Mon Dieu. “Weareeloping. It’s settled. You told me to give marriage a chance, and I am.”
Lydia stood, her breath huffing from her nose. “You are making a terrible mistake,ma soeur.You hardly know him. You have almost two whole months before the clause must be satisfied. Why not wait and have a proper wedding? Be practical. Besensible, for once in your life!”
Eliza dropped Lydia’s hands. “We cannot wait. Lord Eastleigh has threatened to file notice of eviction by the end of the month. Malcolm will lose his house, everything. We must be married quickly in order for me to pay the debt and save Havenwood Manor. He can’t lose that house.”
“What aboutyourhouse?” Lydia gestured to the room, her eyes feverish. “You can live here. Hmm? What is wrong with that? If he loves you, your house will be just as suitable.”
“I had planned on giving Sherbourne House to you.” Eliza turned away and sat to tie on her walking boots. “You and Clarence will be betrothed soon. I can feel it. I meant to give it to you as a wedding gift.”
“There’s room enough for all of us here! I can’t understand.” Lydia stalked through the room. “I don’t know what you see in him or that godforsaken house with its bad mojo.” She made a dramatic sweep with her arms. “It rolls off that place, Liza. I feel sick to my stomach just walking past its gates.”
“You’re being ridiculous.” Eliza stood and straightened her jacket. “It’s only a house.”
“Mais oui!It is only a house.” Lydia’s face glistened with tears. “And what of the man? He’s the same ilk as Eastleigh, only in more clever clothes. Of that, I am certain. Oh, Liza. I beg of you—please do not do this.”
At Lydia’s tears, Eliza melted. She went to her little sister and pulled her into her arms. Lydia pushed against her at first, and then stilled. “Do you know? I still remember the day Mimi Lisette first let me hold you.”
“Don’t talk about Mimi. Not now.”
“You were so small, and I felt so big compared to you.” Eliza remembered Mimi’s soft hand in hers as she stood next to Lydia’s crib, looking through the slats at the big-eyed baby with the red face and angry little fists. Mimi had lifted Lydia from the mattress and led Eliza to the rocking chair, where she carefully placed the swaddled babe in Eliza’s arms.Rock her gently, my little Liza. She is your petite fleur. You will always have one another.With Eliza’s steady rocking, Lydia had quieted and drifted into a contented sleep, her little hand curled around Eliza’s thumb.
Tears sprung to Eliza’s eyes. She drew back to look at Lydia and pushed the rain-crinkled curls away from her face. “We will always have each other, cher. Mimi was right about that. Just because I’m marrying Malcolm doesn’t mean you’re losing me. That’s what you’re most afraid of, isn’t it?”
“Well. You’ll be too busy keeping company with your new husband to think about me anymore.”
“I’m only going to be down the road—a quick Sunday stroll away.”
“It’s going to be lonely here. Too quiet.”
“You’ll have your nurse training to keep you busy. And Clarence!”
Lydia’s face softened. “I suppose you think you love him, or at least you love the idea of him. I just ... I worry. Something doesn’t feel right.”
“The rumors aren’t true, Lyddie. Malcolm has only had a difficult life. A life just as full of sorrow as our own. It’s made him a pariah, and it’s unjust. I can right some of his wrongs. His debt is such a small thing, after all. I want this marriage, and him, more than anything I’ve ever wanted. Iknowit’s right. Please believe me.”
Lydia drew in a shaky breath, her lips curving into a sad smile. “You must learn to see these things on your own, in time. I will do my best to lock my worries inside.”
“Do I have your blessing, then?”
“As much as I can give.”
“Good.” Eliza kissed Lydia’s forehead. “Do you know the very best part?”
“What?”
“Tomorrow, you’ll have this entire house to do with as you wish. You can finally take down that damned cuckoo clock.”
CHAPTER 14
“You are mywife.” Malcolm kissed Eliza’s bare shoulder and pulled her close. The rains had returned, beating against the gambrel roof of Havenwood Manor, soaking the ground and chilling the air enough that they’d lit a fire in the hearth, illuminating Eliza’s new bedchamber with jumping, coppery light.
“Our secret wedding is bound to cause a stir.”
“We’ll deal with the ridiculous society mess later,” he said, rolling her onto her back. He took her hand and played with the simple pearl ring on her finger before kissing it. “For now, I only want to enjoy the fact that you’re really here, and not some pleasant dream I’m bound to wake from.”
They’d married shortly after midnight, following a frenzied ride to Basingstoke, where one of Malcolm’s old schoolmates worked as a magistrate. The wedding had been hastily done and uneventful, witnessed only by the magistrate’s sleepy wife and Mr.Mason, who had driven them in his farm wagon as they hid in the back. After their covert return through the service gates of Havenwood Manor, Malcolm had carried her up the stairs. They’d spent every hour since in bed, much to Eliza’s delight, even though she was now starving.
“Have you ever wondered how many times a person could make love in a single night before they’re overcome with hunger and exhaustion?” she asked.
