Lucilla said, thinking back over the decades, “I never allowed him to spend the night after that morning he breathed in my face. Now, enough of my long-ago history. Perhaps after we see Cam married to the most striking young man I’ve ever seen in my life—and after their departure for their honeymoon, you can tell me of your most pleasurable memories.”
Marguerite agreed. The two old friends spoke of the latest titillating scandals, never a shortage of those, drank their tea, spoke of the queen’s babies Victoria and Edward. Lucilla said, “Marguerite, I remember so clearly when little Cam visitedme in Somerset I watched her wriggle out of her clothes and leap into the lily pond, Eliza shrieking at her from shore. I laughed and laughed. And now she is nineteen and shortly to be a wife. How life simply continues and you’re just swept along, unless, of course, you die.
“Now, you told me when you arrived from Bath two days ago, you had nothing to do to assist her. Cam was a whirlwind, she arranged everything, including having poor mad Averil’s own seamstress make her wedding gown, all the while ensuring her sister Eliza’s maid of honor gown was exactly the right shade of lavender she insisted upon.”
“VERY TRUE. SINCE CAM’S WEDDING GOWN IS A PALE SOFT PINK MADE IN SATIN-SILK, THE COLORS COMPLEMENT EACH OTHER. CAM DID CONSIDER WEARING WHITE LIKEQUEENVICTORIA TWO YEARS AGO, BUTELIZA TOLD HER SHE’D LOOK LIKE A DEAD STICK. ALAS, ELIZA’S RIGHT. ITHINK THE PALE PINK IS SPLENDID ON HER. DO YOU KNOW SHE ALSO ARRANGED ALL THE BOUQUETS OF FLOWERS, MAINLY ROSES, ALL THE WHILE HUMMING AND DANCING ABOUT, SHE WAS SO HAPPY? ANDCOOK, SHE WAS PLEASED TO BE ASKED TO MAKECAM’S WEDDING CAKE AND FEED TWO DOZEN GUESTS, SHE WAS SINGINGITALIAN ARIAS AT THE TOP OF HER LUNGS. MY DEARWHIT LAUGHED WHEN HE TOLD ME HOWCAM ANDCOOK WERE ALTERNATELY LAUGHING AND SINGING AND ARGUING OVER THE WEDDING BREAKFAST MENU.”She paused.“DEARWHIT, HE’S HOLDING UP SO WELL, A STIFF UPPER LIP, BLESS HIS STOUT HEART.”
Lucilla said, “Just imagine, Marguerite, our little Cam only met Viscount Whitestone a month ago. Where did you say? On a bench outside Parliament?” She sighed. “It quite makes me want to believe in fate. True love, it blazes bright, makes everyone and everything brighter, more exciting, more alive, every feeling deeper, every word heard and spoken by the other more profound. It never ceases to amaze.” She frowned. “Isn’t it odd Eliza and dear Winstead will still wedin the Fall, all the extravagance you would expect even though it’s possible some will speak of poor Averil’s madness. But by then, I predict no one will really care.”
“ALL ARRANGEMENTS HAVE BEEN IN PLACE FOR SIX MONTHS, NO CHANGING THEM. NOW, I TOLD YOUNGGRAHAM HE WAS NEVER TO GAIN ANY FLESH AROUND HIS MIDDLE ORCAM WOULD SCORN HIM. DO YOU KNOW, HE GRINNED AT ME, PROMISED HE WOULD ADHERE ALL HIS LIVING DAYS TO A MODERATE DIET. ITOLD HIM IF HE DID STRAY HE COULD ADOPTLORDBYRON’S DIET—POTATOES AND VINEGAR. IFEAR HE LOOKED QUITE HORRIFIED.
“IAM VISITINGCAM IN HER HOME ATKING’SHEAD, EARLST. LUCY’S COUNTRY SEAT—NEAR DOVER—IN THREE MONTHS, AFTER THEY’VE HAD A BIT OF TIME TO INDULGE YOUNG LUST AND SETTLE IN TO THEIR NEW HOME. IREMEMBER MEETINGGRAHAM’S GRANDFATHER IN THE OLD DAYS. WHAT A FINE SPECIMEN HE WAS, UNDERSTANDABLE SINCE DEARGRAHAM IS SO SPLENDID. CAM TELLS ME EVERYONE LOOKS AT THE TWO OF THEM AND WHISPERS, BUT NOT LOW ENOUGH SHE CAN’T HEAR—GRAHAM IS THE MORE BEAUTIFUL.” She gave a low, cackling laugh, not loud enough to dislodge her two novels off the marquetry table, thankfully, drank more tea, and set her delicate bone china cup back on its hand-painted saucer. She consulted the small watch in her pocket, and slowly rose. “FINCH!”
