“May I have your attention. Please?” Joan interrupted as they all took a seat in the parlor, Elizabeth’s father joining them.
“Now, I will admit I took a risk in sending out invitations, but clearly it paid off, and this weekend we will have a delightful little—”
“You don’t do ‘little’ anything,” Collin broke in.
“Ball,” Joan finished. Then she turned to Elizabeth. “Do you see why he vexes me?”
“Yes, I understand,” Elizabeth replied, earning Collin’s scrutiny. “What? You knew this about me already.”
“The two of you, stop working together on everything. Give me a chance to settle down for a moment. I just arrived.”
Elizabeth patted his arm and smiled. “Forgive me.”
“You’re the lesser problem here.” He studied his sister.
She ignored him. “So, this weekend, as I was saying, will be the ball and it will be lovely and you can announce your engagement,” she finished.
Collin grinned as suddenly it all made sense. “Brilliant idea.”
Joan beamed. “I knew you’d see it that way.”
“I assume you’ve taken Elizabeth shopping?” He regarded Elizabeth with a warm gaze. A ballhe could take or leave, except a ball in honor of his engagement to Elizabeth, informing all of London that he was ending his bachelor days? That was indeed a ball he’d love to celebrate.
“Yes, however I’m not to tell you any details of the dress.” Joan gave a wicked smile. “As your penance for making me worry so.”
Collin regarded her. “I suppose I won’t harass you for the details then.”
“You’re going to be quite pleased.”
“I have no doubt.” And that was the truth. He had questioned many things weeks, even days ago. But there was one decision he hadn’t questioned once: Elizabeth in his life.
As he met her eyes and reached over to grasp her hand, he felt the truth of it anew.
“No doubt at all,” he whispered for her ears only.
“Now, if you please, what happened in Cambridge?”
Collin took a slow breath, and told the tale, leaving out a few names and details to keep the questions to a minimum. Also, he could read the worry in Elizabeth’s eyes, and there was no need to make it worse. All was well.
Finally.
All was well.
Thirty-three
The thoughts that come often unsought, and, as it were, drop into the mind, are commonly the most valuable of any we have.
—John Locke, Letter to Samuel Bold, May 16, 1699
They had just finished dinner that evening when, rather than adjourning to separate rooms for the men and ladies, Collin had suggested an evening stroll in the small courtyard. To Elizabeth’s great delight, her father had declined, along with her soon-to be brother- and sister-in-law. Collin ushered her out into the cool evening.
“Finally.” Elizabeth breathed the word out with feeling.
Collin broke into a laugh, pulling her close as he kissed the top of her head. “My sentiments exactly.”
“You know, before we were betrothed, we had more time alone.” She smiled up at him, giggling softly.
“I do believe you’re right.”
