“I see one way she might obtain one,” Roberta said. “But you have not already married?”
“I went to see a Monseigneur of the church, and he wants to see an affidavit that you have not been harmed by the action to annul our marriage.”
“You will marry in a Catholic ceremony? Will the Marquess approve?”
“Well, you are correct, he will not like it. But Marie will accept a Protestant marriage when we are in England.”
Roberta could not resist. “You are taking your marriages in multiples now . . . ensuring that one might survive if you lose another?”
The Countess met her eye with an amused sparkle.
“I hope you know what you are asking for, My Lady,” Roberta said. “How long have you two known one another?”
“Three weeks,” she said. “But my first husband was picked for me when I was six years old. It seemed we had been married forever when he died. I could not mourn him long. It felt as if I had been released from him.”
“Oh, you have been here before. I thought I was reckless accepting him after three months. Julian, you are not going to do something rash again?”
“Not at all. Symington tells me that you are planning something equally reckless. You intend to marry Worthington now you are free?”
“We think it very likely, but we have agreed to an engagement of twelve months and the most secure church wedding that one might attain. I am not likely to make the same mistake as last time. Where is this document you wish me to sign? Do you have a copy for me?”
Bond reached into a pocket. “I do. What is Worthington going to do when the Navy casts him loose?”
“You probably know of the arrangement he agreed with Their Lordships.”
“Yes, I do. The Marquess was a diligent proponent of his interest, on my recommendation.”
“Then we are both in your debt. We intend to bid on the contract for an Atlantic steamer for the Black Ball Line. Alfred will be the captain throughout the construction and proving.”
Bond handed her the copies to sign. “Can we find room in this company’s office for you to use pen and ink?”
“Over there,” she pointed. “You do not comment on the concept of steamships crossing the Atlantic?”
Bond chuckled as they crossed the courtyard. “You will not succeed if you want to see me eat humble pie. I learned not to underestimate your opinions many months ago.”
“I must say I marvel at the very civilized discussion between the two of you,” the Countess said. “This is the first time you have met since the assaults began on your marriage, but I sense no recriminations.”
Roberta watched Lord Bond’s mouth begin to open and cut him off. “Don’t you dare say ‘water under the bridge’.”
“What makes you think I was?”
“It was your attitude I saw often during our time in Antwerp.”
“Ahah,” the Countess said. “I believe the famous English reserve is about to explode. Continue, please.”
“No explosion, My Lady, although I appreciate it may be of interest to you,” Roberta said. “Your astonishment suggests to me that he has been showing you his very best side, while I often searched for it in vain. If his marital misadventure has taught him a better understanding, I will not be jealous that you should reap the harvest of my discomfiture. I would not wish this marriage to fail, and hope you are both wiser about the trials two people can conjure up out of nothing. May we all find our way through pitfalls and build on a stronger foundation this time.”
The End
About the Author
Christopher Hoare was born in Britain three months before WWII started. Later, that resulted in a scholarship place for secondary education under the Butler Education Act and eventually to some engineering training at a Ministry of Supply establishment. While he appreciated the training, he really wanted to be a writer so he left halfway through the course for a stint in the Artillery, and then in the N. African oilfields, followed by a move to Canada and work in the Arctic and Northern bush. He had intended moving on but met his wife of 43 years and is still here–diligently writing at last, and turning all the life experience into somewhat contrarian fiction.
Most of his published novels—four out of six—have early steam power as a factor in the plot, and he claims his previous work experience with gear manufacture, steam generators, and steam powered utilities makes him almost a founding father of Gear-heads.
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Table of Contents
Title Page
Her Ladyship Goes Home
The Society Pages
It’s News on the Border
Father Regrets
Back in Harness
News by Post
Shareholders and Sisters
The Engineman’s Daughter
Plans Proposed: Some Fail
A Meeting at Breakfast
Canon Law
Talks with Elizabeth
Canal Acion
Bond Abroad
Royal Instruction
Writing a Sharp Letter
Letters that Demand
Words about the Unspoken
Subterfuge and Truth in Bern
A Royal Command
Audience
For those in Peril on the Sea
Grievous Losses
Roberta and Worthington
Injured Friends and Injured Pride
A New Spousal Letter
Adieu, mes Americains and Spies
Admiralty Has Plans
Discussions in Prussia
Of Travel and Strikes
A Word from an Old Friend
Roberta Travels
Troubles and Disasters
War Drums
Action and Reaction
Meetings with Enemies
Picking up the Pieces
Some Time for Action
The Owner of the Chateau
Over and Above Duty
Forward and Reverse
Favourable Roads
Differing and Changing Circumstances
Two Visits: One Fatal
Council of War: Raising Moral
Duty Satisfied
It all Comes Down to Roberta
New Beginnings in the Low Countries
About the Author
Scandal and Secrets Page 30