“Hardly,” Alice agreed. “From what you say, I can only conclude he didn’t get us caught on purpose in order to trap me in particular.”
“No, I don’t think so,” Lady McKennel said. “I believe he wanted to marry me for my fortune, but you are so lovely, he couldn’t keep his gaze from wandering.”
“In that case, our being caught by the party’s host was equally unfortunate for Richard as for me. He certainly burned through a great deal of money and needed quite a bit more, money which I couldn’t provide.”
“The incident was extremely lucky for me,” Lady McKennel agreed, “to have escaped him. But I should not have let you marry him, either. I ought to have warned you that he had a streak of irresponsibility and disrepute which my father had lately noticed. At the least, I could have gone to your parents to tell them my fears.”
Alice shook her head. “That wouldn’t have done any good.” She wouldn’t bother explaining her parents’ disinterest in thedetails, with their only thought being one of gratitude that Alice would be married and off their hands.
“It is all of no matter any longer. Everything worked out as it should have. And in the end, you have your fine Lord McKennel” — she nodded to the handsome Scot who stood nearby — “and I have my Lord Diamond, who was worth going through hell and back for.”
“I am glad you came back from it,” Lady McKennel said, again squeezing Alice’s hand.
Alice decided then and there she would make an effort to have a friendship with this gentle woman, even if it was long-distance through letters.
When she again found Adam, who welcomed her to his side with a wink as he held out his hand, her heart was lighter than it had been in years.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Christmas in Caversham was not possible that year. After settling into their townhouse on Arlington Street as a newly wedded couple, Adam and Alice watched the year come swiftly to an end. They had no time to make an extended trip to Stonely Grange and choose furnishings, wallpaper, and paint.
In short, the Grange was in no condition to host a massive Diamond Christmas.
Thus, Adam had the pleasure of taking his pregnant wife to Oak Grove Hall in Derby for her first extended-family house party.
He thought, perhaps, Alice was relieved not to be in charge during her first year as his wife. Not only did growing a babe sap her energy, but she was still not as comfortable hosting gatherings as his mother and sisters were.
Besides, it gave him more time simply to coddle and cherish her. Thus, while merry, familial chaos reigned all around them, they took walks in the crisp air, skated on the frozen pond, and sat drinking mugs of hot milk punch or an apple toddy. Naturally, there was also plenty of beef tea and, when one needed a cool beverage, frothy eggnog.
Alongside the daily air of merriment, there were also platters of sugar cookies and ginger biscuits, toffee cakes, and pear tarts on every table and sideboard. Adam would swear he had put on a stone’s weight at least in the week they’d been there, and they had another week to go.
“Happy?” he asked his wife, who had never looked more relaxed since he’d met her.
“Yes,” she hissed out the last letter as she smiled. “And after another half hour of doing nothing, I shall find some paper from your mother’s study and pen a letter to Lady Beasley and her daughters.”
“Whyever for?” he asked. “Do they owe you back wages?”
They both laughed at that.
“They asked after me in Lady Beasley’s recent missive to your mother. Wasn’t that kind? They are all ever so happy for us.”
“Are they?” Adam was a little surprised after his final conversation with Lady Beasley.
“Indeed, yes,” she said. “When next we go to Bath, we are invited to visit them.”
Since they had decided to keep his maternal grandparents’ Royal Crescent home, it was a real possibility they would be back in Bath the following summer. First, they intended to spend the spring at Stonely Grange, preparing it to be lived in. His family was champing at the bit to descend upon Alice’s home and explore where new little Diamonds would be raised for some part of each year.
“If you wish to visit Lord and Lady Beasley or the Queen herself, I shall be pleased to go with you.”
That night, they helped decorate the tree in the main drawing room, and Adam had never enjoyed a Christmas eve more than that one.
He even won at Snap-Dragon, although he considered it a waste of good brandy seeing it going up in blue flames for thesake of a few raisins and a party game. Much later, in the room he’d always been assigned since he was born, Adam snuggled under extra blankets with Alice, her back to his front, with him curled around her.
Swiving had been as intense as ever, despite her slightly rounded stomach. Now, as they drifted off to sleep, he happily played with her full breasts, stroking her curves while she sighed happily.
“Merry Christmas, Husband,” she said, and although his desire roared to life again at her sultry, drowsy tone, he didn’t act upon it. Alice needed more sleep than she used to.
“Merry Christmas, Wife.” And soon after, he heard her gentle snoring.
