Chapter 14
“Oh, Aunt Linette, I’m so happy you remember my birthday party again! Isn’t it wonderful for all of us to be together?”
Linette couldn’t help but smile at Paloma, who sat next to her at the dining table that didn’t appear quite so massive with her family and dear friends gathered around it.
Her father sat on Linette’s other side, beaming to have all of his beloved daughtersunder one roof. Jared and Lindsay with their two fair-haired children sat opposite her, Justin, five and a half, and Cecelia, almost four, squirming in their seats now that everyone had finished Paloma’s favorite iced lemon cake.
Walker and Marguerite sat further down past Paloma, Marguerite holding their nearly three-year-old son, Dwight, the very image of his handsome father with his raven-blackhair. Donovan presided at the head of the table with twins Draydon and Dahlia, turned six in February, flanking him. Corie sat at the opposite end cuddling one-year-old Adele atop her lap, while Estelle on her right reached down to pet Luther.
Everyone laughing and smiling and celebrating with Linette that she felt so much better, her memory fully regained and even the headaches no longer plaguingher. How could she possibly be sad? She wouldn’t allow it, no, not even when the one she longed to see again had been gone for ten days now, through Easter last weekend and the past few days when everyone had arrived at Arundale Hall with luggage, children, and nannies in tow.
In truth, Linette’s unflagging hope that Adam would return had dimmed as the hours had ticked by to the special dinnerCorie had planned for six o’clock.
Donovan had refused to do more than send a letter of invitation to Linley Grove the day after Adam had stormed out; as far as Linette knew, her brother-in-law had received no response from him and didn’t know if Adam had returned to Wiltshire or not to see his dying father. Donovan had told her only that if Adam came back, it would be of his own volition withno intervention from him.
Perhaps he never received the invitation, Linette found herself thinking for the hundredth time though she refused to let heartache overwhelm her. Especially not when her father reached over to give her hand a warm squeeze.
“I’m so thankful you are well again, Linette. So very thankful all my prayers have been answered. My daughters safe and sound. Corie and Margueriteso happily married and soon you—”
“Papa, perhaps you’d like to join Donovan in the library,” Corie burst in, startling Linette as her eldest sister threw the oddest glance at Donovan at the other end of the table. He nodded and abruptly rose.
“Jared, Walker. A brandy?”
Linette felt she had scarcely blinked before the men departed while nannies swept into the dining room to gather the children.None of them made a peep of protest, their tummies full and their eyes growing sleepy. Only Paloma was allowed to remain as Corie suggested that the women retire to the drawing room.
With the swish of silk and satin, Linette found herself flanked by Marguerite and Estelle, who looped their arms through hers and drew her along with them into the foyer.
“Your gown is lovely, Linette,” said Marguerite,resplendent herself in a plum-colored confection that complemented the rich shade of her hair, like Estelle’s more red than brown. “The pink satin so brings out the color of your eyes—”
“I helped Corie pick out the fabric, along with my apricot silk,” broke in Estelle as they entered the drawing room, Luther skittering past them to plop onto his cushion next to the loveseat. Linette had the strangestsense that her family was somehow trying to distract her, her sisters and niece fluttering around her like butterflies.
“Sit here, Linette!” Paloma, so pretty in blue-dotted muslin, patted the chair next to her own, while Corie, in a shimmering turquoise gown, remained by the door.
Facing into the room, Linette sat down while Marguerite and Estelle settled themselves on the loveseat across fromher, both of them glancing past her to Corie and then back again.
Whatever was the matter with them? Estelle fidgeted as if she couldn’t quite contain herself, only to gasp when the tall clock in the corner chimed half past seven.
“Estelle?”
Her sister didn’t answer her, instead clapping her hand over her mouth as Linette glanced over her shoulder to see Corie disappear from the doorway. Sheheard it then, the closing of the front door and the din of male voices echoing in the foyer, a deep voice in particular making her heart seem to stop.
Oh, Lord…might it be?
Trembling, she rose from the chair and spun around as a footman loudly announced, “Lord Linley of Wiltshire!”
Linette couldn’t move even as her sisters and Paloma rose, too, all of them staring at the open doorway as footstepscame closer…and then he was there.
Adam. Not dressed at all as he had before in unassuming attire befitting a doctor, but in a formal black overcoat, starched white cravat, copper-hued brocade waistcoat, and black trousers, as if to attend a ball. He bowed his head gallantly, his hazel eyes riveted upon her face as he extended his hand to her.
“Miss Easton, will you accompany me out to the garden?”
She thought to run to him and throw herself into his arms. Somehow she made herself walk toward him, though she sucked in her breath when his fingers touched hers.
So strong, so warm. He looked so serious, too, but his gaze was filled with open admiration as he led her toward the double doors leading into the garden.
As if by unseen hands they opened, Linette no more aware that footmen had appearedto throw them wide as that her family followed not far behind them.
She felt caught in a spell, just her and Adam walking together toward the marble pavilion at one end of the garden. The heady scent of lilacs hung in the air as the setting sun’s last rays cast a pink glow all around them.
