“Yes.” Only Court had ever made her burn, and yet, instead of using her up, she felt reborn. “Only you.”
They took more time to wash with long caresses, and lingering touches, urgency calmed for the moment. At last Court twisted the taps and turned off the water.
“Much as I hate to move onward…” He reached for a thick towel and wrapped it around her.
After drying her hair and applying a slightly heavier than usual layer of makeup, Randi let him wrap her in his robe and lead her from the bathroom. In his dressing room, they found a simple black silk sheath and a wool suit in olive, which even Court had to admit didn’t flatter her so well. Although it was a hair loose because she hadn’t been eating lately, they decided on the black silk. His grumbles about the endless black stopped when she put on the emerald earrings he’d given her in New York.
“Heaven help me, Randi, you grow more beautiful with each passing moment. But you’re missing something.”
Speechless, she could only gape as he settled a necklace of diamonds and emeralds around her neck. The jewels sparkled where they lay against the black silk.
“I meant to give you this in New York…” His shrug made it unnecessary to spell out the rest.
“Court, I’m sorry—”
“No, love, I’m sorry. I treated you dreadfully. Forgive me?”
Finished fastening the clasp, he rested his hands on her shoulders as they both looked into the mirror.
“I shouldn’t have left like I did.”
“Water under the bridge. What a picture we make, you think?”
Nodding, she took the time to really look at the two of them together in the full length mirror, Court attired in a fine suit of black, she matching in the silk dress, which fell to an inch below her knees. Black flats suited her travel-weary feet just fine, though the lack of heels made her look very short against his height. Blond and red hair gleamed in the dimmed lights of the dressing room.
“This is how you’ll look in candlelight, love. Absolutely gorgeous.”
“You too.” She meant it, but said it with a teasing lilt. “Are you sure we have to go downstairs?”
“Aye. We’ve delayed as long as possible. Far longer than we should have. Lord of the manor must make an appearance.”
“Are you truly a Lord?”
Court laughed. “No, just owner of the biggest house in the neighborhood.” A gentle finger traced the contour of her cheek as the carriage clock chimed the hour with eight strikes of the hammer. “And speaking of, we’re later than I thought. The good people will be anxious for their dinner.”
Chapter 26
“How many people are here for dinner?”
Court grinned at the whispered question. At the bottom of the stairs, the swell of voices sharing holiday greetings was boisterous to say the least.
“Seventy, eighty, possibly ninety. I don’t remember. Martin will know.” It was really fifty as that was all the dining hall would accommodate in comfort, but the look on her face was priceless.
“So many?”
“A few are extended family sprung from nursing homes for the evening. We also have local merchants, barristers, doctors and the like. Even the local vicar who will slip away for midnight mass. In fact, most of the people will clear out for church, or will be picked up by the senior bus, saving us from having to kick them out.”
With her arm tucked securely around his, Court had never felt more proud to escort a woman anywhere. At their appearance just inside the drawing room door, a hush began to settle as people noticed and turned their direction.
“Merry Christmas!” he called out and same came back in reply only from many more voices. “Sorry to have kept you waiting. Shall we go in to dinner now?” Without waiting for a reply, he turned with Randi still on his arm and led the way to the dining room.
With the crowd following them, Randi only had a moment to gape at what Court had to privately admit was something of a rather grand dining room. Especially when compared with the modest arrangement in her home. Her face paled a bit, and her hand tightened on his arm. A previous ancestor had decorated the room in his own interpretation of something the Tudor court might have recognized, from leaded windows to carved wood paneling, but without the dais and trestle tables. Bea had wanted to redo it, but Court had put his foot down, personally liking the rich design, especially for grand events such as this night.
At the door he and Randi formed a tiny receiving line. With his in-laws near the front of the line, right behind Larry who’d pushed his way in front, it seemed the best chance to quietly introduce her to the guests.
“Drew, please help people find their seats. Birdie goes at my left,” he said quietly as his mother passed with Randi’s father firmly in tow. “Larry.”
“Randi, my love, I’m so pleased to see you again. Court’s been teasing me unmercifully. You simply must introduce me to your daughter.” His friend bent over Randi’s hand, ignoring Court completely. Par for the course.
“You’ll meet her in a few moments, Larry,” Court said. “Get on with you now. There are a few other daughters who would appreciate help being seated.”
“Oh sure, leave me to assist the sturdy farmer’s girls and your elderly aunts.” With a wink, he ambled off happily enough, leaving Court and Randi to greet the people looking her over with polite curiosity. The whole—house, room, crowd—had stunned Randi, but she didn’t let it show now. Something that increased his pride.
