He gently flicked her cheek. “I can look after myself.”
She sighed, wishing he would say he couldn’t live without her, but she no longer expected such fulsome declarations of love. Somehow his assertion that her absence would be a distraction, or worse, a penance, failed to reassure her. She went to open the armoire. “Something simpler, you say.”
He came to her side, surprising her even more. He’d never shown much interest in choosing her clothes. He reached inside. “What about this one?”
“The watered silk?” Laura took the luscious gown from its hanger, red threads glinting among the russet and gold. “It’s hardly what I’d call simple.”
“It’s perfect. You’ll look magnificent. Come to my room. I have something for you.”
Laura followed him through the open panel. She glanced at the bed they had never shared. It was odd to feel a strangerhere.
Nathaniel pulled out a drawer on the rosewood chiffonier and took out a gold-edged leather case. “I’ve had these cleaned and reset. I brought them back with me from London this last trip.”
The parure was of a ruby and diamond necklace, diamond bracelet and earrings, and was absolutelybreathtaking.
“Oh, but it’s exquisite! She removed the necklace, holding it up to the light to gaze into the fathomless ruby depths. “Why haven’t you shown these to me?”
“I wanted to surprise you.”
“You’ve certainly done that.” Laura laughed. “Were you waiting until I was well behaved enough to deserve them?”
Nathaniel chuckled. “I’m too impatient to wait that long.”
“Oh, you!” Laura pouted at him. “You don’t deserve such a good wife.”
His smile faded. “No, most likely I don’t.”
“I was only joking, darling.” She threw her arms around his neck and kissedhim.
He returned her kiss, pulling her close. “Wear them tonight.”
She laughed. “But didn’t you just say I shouldn’t overdress?”
He grinned at her tease. “You are my wife, Lady Lanyon, and rubies will enhance your natural beauty.”
Taking the necklace from her, he clasped the jewels around her throat, his fingers gentle at her nape. He drew her over to the mirror. “See how well they suit you.”
When she could draw her eyes away from the dazzling gems, she studied him, amused that he’d chosen her gown to suit them. “I’ve never worn anything so fine. Mother said I was too young for lavish jewelry.”
“With your coloring, you should always wear jewels.” He met her gaze in the mirror. “These might have been fashioned with you in mind.”
She was confident they were not made for Amanda, for they would not have suited her fair coloring. “Were they your mother’s?”
“No. My mother preferred sapphires. These were my grandmother’s. She had red hair rather like yours.”
“What was her given name?” Laura asked, noticing how his featuressoftened.
“Charlotte. A grand lady,” he said in a quiet voice. As if ashamed of his emotion, he undid the clasp and placed the necklace back in the case. “I’ll return these to the safe until you are dressed.”
Chapter Twenty-One
In the evening, Laura came downstairs wearing the low-cut russet silk, the ruby necklace at her throat, diamonds dangling from her ears. Agnes had quite skillfully arranged her hair in loose waves, the front a soft pompadour with small ringlets on herbrow.
Nathaniel, handsome in dark broadcloth and crisp linen, came forward to take her arm with a proud and proprietary expression. It pleased her, although she would have preferred to find him blinded bylove.
Their guests began to arrive. Mr. Archer, the rail-thin vicar, escorted his wife, Phyllis, her sturdy body clad in purple satin. The quiet spinster sisters, Misses Parthena and Orpha Fairfax, were girlish in white chiffon. Mr. Jack Whitelaw, Nathaniel’s rowing chum from Oxford, introduced his wife, Victoria, to her. She was attractive and had a forthright manner, her elegant lavender gown of ribbed silk satin perfect for her fair coloring. Laura immediately warmed toher.
Cilla came in wearing an olive-green dress, a corsage of orchids pinned to her breast with not a speck of paint in evidence. Tall, solemn Hugh Pitney was at Cilla’s elbow. Pitney was yet unmarried and attractive. Perhaps he and Cilla might discover something in common, although for the moment, Laura could think ofnothing.