Finch came into the small second-floor family room, smiled at the two dear elderly ladies, both splendidly gowned, walked up to Lady Deveraux and said slowly, distinctly, not an inch from her face, “You are a vision, my lady. As are you, Lady Hawson. Allow me to escort you to the top of the stairs, where his lordship will accompany you to the drawing room. All are now gathered. The pianist is already playing quietly, but I fear I have heard some discordant notes since Cook was so happy she gave him a bottle of champagne to drink, which, frankly, he guzzled. But we will hope. His lordship ispresenting a fine brave front given the very sad nature of her ladyship’s condition and her departure to the north. From what I’ve heard, everyone admires his fortitude given what happened to his poor wife. It is of course appropriate the only guests are family and close friends, which shows immense discretion and intelligence.
“It appears Lord Graham’s sister, Lady Eugenie, is becoming fast friends with Lady Eliza. I heard Cilly say Lady Cam was trying not to smack her sister who was telling her not to smile so much, it reeked of ill-breeding, and she needed to push up her bosom.”
“YES, YES, POORAVERIL, SUCH A PITY. NOW, AS FORELIZA, SHE IS LOVELY TO LOOK AT AND HER WATERCOLORS DO NOT MAKE THE EYES BLEED, BUT ALAS, SHE HAS THE DISPOSITION OF A CRAPPED-UPON GOOSE.
“YOU KNOW SHE FULLY EXPECTED TO RULE HER FATHER-IN-LAW’S HOUSE WITH AN IRON FIST, HERS, OF COURSE, AFTER SHE MARRIEDWINSTEAD, A VERY NICE YOUNG MAN ISWINSTEAD AS IS HIS FATHER. YES, SHE FULLY EXPECTED HER WISHES AND ORDERS TO BE THE ONLY ONES TO BE OBEYED.”She grinned like a bandit.“BUT NOW I HAVE HEARDWINSTEAD’S FATHER MARRIED A LOVELY WIDOW WITH SIX CHILDREN. IT’S DELICIOUS—DEARELIZA WITH A MOTHER-IN-LAW WHO WILL RULE OVER HER AND SIX CHILDREN SWARMING THE HOUSE. WHAT IS EVEN MORE DELICIOUS ISWINSTEAD IS QUITE PLEASED FOR HIS FATHER. AH, POOR LAD WILL BE BETWIXT AND BETWEEN. DID YOU KNOWELIZA CALLSWINSTEADWINNIE? LIKE A HORSE?” And Lady Deveraux punched Finch’s arm and laughed and laughed. She caught her breath, patted Finch’s shoulder. “AS FOR YOU, FINCH, I MUST SAY YOU ARE A HANDSOME FIGURE OF A MAN TODAY.”
Finch thanked her, offered each precious old dear an arm. “Your kindness overwhelms, my lady. Now, I believe all bespeaks a lovely wedding on this very fine day.”
CHAPTER 42
The Royal Hotel
Ventnor, Isle of Wight
At last they were alone in the amazing suite of rooms on the top floor of The Royal Hotel. Graham unfastened Cam’s dark green pelisse and laid it carefully on a chair back. Together, they looked through the narrow front windows that gave onto a wide sandy beach and the English Channel, although since it was full-on dark and there was no moon to speak of, they saw nothing at all. They did hear the occasional squawks from ducks sitting beside the wooden fence next to a wide stone path leading down to the beach. This fence and the birds were mentioned to them by Mr. French, the extraordinarily voluble manager of The Royal Hotel who’d escorted them personally to their handsome accommodation. He congratulated them on their union, talked volubly about the short history of The Royal and didn’t stop there—he continued to wax eloquent about the splendid views of the coastline that would greet their eyes in the morning. They dutifully admired the lavish drawing room and theirlarge bedchamber with attached dressing rooms, pointed to the smaller bedchambers for Cilly and Nutworthy, Graham’s new valet, a cousin of Earl St. Lucy’s long-time valet Terrance.
And lastly, he proudly showed them the water closet and attached bathing room.
