Pushing aside her worries, Thea said, “Thanks to you. If it weren’t for you, Madame Rousseau would never have made my wedding dress on rush order.”
“Marianne has a knack for wedding planning.” For some reason, Ambrose’s eyes gleamed with humor as at he looked at his wife.
“We all have our talents,” Marianne said demurely, “and I think our rose garden will make the perfect spot for the wedding brunch. It was your father’s favorite place.”
Thea remembered how much Papa had loved having his tea outside, surrounded by the bright blooms and humming insects. She knew she would feel his presence when her special day came. Her throat thickened.
Please watch over me and Gabriel, Papa. Please don’t let us make a terrible mistake.
“Since Marianne has the wedding itself in hand,” Emma put in, “Strathaven and I wanted to contribute something different. We thought you might enjoy a stay at our hunting lodge in Scotland. It’s a beautiful and private place, perfect for a wedding trip. And as Freddy is doing so well, he could make the trip too.”
That had been the one bright spot in Thea’s week. Dr. Abernathy’s fasting and dietary protocol seemed to be working wonders. The physician had predicted that if there were to be positive results, they would be immediate. Like a miracle, Freddy hadn’t had a single spell since he’d begun treatment. Even Gabriel had evinced grudging surprise and guarded hope.
“Freddy could stay with us at Strathmore,” Emma went on. “It’s just an hour away from the lodge, so you can check in on him whenever you’d like.”
“May I come too, Aunt Emma?” A dab of cream clung to Edward’s upper lip. “I could keep Freddy company. We’ll be cousins, after all.”
As expected, he and Freddy had become fast friends. In fact, they were so inseparable that Violet had nicknamed the pair “Fredward.”
Marianne motioned at her lip, and Edward hastily wiped his mouth.
“Of course you may,” Emma said, “if your parents agree.”
“As lovely as it sounds, a trip to Scotland will have to wait,” Thea said. “Tremont wants to return to Hampshire once the business in London is complete.”
“After all the man’s been through lately, I can’t blame him. I’m sure all he wants is to settle in with his new bride,” Ambrose said. “To enjoy some much deserved peace and domesticity.”
To her horror, Thea felt her smile wobble.
Her brother frowned, his gaze darting swiftly to Marianne. Time and again, Thea had seen the pair engage in such wordless communication, as if they could read each other’s thoughts.
What if Gabriel and I never achieve such intimacy? Or any intimacy at all?
“Ambrose, darling, why don’t you take everyone outside for a stroll in the square?” Marianne said. “Emma, Thea, and I have wedding matters to discuss.”
Ambrose put down his napkin. “Capital idea, my love. Come along, everyone.”
The younger Kents tromped out after him, leaving Thea with Marianne and Emma.
Without preamble, Marianne said, “How are you, dear?”
To Thea’s dismay, heat pushed behind her eyes. “Why do you ask?” she said, fumbling for her reticule.
Emma passed her handkerchief. “Because you’ve looked on the edge of tears all week. Having a case of the bridal jitters, dear?”
Knowing that her feelings had been visible to all made her feel even more wretched.
“I don’t know if it’s jitters or not,” she said, her voice hitching. “But Tremont and I—we had an argument. And I don’t know… I don’t know if he’ll ever love me.”
With that, she burst into tears.
Emma rubbed her back. “There, there now. Let it all out. We’re here to listen.”
In between halting breaths, Thea shared the marriage pact she’d made with Gabriel. She had to edit out the intimate details, of course, but she disclosed that she’d let words of love slip out and his reaction to them. She spoke of his increasing coldness, their recent disagreement.
“The gist of it is, I thought he was falling in love with me and just couldn’t say the words,” she concluded, sniffling. “I thought because he’d been a spy, he’d learned to block out his emotions to survive, and I believed it was just a matter of unlearning the tendency. I thought if we had honesty and trust, he’d come to love me eventually. But now I’m wondering if all of that was wishful thinking on my part.”
“His reaction to your declaration of lovewasrather Siberian,” Marianne said.
