Cam dreamed that night the statue’s eyes were staring at her and she saw malevolence.
“Wake up, Cam, you’re having a nightmare.” Graham stroked his hands up and down her back, keeping her close. “It was a bad accident. We survived.” She shuddered against him. He loved her again and she fell into a dreamless sleep, sated.
CHAPTER 47
Whitsonby House
Ormond Square
London
One week and a half later
Cilly said, “You haven’t stopped humming and grinning like a loon since—well, since the beginning of your official married life. I saw Eliza staring at you, her eyebrows nearly meeting over her eyes. Claudine told me her mood has been foul since you and Graham returned yesterday.”
Cam couldn’t help it, a ready smile bloomed. Cilly was right. A smile seemed to be her constant companion since her honeymoon in Ventnor and she’d learned the amazing virtuosity of a man who knew what was what, and loved her. The combination was enough to make her want to dance even with Averil if the witch were here, she was just that happy. She said, “If Winstead is as, well, talented as Graham, she’ll have no more foul moods, and wouldn’t that be something? But why is her mood foul now, Cilly? I have done absolutely nothing to upset her.”
Cilly patted the plaited braids atop her head, then wove in a pale blue ribbon, a perfect match to her new silk morning gown. Graham particularly liked it. It was loose fitting, with no corset beneath, hallelujah, and his hands could mold her and knead her and open the buttons and pull the gown over her head in but a moment. She gave a little shudder.
Cilly stared at her, rolled her eyes. “Surely you’ve seen her mood is foul when you’re happy and everyone around you is happy for you.”
“But since Averil left, Eliza rules the house again. I don’t. I’m simply a visitor.”
“As I said, you’re happy and the whole mood of the house is different now that you and his lordship have come home. There’s joy, Cam, in every single corner. It drives her quite mad, makes her nasty to all the servants, but they only shrug because, simply, you and Lord Graham are here.”
Cam shook her head. “That makes no sense. Who wants a black cloud when if one waits long enough in London, there’ll be a bright sun.” She sighed. “I’ve never understood why Eliza dislikes me. Well, she won’t have to suffer my presence for a good long while since we’re leaving for King’s Head next week.” She paused, “At least she’s polite to Graham.”
“Who wouldn’t be? He’s charming, full of bonhomie, smiling as much as you are.” Cilly stepped back. “There, you are perfection. Now go down and have your breakfast. If Eliza is there, I wonder if her eggs will curdle when she sees the lovely glow on your face.”
“Now there’s a thought.” Cam rose, put on her glasses and studied herself. As she smoothed the gown although it didn’t need it, she thought of the previous night when she and Graham had nearly run from the drawing room at precisely ten o’clock to her bedchamber, trying not to laugh too loudly. They were still fatigued from their journey from the Isle of Wight, yes, it had been two days, but still—and Camhad yawned. Of course everyone knew, her father in particular, but he’d only nodded, saying nothing, for which Cam was profoundly grateful.
Cam passed the tweeny Alice on her way downstairs, smiled and asked her about her mother who’d sprained her wrist. Cam smiled and bid good day to Osbourne who smiled back at her, showing a gold tooth in the back of his mouth, and bowed.
Cam was surprised to see both her father and Eliza in the dining room. “Good morning, Papa, Eliza,” she sang out as she seated herself. “What an amazing morning, don’t you think?”
“It’s raining,” Eliza said.
Whit regarded his daughter as he chewed on a roll. “It’s London, of course it’s raining. My dear Cam, Graham and I will be leaving to have a meeting with two new investors for our factory in Manchester, even though we don’t really need their funds, but word gets around, you know, everyone wants to be part of it.” He consulted his watch. “I believe your husband is adjusting some of the plans in my study as we speak, said he got an improved scheme for the boiler from you, Cam.”
She bloomed. “Oh yes, we discussed fire-tube boilers, which as you know are not only smaller, they’re more compact and will be easily assembled in your factory. Graham was up early, well, not all that early, really, lots to accomplish before adjusting the fire-tube design. He was very excited.”
Eliza continued placidly eating her single coddled egg. “Winnie will never leave my side once we’re married, for at least a month, unless, of course, I want him to. You’ve only been married a week and a half and yet he’s scribbling silly train designs, his mind clearly not on you. I daresay he can’t wait to leave with Father.” She took a bite of a small sausage, a bread roll with only a dollop of Cook’s homemade preserves, strawberry this morning.
Her opening salvo was really quite good. Cam gave her father a slight head shake when she saw he was going to say something. “Well, Eliza, not exactly,” and smiled.
Eliza frowned at her. “What do you mean, not exactly?”
Whit cleared his throat, “That’s not important, my dear. Now, Cam, Graham told me he hoped the meeting wouldn’t last overly long since he wants to take you riding. Mr. Sherbrooke sent over Graham’s bay gelding, Stanley. He’s magnificent, a good seventeen hands high. He’s settled right into the stable. Mr. Lacy is quite impressed with his appetite. He wants to exercise Stanley himself.” Whit consulted his watch, stood. “My dears, I will see you later.”
Graham appeared in the doorway, his eyes immediately going to Cam. She met his eyes, swallowed too fast, choked, and grabbed her tea. He walked quickly to her, never looking away, rubbed his hand up and down her back until she had her breath back. “All right?”
“Oh yes.”
He leaned down, kissed her forehead. “No, don’t get up. I will see you later. Eliza,” he added to her sister and was off with her father.
Eliza said, “A lady shouldn’t drink so quickly and choke. It is displeasing to everyone.”
“I imagine so,” Cam said, “but the fact is if I happen to see my husband, it’s difficult to do anything but—well, stare at him he is so beautiful.” She gave a little shiver. “He looks at me and I lose every thought in my head. Don’t you agree?”
