Page 43 of The Lyon’s Paw

Diana gazed up at him, her blue eyes darkened with desire. “And what do you suppose will happen when the vast number of Mrs. George’s creations arrive in two weeks?” She stroked down his sides until she gripped his buttocks. “Whatever will you do then, Geoffrey?”

Slipping into her with a groan of delight, Geoffrey paused to control himself before answering with a smile on his face. “If they all have this same effect on me, I may very well kill myself making love to you, sweetheart.” He kissed her long and thoroughly, then began to move in the rhythm they had both come to know well. “But I assure you, love, I will die a very happy man.”

“I must confess I like being married a lot better than I ever thought I would.” Diana hugged Geoffrey’s arm to her the next morning as the carriage drove away from Longford House. They had gotten a much later start than they’d planned due to some unexpected amorous activity earlier this morning.

“And I will admit the very same thing, my love.” Her husband dropped a kiss on her cheek. “Although I will tell you, I had grave reservations about the manner of our marriage.”

Diana looked up at him inquiringly. “What do you mean?”

“I hated the fact that I was marrying you solely for your money.” Geoffrey sighed and stared straight ahead. “I told Thomas at the time that felt as though I was using you as a catspaw.”

“A catspaw?” What an absurd word. “What does that mean?”

“It’s from an old French fairytale where a monkey persuades a cat to pull chestnuts out of a fire with the promise he will share them afterwards.” Geoffrey crossed his arms over his chest, a serious look coming over his face. “The cat obliges the monkey, burning his paw in the process, while unbeknownst to the cat, the monkey eats up all the chestnuts, leaving him nothing. So now we call someone who serves the purposes of another a catspaw.”

“Oh.” Diana had never heard of that before. “But then, wouldn’t you have been my catspaw as well, since I married you in order to get the money?”

Geoffrey looked down at her, one eyebrow raised. “I suppose that is true.”

Diana giggled. “And if you think about it, we could be said to be Lyons paws, since Mrs. Dove-Lyon was the one who brought us together to serve each other’s purposes.”

Her husband chuckled and nodded, his good humor returning. “We could indeed, my love.” He slipped his arm around her and pulled her close.

Diana sighed in contentment. They had a long ride ahead of them and she wanted her husband to spend it happily. She glanced out the carriage window and frowned. “Geoffrey, I thought we were going back home to Longford.”

“We are, my dear.”

“Then why are we here?” She sat up, gazing at the unmistakable sight of the Serpentine lake in Hyde Park. Immediately, images of that awful day flooded her mind.

“Because it occurred to me that we had not been here since last summer and perhaps we should return before we journeyed home.” He smiled down at her. “Lay the ghost to rest, so to speak.”

Once Diana pushed down her initial panic, she realized that actually sounded like a good idea. When they returned in the spring for Joanna’s Season, there would inevitably be outings to this very spot. Everyone who was anyone joined the Grand Strut in the afternoons, and she and Geoffrey would need to be in attendance. Better to make their peace now, when the park was relatively deserted and they would not invite much talk. “Very well. I suppose you are right.”

Geoffrey opened the door and helped her out, then offered his arm and they began to stroll along the marshy bank of the lake. “I believe this is quite near the spot where we were walking—yes, I remember that horse chestnut was overhanging the water just there.” He pointed to a tall tree whose bare branches resembled spiky fingers against the sky.

“Yes, I believe you are correct.” The image of the lake on that hot day in June came back clearly to Diana. “There were lush reeds and watergrasses with pink flowers along here.” She motioned to the area where now there was little, save brown, dead sticks. “And the ducks.” She smiled at the gathering of ducks and geese just beyond where they stood. “At least that has not changed.”

“We were right about here, then the accident occurred.” Geoffrey stood gazing out over the lake, likely seeing himself sitting in the water, his dignity in tatters.

“At least there are no toads today,” Diana added helpfully, coming up beside him.

“Except for the one who stands before you.” He grinned down at her and her heart beat faster at the look of love in his eyes.

“Yes, my love. You will forever be mine and mine alone.” Filled with a rush of love for her wonderful husband, Diana launched herself into his arms.

The surprised look on Geoffrey’s face gave way to one of alarm as her unexpected weight bore them both backward. His boots slipped and he fought for purchase, clutching her to his chest as they both went over backward into the cold depths of the Serpentine.

Drenched in the numbing water, Diana surfaced sputtering next to Geoffrey. The pond was shallow here, so they sat side by side on the bottom gasping for breath. She turned to look at him, his new brown jacket and trousers thoroughly ruined, his hat gone, his dark hair plastered to his head.

At the same time, he turned to her—looking an equal fright she was certain—and they both burst out laughing.

“When you said we should lay the ghost to rest, Geoffrey, I did not think you meant we should drown it.” Diana continued her peals of laughter as her husband rose and helped her to her feet.

“The best laid plans, sweetheart,” he chuckled as they waded to the shore. “May I suggest we postpone our departure another day in favor of a hot fire, dry clothes, and a warm bed?”

“Now that is the best plan I’ve heard, my love.” She took his arm as they struggled toward the carriage and gazed up into his face. “As long as the warm bed includes you.”

Epilogue