Two liveried young porters had brought up their luggage under Mr. French’s eagle eye, as well as Cilly’s and Nutworthy’s.
Mr. French nodded to the two young porters, and said, “A storm is expected tonight, but tomorrow, so the sailors assure us, we will enjoy the return of our splendid warm weather, unlike England proper, raining at the drop of a hat, but here, yes here, we will enjoy bright sun, so healthy, you know. You will doubtless want to enjoy a lovely walk on the beach and of course a stroll through our renowned south-facing gardens.” He smiled at them, gave a sharp bow, and left the suite, herding the two young porters.
Cam whirled about, so pleased, so happy, she couldn’t stand still. She hugged her new husband close, kissed his chin, laughed, “Can you believe there is a water closet, Graham? Though mentioning it was a bit daring of Mr. French. Oh my, this is luxury indeed. At last Mr. French took himself off. We are alone, husband, for the very first time in absolutely forever we are really alone. Even on the train people were close by, porters hovered, but not now. Ah, husband—what an excellent word—a delicious sound to the ear. It’s been an incredible day, Graham, most all of it perfect except for the few minutes Eliza drew me aside and told me Eugenie, yes, your older sister, believes I did not have enough modesty for this occasion, that I was too exuberant, too free with my smiles and Eliza said she agreed with her. Do you know what I did?”
Graham stared down at her, gently pushed up her glasses. “Tell me, what did you do?”
Cam laughed. “I gave her a big kiss, told her she was beautiful in lavender and asked her to wish me well. And do you know what? She was so taken aback, she did.
“Oh my, Graham, I nearly swallowed my tongue when I saw you standing next to the vicar when I came into the drawing room, our families and close friends sitting there, turning to stare at me. I believed you the most beautiful man I’d ever seen in my life. I didn’t tell you earlier because you might have puffed up in conceit.” She touched her fingertips to his beloved face. “But now, you may puff up all you please. You looked so splendid, my lord—ah, how I love the sound of that. When you told my father who you really were—the Earl St. Lucy’s long-lost son—I thought he would pop his vest buttons, he was so pleased, and frankly, relieved, and perfectly willing to overlook your made-up name and background. And there was Mr. Sherbrooke standing next to you, proud as a peacock, grinning from ear to ear, nodding to his brother, to the Earl of Northcliffe, who’s really very impressive.
“Goodness, when I realized I actually had to walk into the drawing room, I was afraid I would trip on my gown and fall on my face since I wasn’t wearing my glasses, maybe break my nose or worse, vomit since my stomach was jumping about like beans in a shaking jar, and I knew when I had to speak my feelings to you, I would stutter, my knees would knock together loud as St. Paul’s bell—” She came to an abrupt halt, cleared her throat. “Then you looked at me and smiled. Those glorious wild blue eyes of yours made me want to run and leap at you.” A beautiful hank of hair had come loose from the braids wound atop her head and lay provocatively against her cheek. He gently lifted the hair, smoothed the silk between his fingers, and smiled down at her.
“I was lucky I didn’t have to walk in those two-inchslippers of yours, all I had to do was stand there and try not to shudder myself into the floor. You’re mine now, Cam, at last. It seems I’ve known you forever and now you’re my wife, a miracle of fate, and yet such a short time ago I didn’t know you existed.” He wrapped the thick hank of hair around his hand, pulled her close. “You are amazing, and now you belong to me. You’re my wife, amazing really, since before I met you I hadn’t even thought of marrying. You’re beautiful and remarkable and—best of all?”
She stared up at him. “And best of all?”
“And best of all you can speak a hundred words without pausing for breath or a period. You give me all the information I need in a minimum amount of time. If ever we argue in the future, you will doubtless win since I will be fascinated just listening to you.”
She gave this some thought. “Do you know Father wanted to count my words once? He told me my mother spoke exactly the same way, everything came out of her mouth at once. Oh dear, do you really think we will argue? I can’t imagine what we would have to argue about. You are rarely a dolt.”
“Thank you. I shall try for a record. Cam, when I saw you standing in the doorway, then walk—no, you nearly skipped on those two-inch slippers—into the drawing room, I nearly keeled over at the sight of you. Ryder had to steady me up or I might have swooned right there in front of Vicar Piercebridge. But you want to know what really pleases me as your husband?”
His lovely words settled sweetly, deeply, into her, and she wanted to kiss him with all the breath she had. “What really pleases you?”