“Randi, may I present Mr. and Mrs. Catchpole, my in-laws. Harry, Anne, this is Ms. Randi Ferguson of the United States.”
Polite words of greeting were murmured, and the people eager to enter swept the stiff couple into the dining room. Hopefully, they’d be seated at the far end of the table near his mother. At least they didn’t seem to recognize her name. Not yet. Although they’d surely heard of his daughter by now, which probably accounted for the disapproving glares. They weren’t stupid by any means, and were probably putting the pieces together quite well on their own.
Finally, Court escorted Randi to her seat on his right. As he assisted her, the other ladies were helped into their chairs, and serving staff moved forward to begin pouring wine. Court stood for a moment before taking his seat.
It was times like these he enjoyed his life. Randi on his right with Drew to her right, Birdie on his left, with Larry on her left, his sister and her family filling seats on either side. Down at his mother’s end of the table—far, far away—his in-laws, Randi’s father, the vicar, and various aunts and uncles. Friends he’d grown up with and local dignitaries filled the ranks in between.
He lifted a glass of wine. “To friends and family, may the best of God’s blessings rest upon your heads this night and always.”
Glasses were raised, and Court settled in to enjoy dinner.
“Now really, is Birdie your real name?” Larry leaned toward Court’s daughter with the question.
“Relax, Larry,” Court said. “All will be revealed before the night is over. For now, all you need know is she’s acting as my temporary assistant through the holidays. Once I get back to the office I have a real old dragon stepping in to take over for Martha.”
Birdie gasped. “But I thought I had the job.”
“As I said earlier, finish your schooling, and then you can come in as Miss Wolverton’s assistant. You did well this week, but you’d be surprised what you can learn from someone like her. A year under her wing, and you’ll be ready to take over just as she’ll be ready for retirement. If you still want the job then, we’ll talk.”
“Sounds reasonable to me,” Randi added.
“Oh, I think she’s ready for the job now,” Larry said, his gaze swinging from Randi to Birdie and back. “I knew I was right. Looks like Court, but sounds like Randi. This is the mystery daughter!”
“Shh, Larry,” Court spoke quietly. “Don’t give it away just yet.”
Accusation in his eye, Larry leaned
forward and stage whispered across the wide table, “She’s a bit older than five, Randi.”
“I never said she was younger, Larry.”
“But you never said she was full grown. Is she older or younger than Drew?”
“About the same age,” Court evaded before the women could speak up. “I’ll tell you the entire tale later.”
The rest of the meal was spent evading subtle questioning and exchanging secret smiles with Randi. When he could, he found ways to touch her. At long last, salad was cleared away and the table made ready for the mince pies and pudding. When everyone had fresh glasses of champagne, he stood and conversation slowly died down. Anticipation filled the hall.
“I know the earlier toast was a bit brief, but I wanted to savor the moment. Now our hunger has been appeased”—groans came from around the well-fed table—“I’d like to share with you the reason for my satisfaction this evening.”
He spoke slowly while the staff quietly poured and served cups of tea, taking care to place a cup and saucer just so in front of each guest.
“We’ll toast with champagne, but with dessert, I’d like you to enjoy a rare and special tea. It’s said to be the most costly tea in the world, but that isn’t why I chose it tonight. No, it’s special in that a few weeks ago my love gifted me with a tin of it. Then, earlier this evening, my love and I drank it for the first time as we shared very meaningful vows. Vows which we’ll soon, with her approval, repeat in front of God and the universe. I present to you, Randi Jean Dailey Ferguson.” He held out his hand to her. She grasped it and at his gentle tug, she stood and glided under his arm. “Here’s the official question. You’ve had more than enough time to think it over. Marry me?”
He watched as Randi’s eyes slid toward Birdie. A silent communication passed between mother and daughter. The answer was already in her eyes before she said the word. “Yes.”
“Stick with me, we’re not done shocking them yet.” Relief made his voice rough and hardly above a whisper under the cover of the applause from their guests. Although Birdie’s blessing wasn’t required, having it made things much smoother.
Turning his attention back to his guests, he raised his champagne glass for silence. “She’s agreed, which is the correct answer to a question I intended to ask many years ago.” There went the uneasy alliance with the Catchpoles. Their faces, already stony, now resembled the gargoyles hanging from the roof of Notre Dame. Regrettable, but not a serious loss. Their share of the business would still go to Drew, their only grandchild. Fortunately for Drew, he had a good relationship with them. It would all be okay.
“For a very short period of time, circumstances were in turmoil, and the fallout wasn’t quite as I’d planned, but wonderful things still happened. Drew came to us, while on the far side of the world another miracle happened.” With Randi under his arm, they turned to face Birdie. “Just a few months after Drew was born, in California another birth took place under the care of another man to whom I’ll be eternally grateful. Though it nearly cost Randi her life, Courtney Robin came into the world with a smile and a golden halo. My daughter, both in blood and in my heart.”
