May 3, 1814
Hamlin Hall
The grand chandelier that Busick designed began its maiden ascent to its position above the hall. I watched the large wrought iron fixture with glimmering glass globes rise. A dance of sparkles surrounded me.
The duke, my dearest darling, sat off to the side with Lionel in his lap, pointing to the pulleys and chains. “See, my boy,” he said, “that’s how you brighten the hall.”
The entry doors opened.
Gantry ran inside. He bowed to me and went to the duke.
Very carefully, Busick stood. The improvements he’d made to his reticulating stump with the catgut strings for tendons made his balance so much better. He could rise with Lionel safe and secure in his arms.
But the kitty, Athena, now stayed far away from him when the countess visited.
“Gantry, what is it?”
“Lady Bodonel is in a carriage following me. She’s coming to visit.”
“What?”
He ducked his head. “She’d seen Lady Gantry. I had to bribe her with something.”
I left my stance under the light and came to Busick’s dear friend. “Did you find her? Did you find your wife?”
“No, but I will. She didn’t catch the boat to Demerara. She’s still in London.”
If his lordship was as determined as Busick, I knew he would find her.
My husband frowned and sat back in his wheeled chair. “What did you tell her for the information?”
“That you two were thinking of travel. She wants an invitation to come along.”
Busick looked at me, and I nodded to him. The unspoken ask and reply transmitted between us. No one-word answers needed for him to know I’d entertain Lady Bodonel when she arrived to allow my duke to escape.
I took Lionel from Busick and smoothed my love’s lapels that our boy had ruffled. The dove-gray tailcoat looked so handsome on him.
This man in uniform still made my head dizzy, but with the Peninsular War over, he didn’t feel the need to wear his regimentals as often, just for special occasions like later, when I needed to see him coming from the drawing room under the light of the chandelier, or when he received wounded veterans for training.
Wellington sent his injured officers to Busick to get them back in the saddle as soon as possible. Other men he ordered to Hamlin to learn military tactics. Though Napoleon was in exile, my husband’s old commander had a sense the man would rise again.
Busick clasped my hand. “You must truly love me, Patience.”
“What kind of statement is that?”
He tapped his cheek, and I graciously planted a kiss to his sweet dimple. One to Lionel’s, too.
“My duchess is so patient, Gantry, suffering my mother for tea. Soon, she’ll be pretending her increased visits will be about Lionel and being a friend to him, but I don’t know if she has the stomach to call herself a grandmother.”
“Your gift of the marble gods to her house in Town touched her. I’m glad they are gone from here.”
He laced my fingers with his. “Nothing to give you nightmares. Although, I do love hearing about myself in your dreams.”
“Duke,” Gantry said as he ducked his face into his palm. “I’m going to be in the drawing room with your brandy. Carry on with this loving stuff.”
The poor man walked away sort of grinning, still sort of sad. I hoped he’d find Lady Gantry and that they could solve their differences and love as deeply as Busick and I.
My darling pulled me in his arms. He still wasn’t comfortable using this improved version of Potts’s limb for extended periods of time. It wasn’t necessary, when he could spin me round and round better than any dancer.
