by Stella Riley
Oh Eden. You really have made a mess of it, haven’t you?
‘I think you’re mistaken.’ She leaned closer. ‘Just between you and me, your father knows he has made mistakes and he’s sorry. He wants to put things right … but he’s a man, so he doesn’t quite know how to do it - which means you and I have to help him.’
A faint glow appeared and Mary said, ‘You and I? Together?’
‘Absolutely together,’ said Lydia firmly.
And knew by the girl’s smile that she’d won the first battle. Or would have done by the time she’d had an even firmer word with Eden and sent him off to repeat her request as if it was quite his own idea.
* * *
The one member of the family Lydia found both unfathomable and disconcerting was Kate’s diabolically good-looking Italian husband; but that changed when she met him sneaking in through a side door with three exceedingly muddy children – the smallest and muddiest of which was perched on his shoulders, holding on to handfuls of blue-black hair.
Signor del Santi stopped, fixed her with a night-dark gaze and said, ‘Ah. This is awkward.’ And to the eldest child, ‘Caught red-handed, Sandro. What shall we do?’
Seven-year-old Alessandro stared soulfully at Lydia and said, ‘Can you please not tell?’
‘Anyone?’ asked Lydia, trying not to laugh. ‘Or just your mama?’
‘Anyone,’ replied Alessandro positively.
‘But most definitely not their mother,’ added Luciano, setting little Vittorio on his feet and laying a hand on his daughter’s coppery curls. ‘Sandro and Mariella were supposed to be practicing their letters and Torio should have been having his nap. But … well, the sun was shining, you see.’
‘Of course.’
‘And we wanted to go fishing,’ offered Mariella. ‘It was fun – but a bit dirty.’
‘So I see.’ Lydia looked at the coatless, dishevelled man and noticed, for the first time, the slight imperfection of his left shoulder. ‘Can I help you clean them up before Kate sees?’
‘That,’ said Luciano, with a sudden blinding smile, ‘would be extraordinarily kind. But I fear for the state of your gown.’
‘It’s of no consequence,’ she said tranquilly. ‘A little dirt never hurt anyone.’
Later, when three marginally cleaner children had been despatched to Meg in the nursery, the signor’s gaze rested on the sapphire and moonstone necklace and, lifting one hand, said, ‘May I?’
She nodded and he scrutinised it carefully, running a light finger over the setting. Then, ‘Not bad. Rather good, in fact. Tobias’s work?’
‘Yes. You taught him, didn’t you?’
‘Everything he knows,’ said Luciano. And then, with a slightly wicked laugh, ‘Or at least, everything he knows about gold. The rest of what Tobias knows is entirely his own affair.’
* * *
On the following morning, Eden detected a sense of suppressed excitement running through the house and concluded that whatever everyone had been waiting for was now imminent but still had no idea what this was. All was revealed, however, when he returned from an errand in Banbury to find a travelling carriage in the middle of the stable-yard; and on the steps of the house, wearing a familiar sardonic smile, was Colonel Brandon.
‘Venetia and I,’ remarked Gabriel, ‘were sorry to have missed your first wedding and somewhat piqued that an invitation to your second came, not from you, but from Toby via Nick. However, as you can see, we decided to overlook the insult and come anyway.’
* * *
Inevitably, the evening took on an air of celebration. Supper was noisy and cheerful and, after it, Venetia, Kate and Tabitha whisked Lydia off for vital pre-nuptial preparations while the gentlemen plied Eden with ale, over which he finally told Ralph and Luciano the full story of what had happened in London.
Having already heard the tale from Nicholas who, as soon as the crisis was over had made his way hot-foot to Yorkshire, Gabriel said thoughtfully, ‘That must have been a shock – discovering that Quinn and Northcote were the same man.’
‘Yes and no,’ said Eden. ‘Once I knew, it made a bizarre sort of sense.’
‘The bastard nearly killed you,’ growled Tobias. ‘And you damned nearly let him.’
‘No. I didn’t. Aside from everything else we’d found out about him, he’d been repeatedly drowning Lydia in a bucket. Do you honestly think I was going to let him live after that?’
Tobias grunted and reached for the ale jug.
‘I never understood why you didn’t just blow his head off.’
