Estelle had actually begun to fear for Linette’s health from the smudges under her eyes, even though Adam, Viscount Linley, still working as a physician along with overseeing his estate in Wiltshire, had reassured them that she was fine. He was clearly devoted to her, the two of them very much in love,but perhaps he couldn’t admit to himself that Linette wasn’t as well as he wanted to believe.
In a way, Estelle couldn’t help blaming herself. It had been her idea to return to the seaside cottage where Valentin had taken her after saving her from drowning when she’d plunged into the waves to rescue poor Luther. Linette had kindly agreed to accompany her there, and those evil men had come uponthem and threatened such heinous things that Estelle had fainted from terror.
Thank God, too. She had been spared seeing Linette shot in the shoulder during their rescue by Donovan and Adam, a wound that had nearly cost Linette her life. Maybe there hadn’t been a child yet because her health still suffered, no matter what Adam had said…
Her excitement dampened by that unhappy thought, Estellewas grateful when Corie came toward her in a soft whoosh of lavender silk and held out her hand.
“I believe the sea air and a change of surroundings will do Linette good,” she said quietly as if reading Estelle’s mind. “You, too, always so busy taking care of everyone but yourself.”
“Just like you once did in the parish, though I’ve yet to dabble in fair trading—”
“There will be no more Eastonwomen involved in smuggling,” Donovan interjected, throwing her a feigned stern look. “Damnation, Corie! Perhaps this invitation has come just in time.”
“Yes, and we’ve much to do,” Corie agreed as she drew Estelle to her feet. “You’ll need a new wardrobe, so a visit to the best seamstress in the village, Mrs. Polkinghorne, is at the top of the list. Of course we must speak with Papa, and makearrangements for others to tend to your duties while you’re gone. But first, if you’d go to the kitchen and let the messenger know we’ll have a firm reply for him within a few days. We should have heard from Linette and Adam by then. Tell the man we have a room for him until he sets out again, will you? It will give you a chance to practice your French.”
Estelle nodded, wild exhilaration fillingher.
She would be attending a royal coronation for Prince Valentin! At last she would see him again! She threw her arms around Corie to hug her, and then fairly flew out of the library.
***
“We can’t tell her, Donovan. If she knows the truth, she’ll feel so miserable that she will refuse to go. You know she already blames herself for what happened to Linette.”
Still staring at the doorthat had just shut behind Estelle, Corie heard her husband’s resigned sigh and turned to meet his eyes.
Somber. Subdued. His mood much like hers in spite of her youngest sister’s elation at this unexpected news from Prince Valentin Chevalier.
In truth, they had feared him dead since they had received a letter that he intended to return to Bratavia to surrender to his uncle. A weather-stainedletter that had somehow been mislaid and taken several months to reach them…and too late for Donovan to do anything to change Valentin’s mind.
He had made his brave sacrifice by then, prompted by Donovan writing to let him know of the men who had come looking for him and what they’d done to Linette and Estelle. Valentin had revealed in his letter that he couldn’t bear that any of them might sufferharm again on his account.
So they had decided not to tell anyone about Valentin’s decision, believing the truth too brutal. Instead, Estelle had thought all this time that he was a fugitive, while Donovan had long assured her that the lack of correspondence, other than Valentin’s first letter to say he was safe, was for the best.
“Oh, Donovan, I can’t imagine what he must have suffered, butat least now we know he’s alive,” Corie said as she reached out to grasp his hand.
She always drew strength from him, and she knew, he from her. At once he enfolded her in his arms, the two of them silent as they held each other. She knew Estelle would return soon from the kitchen, so finally, sighing, she drew back to look up into her husband’s beloved face.
“She’ll discover the truth soonenough. I hope she’ll understand why we kept it from her and forgive us.”
“I believe she will,” Donovan said softly, pressing a kiss to her temple and then another to her brow. “In the meantime, my darling wife, let’s share in her joy. It’s no small thing, attending a coronation for a prince. Valentin must remember us fondly to have sent a royal invitation…perhaps quite fondly.”
Corie saw itthen, a teasing glimmer in his eyes that sent a delicious shiver plummeting to her toes. “You’re doing it again, aren’t you? Playing the matchmaker for another of my sisters—”
“What if I am? What was that pledge you and Lindsay made years ago? Not to marry anyone less—”
“Than the man of our dreams,” Corie finished for him, winding her arms around his neck.
“Exactly. We both know that Estellehasn’t stopped thinking about Valentin for the past two years. Why else would she refuse attending her first Season this year, if not that her mind has been captivated by him? Her heart may not be so smitten, but who can say what might happen when she sees him again?”
“Shh, she’s coming back!” Disengaging herself from her husband’s embrace, Corie spun around as the door flew open to reveal Estellelooking as happy as she’d ever seen her.
Her face flushed pink, her eyes dancing with excitement, her rosy lips curved into a brilliant smile. Before Estelle could utter a word, Corie rushed forward and grabbed her by the hand.
“On to Mrs. Polkinghorne’s, shall we?”
