess of Cranford, returned Livvy’s hug with equal fervor.
“Oh, Liv. I heard about your father. I’m so sorry we couldn’t come up for the funeral. Not to pay our respects to him, because he was an absolute rotter—sorry to speak ill of the dead—but to support you, in your hour of need.”
“It’s all right,” Liv said truthfully. “It wasn’t so bad.”
Lucien, Daisy’s tall, dark and eternally sardonic husband watched them with a fond smile on his lips, quite accustomed to his wife’s undiplomatic outbursts.
“Did you see your awful uncle Hubert?” Daisy asked.
“I had a bit of an unfortunate run-in with him, yes,” Liv admitted. “But your brother arrived at a very convenient time and offered to host me here for a few days. Until I can make my way back to London.”
That wasn’t the whole truth, of course, but as close as they were, she wasn’t quite sure how to explain her current predicament to Daisy.
Dev chose that moment to appear from his study, and Livvy’s heart gave a funny little lurch. She’d loitered in her room after breakfast instead of joining him downstairs, but she’d watched him covertly from her window, hidden behind the curtains, as his lithe figure strode across the frosty garden in the direction of his weather station.
She was such a coward. She should have gone and asked him to raisehertemperature. Should have told him she wanted his kisses, and more.
Daisy’s eyes flew to Devlin, and she sent him a look that was part surprise, part intrigue. Liv had no doubt her friend would extract the story about her stabbing uncle Hubert from either Dev or herself before the day was out; Daisy was King & Co.’s most tireless investigator.
“Come and have a hot drink,” Dev smiled, giving Lucien a friendly tap on the shoulder. “You must be chilled after being cooped up in the carriage for so long. How were the roads? Do you think they’ll prevent anyone from coming up for the party?”
“They weren’t so bad,” Lucien replied easily. “My carriage is extremely comfortable. Plus, we weren’t held up by any highwaymen, which was a relief.”
He shot a teasing smile at Daisy, who wrinkled her nose at him. The two of them had married after one of Daisy’s investigations had gone awry. She’d mistakenly held up Lucien’s coach, instead of the one occupied by his eloping nephew Perry, and the two of them had fallen in love.
Liv had always thought it dizzyingly romantic. Their sly, teasing banter was proof of their deep affection and respect for one another. It was exactly what she’d always hoped for in her own marriage.
The remaining two founders of King & Co. arrived a short time later. Tess, the Duchess of Wansford and Ellie, Countess of Cobham, drew up to the house with their husbands in tow. Tess and Justin lived at the nearby Lilford Hall and were hosting Ellie and Harry for a few days so they could all attend the party together.
“I’m glad you’re all here” Devlin said after they’d all eaten a light lunch.
“Been pining for our scintillating company?” Justin drawled.
Dev shook his head with a smile. “Hardly. I want you to try out my new skating rink. To see if it’s solid enough for the guests tomorrow.”
Daisy gave a mock gasp of shock. “You want innocent victims to get their feet wet if the ice cracks. You monster!”
Dev chuckled. “Guilty as charged. But it’s only a few inches deep, so there’s no chance of you drowning. The worst you’ll get is soaked stockings. It should be fine. There was another hard frost last night.” He started for the door. “Come on, put your cloaks on. I’ve got skates for everyone.”
Half an hour later, all eight of them were sliding about on the ice with varying degrees of success, ranging from terrified wobbling, in Olivia’s case, to an obnoxiously confident glide from Devlin.
The skates themselves were slim iron blades attached to a foot-shaped base which attached to the bottom of her ankle boots with a series of leather traps and buckles.
Shrieks, grunts and curses filled the air as they all attempted to stay upright and move over the slippery surface without falling over.
“People actually do this for fun, you say?” Justin growled, as he staggered, slipped, then righted himself at the very last minute.
“Stop trying tostepon the ice and just push your foot forward,” Tess offered with a laugh. “Look, like this.”
Justin scowled at her as she slid past him in a slow, elegant glide.
“Lucien, get off me!” Daisy bellowed, torn between laughter and frustration as her husband stayed close to her side. “I can’t balance with you gripping my arm! Oof!”
Her skates suddenly went in opposite directions and she started to fall, only for Lucien to wrap his arms around her waist in a protective gesture. He caught her as they both fell, twisting so that he cushioned her with his body, but the two of them still ended up in a comical tangle of limbs.