‘So you’ve said.’ Eden’s eyes met Luciano’s in a moment of shared recollection; then he looked across at Gabriel and deliberately changed the subject. ‘How is Nick?’
‘Happier than his future mother-in-law. They’ve put the wedding off until July in the hope that Lady Clifford will get used to the idea. Personally, I wouldn’t be holding my breath. She doesn’t like me any better now than she did eight years ago.’
‘I,’ offered Ralph complacently, ‘am the apple of my mother-in-law’s eye.’
‘Only because Luciano lives on the far side of Europe, you smug idiot,’ objected Tobias. And pushing the ale jug in the Italian’s direction. ‘Speaking of which … are you still consorting with the Medici and the Vatican?’
Luciano declined the jug and passed it to Ralph.
‘From time to time.’ He paused, a glimmer of amusement in his eyes. ‘The necklace you made for Lydia is an interesting piece. Quite original.’
Tobias looked inordinately pleased. ‘Thank you.’
‘Not at all. It’s so well-suited to the lady that it might have been made for her. Was it?’
‘No. It was done before I’d met her. Only when I did meet her, it suddenly felt …’ He stopped, shrugging.
‘It felt as though it ought to belong to her,’ finished Luciano with a smile. ‘Yes. It’s rare. But it happens sometimes. My congratulations.’
Tobias grinned and Ralph muttered, ‘Now who’s smug?’
The door opened and Kate’s head appeared around it. She said, ‘Eden … no nocturnal wanderings tonight, if you please.’
Ralph gave a crack of laughter
Eden stood up, feeling his colour rise. ‘What are you talking about?’
‘You know perfectly well,’ sighed Kate. ‘Mother insisted on you and Lydia occupying separate chambers – so you’ve been slipping into her room as soon as the house is quiet.’
‘Eden, you sly dog!’ said Tobias. ‘I’m shocked.’
‘Shut up,’ muttered Eden. And defensively to Kate, ‘We are married, you know.’
‘Not legally and not in Mother’s opinion. So tonight you’ll sleep in your own bed.’
Upon which note, Kate closed the door and listened, smiling, as her brother fell victim to a deluge of laughter and good-humour ribaldry.
* * *
The morning of this wedding dawned without a cloud in the sky. Surrounded by Kate, Venetia, Tabitha and Mary, Lydia had no time to dwell on that other day or even to wonder what Eden might be doing. Then, a little while before it was time to dress, Dorothy laid a small box in front of her, saying, ‘Something old, my dear – and also a bridal gift. Open it.’
Lydia looked down on a gold heart-shaped pin set with small diamonds. Eyes misting with sudden tears, she said, ‘It’s lovely. Thank you. Everyone is … you’ve all been so kind.’
Dorothy smiled and shook her head.
‘Nonsense. You’ve given Eden back to us. And that is a gift beyond price.’
After Dorothy had gone, Venetia finished arranging Lydia’s hair while Kate laced Mary into a new and very grown-up gown ... and Tabitha slipped away on the excuse of having forgotten something.
‘I’m having second thoughts,’ remarked Kate presently from the doorway where she appeared to be having a whispered conversation with someone on the other side of it. ‘I’m not sure my gown is quite right for you.’ She paused and stood back to allow her sister to
come in. ‘This one, however, will do splendidly.’
Lydia turned and then came uncertainly to her feet, her vision dazzled by yards of silvery-blue shot-silk, edged with exquisite sapphire and silver-thread trimming that could only have been made by one pair of hands. Drawing an unsteady breath and stretching out equally unsteady fingers, she said, ‘How … where …I don’t understand.’
‘Eden wanted it to be a surprise,’ explained Tabitha. ‘He arranged everything with your sewing women and they made the gown but didn’t quite have time to finish it before Toby left London. So they sent the trimming and instructions on how it was to be used … and Mother and I have been kept very busy. Do you like it?’
‘Like it? How could I not?’ Tears threatened again. ‘Eden did this?’
‘Yes.’
‘But he was so busy before we left. I can’t believe he found the time.’
‘Yet apparently he did,’ said Kate matter-of-factly. ‘So stop worrying and put it on. We’ve all been worried silly that it might not fit.’
It did, of course … and the mirror told Lydia how well it suited her.
‘That,’ remarked Venetia critically, ‘is a triumph. The Strand Alley ladies have outdone themselves. And if Eden chose that silk himself, he’s a man of rare discrimination.’
‘Let’s just say that his taste has improved over the years and leave it at that,’ said Kate astringently. ‘Upon which note, ladies … it’s time to go.’
* * *
Partly due to Aubrey’s defection and partly, he claimed, because he’d stood up for his brother before, Tobias waited at the chapel door to escort the bride. Offering his arm, he said, ‘I thought you might turn tail and flee before doing this a second time.’
Lydia lifted disbelieving brows. ‘Did you? Really?’
‘Not for a minute,’ he admitted cheerfully. ‘And my brother is a lucky man.’
Lydia’s silk gown hadn’t been Eden’s only extravagance. Mindful of Tobias’s strictures, he’d paid a tailor an exorbitant sum for speedy delivery of a new suit and now stood before the altar resplendent in grey brocade and Flanders lace. And beside him as groomsman and looking ready to burst with pride, was Jude.
The small, beautiful chapel was ablaze with candles and heavy with the scent of flowers. From the ornately-painted ceiling, the Fall of Lucifer – bearing, as Kate was wont to remark, an uncanny resemblance to Luciano – looked down on the congregation; and a pair of viols played in gentle counterpoint from the recess near the altar where a lamp burned beneath Richard Maxwell’s memorial plaque and where Dorothy would go privately later. But now, as she watched Lydia’s progress down the aisle, she thought, I wish you were here, Richard. But I know that, somehow, you’re with our son now. This is the marriage we always wanted him to have. The one he deserves.
On her journey to the altar, Lydia recognised the trouble his family had taken to make this day perfect in every respect. Then she was at Eden’s side and aware only of that slow, bewitching smile.
This ceremony was as emotionally-charged as the other had been and even Kate was seen to be surreptitiously dabbing away tears. Jude performed his role with dignity which quickly dissolved into a huge grin; Mary, by contrast, was solemn and careful … but just a little less wary of her father than she’d been a week ago.
Back in the house, while the bridal pair accepted everyone’s congratulations and good wishes, Goodwife Flossing and the maids served wine and then bustled in and out with platters of food.
Eden hugged his wife and murmured, ‘Thank God we are now incontrovertibly legal. I’ve had enough of creeping back to a cold bed at the crack of dawn.’
‘Is that the only thing this day means to you?’ asked Lydia, refusing to smile.
‘By no means.’ He tightened his hold on her waist and kissed her, taking his time about it. ‘But right now, it’s the thing I’m most looking forward to.’
‘There’ll be time enough for that later.’ Ralph clouted him on the back and prised Lydia from his arm. ‘And if you don’t come and eat, you won’t have the strength for it.’
‘Stop,’ said Eden. ‘I had enough of that last night … and plan to strangle my bloody sister.’
‘Go to it,’ remarked Tobias cheerfully. ‘My money’s on Kate.’
Laughter became the key to the evening and later there was dancing. Breathless from an energetic reel with Tobias and dizzy after being whirled about the floor by Ralph, Lydia collapsed against Eden and whispered, ‘It isn’t that I’m not enjoying myself or ungrateful for everything that’s been done for us … but how long before we can slip away?’
‘Now, if you like.’
‘Won’t anyone mind?’
‘No. I doubt they’ll even be surprised,’ responded Eden, towing her unhurriedly towards the door. ‘You and I have hardly had a private moment in which to talk since we got here.’
She sent him a slanting smile. ‘You’ve been in my bed every night save one.’
‘Yes. And if you expected sensible conversation under those circumstances, you must have a very mistaken view of my ability to resist temptation.’ He continued sweeping her up the stairs. ‘I don’t recall telling you how beautiful you look.’
‘It’s the gown. I still don’t know how you managed it but --’
‘Lily Carter took charge the instant I said what I wanted. And it isn’t the gown. It’s you. No – don’t argue. And don’t thank me, either. It’s the only gift I’ve ever given you and it was my pleasure.’ Eschewing Lydia’s bedchamber which Venetia and his sisters had been in and out of all morning and would probably presently re-visit to reclaim things they’d left behind, he drew her into his own and shot the bolt. Then, stopping her mouth with his own, he handed her to a chair by the hearth, discarded his coat and sat down on the rug at her feet saying, ‘How much thought have you given to the future?’
‘Not very much as yet. Have you?’
‘Yes.’ He paused for a moment, as if wondering where to start and then said, ‘You’ll have gathered that, though Thorne Ash belongs to me, I’ve spent scarcely any time here since the summer of ’42 … and nowadays, Ralph does a splendid job of looking after it. We could live here, if you chose … but I’m not needed. And since I’m also unemployed and not used to being idle, I doubt if it would suit me.’
‘No. I suppose not. And though I hadn’t really considered it, I’d assumed we would continue living in London. Only I would like Jude and Mary to be a part of our lives there; to know they have a home with us whenever they want it.’
‘I think you’ve made me tolerably aware of that fact.’
‘And so?’
He grinned up at her. ‘Do you hear me arguing?’
‘No. Not yet.’
‘And you won’t. But we can talk about the children later. For now there are other things I want to explain and ideas I’d like you to consider.’ He paused and then said, ‘When I resigned my commission, I told Lambert I’d continue assisting him in certain areas if necessary. He’s been indulging in discreet talks with the Cavaliers. My own view is that nothing will ever come of these but I don’t mind pursuing them if Lambert asks. I suspect that two of the men I’ve spoken with are a good deal more important than either he or Thurloe have yet guessed.’ And a third knows something about me that I’d much rather he didn’t. ‘This means I may be called on from time to time – but not often enough to stop me getting under your feet. So I had an idea for something that might.’
‘I won’t mind you getting under my feet,’ she murmured.
‘Any time you like, sweetheart.’ His voice dropped to a seductive purr and one hand slid beneath her skirts to caress her ankle with lazy intent. ‘I’m all for innovation.’
Lydia flushed a little but withdrew her foot and said severely, ‘Very likely. But not until you’ve told me your idea.’
‘Spoilsport,’ sighed Eden. Then, ‘The lorinery is doing well so I thought we might perhaps expand it. Thus far you’ve concentrated on sadd
lery items and not explored the market of carriage and cart harnesses. I could help with that. Indeed, I … I wondered if you’d consider letting me take over management in Duck Lane.’
‘Of course – if that’s what you want.’
Stunned that she’d agreed without a blink, he said, ‘Shouldn’t you think about it?’
‘No. I’m glad you want to be involved and I don’t know why you’re surprised.’
‘Knowing you, neither do I – and I thank you. But there’s more. That gown you’re wearing proves that the Strand Alley ladies have untapped talents … so would a seamstress service available only to a small and very exclusive clientele work?’ He grinned. ‘Unless I’m mistaken, the word exclusive translates in female terms as desirable and expensive.’
‘That’s very true,’ nodded Lydia admiringly. ‘What a devious mind you have.’
‘Thank you again. So?’
‘It would need additional premses – but I like the idea. The women will, too.’ She smiled. ‘You’ve obviously been doing a lot of thinking. Is that everything?’
‘Not quite.’ Eden stopped and his expression turned rather grim. ‘You know about the children we found in that hell-hole … but you didn’t see them, Lydia. And I thank God for that because I can’t get them out of my head. Worse, I can’t help thinking that there may be others like them. I have the connections that can help me find and rescue any such cases – but the problem will be what to do with them afterwards. And I hoped that we might work on that together. What do you think?’
For a moment, Lydia remained where she was staring at him. Then, sliding down from the chair and into his lap in a billow of silk, she placed a soft, sweet kiss on his jaw and said, ‘I think that every single day you give me new reasons to love you. And for the rest, you must know that you didn’t need to ask.’
‘Yes.’ His mouth trailed down her throat. ‘But I don’t take what you are for granted.’
He turned her in his arms so he could embrace her more fully. It was as well, he reflected distantly, that she hadn’t been this close before for the scent and the feel of her was already clouding his mind. The silk gown was smooth and supple but he knew the skin beneath was silkier still. Hot and intent, his eyes lingered on her mouth until he saw her breath catch and a tiny tremor rippled through her. Then he kissed her, enjoying the way one of her hands tangled in his hair while the other found its way inside his shirt.