Shocked silence settled around the room. A splutter of indignation from the far end broke the silence, and Court looked down the length of the table, Randi stiffening under his arm. He couldn’t quite hear all that was said, Harry Catchpole speaking soft but furiously to Helen. His mother calmly stared down first Harry, then Anne, both of whom had been friends of a lifetime. Friends she’d sided with more times than Court could count when it came to his marriage to their daughter.
“That’s my granddaughter, Harry. I’ll thank you to remember that when you speak of her, if you must. Now drink to her health and mind your manners.”
Mother raised her champagne and lifted her gaze to his. “Carry on, Courtland, the tea is growing cold.”
Doing his best not to chuckle, Court tightened his arm around Randi, who’d momentarily gone limp against his side. Not for one moment did he assume all battles would be so anticlimactic, but at least the world had been put on notice that Birdie was not to be snubbed.
“So,” he continued as if there’d been no interruption at all, “for the first time, tonight I have my entire family under one roof. Randi will soon be my wife by law as much as she is already the wife of my heart. Drew remains my heir, but he’ll have to share with the sister he tripped with his big feet in California.”
“I suppose,” Drew groused playfully, then grinned at his sister’s mild glare. “I don’t mind.”
“So there we are. Blessings granted to grateful sinners. Let us drink to a happy future!” Court raised his glass to Randi’s lips. Once she’d sipped, he turned the glass to place his lips in the same spot, and he sipped to his own happiness.
“Somewhere around here…” He set down the wine glass, as his guests drank their sparkling wine, many calling out their congratulations. “I have an engagement gift for you. Now where did it go?” Smiling at her frown, he patted his pockets.
Pretending to be lost, he glanced around their end of the table. “Wait, I think I see it. Drew, hand me Randi’s cup if you will.”
Her gaze never left his face, but the wrinkle of confusion remained creased between her brows. To the company he said, “Now for the tea.” He raised the cup and said, “To your good health. Cheers!”
Accompanied by more toasts in answer, he brought the cup between them. “Our guests are tasting the Tieguanyin, but I have something a little more special for you. Take a look.”
“What could be more speci…”
The fading of her voice thrilled him right down to the bone, or more to say, right down to his very marrow, resulting in a warm tingling somewhere south of his stomach. The light caught the facets within her cup, creating tiny pinpoints of rainbow light on her face, though not quite enough to compete with the sparkle and glow of her.
Resting in hot water at the bottom of a bone china cup lay a unique creation. Made of finely crafted silver mesh, shaped like a tea bag, complete with a diamond studded chain and tag, more than two hundred tiny, perfect diamonds sparkled from inside the silver fabric.
“Court?” she gasped. “What is this?”
“This is very special tea. Or rather, it’s the teabag that is special. I know we’ve played with various brews whenever we’ve been together, and I was saving this one—” For their last night in New York. He swallowed against the pain of the lost moment and reminded himself this was much better. Although how his mother had gotten hold of it to hide under her pillow, well, he’d have to figure it out later. For now, he didn’t even look toward the far end of the table. Safe to say the relationship with the in-laws would be irrevocably strained from here on out. His mother he could deal with at leisure.
“It’s sparkling.”
He smiled. “Yes, darling, it is. Not as sparkling as you are, especially when you smile, but it is quite a dazzling display.” Together they bent their heads over the cup and watched the flashes of light swirl inside the precious metal bag.
“Why is it sparkling like that? Pretty fancy looking. And why the chain?”
“Well, this tea bag is actually crafted for a good cause. The proceeds of the auction where it was featured went to a children’s hospital in Manchester.”
“Oi! Court, whatcha got there?” Larry called out.
Ignoring his friend, he lifted it from the water. “Actually, there are no tea leaves in it. Only diamonds.” Gasps from around the table barely touched his ears. His attention was solely for Randi.
“Diamonds!” Her eyes widened. “And you’re dipping it in hot water?” She grabbed the tagged chain and lifted it from the cup. “Court! I don’t think this was meant for dunking into water.” Scolding him, she reached for a linen napkin, folded the enmeshed jewels inside, and started patting it. “Are you insane?”
He laughed, set down the cup, and took the bundle from her to finish drying. “I spoke with a jew
eler who thought it would be a fun trick to play on my lady.”
“I think you’re crazy.” She dropped back into the chair and shook her head slowly. “That has to cost a fortune and you just…” He recognized the horrified expression as she closed her eyes. “Goofball.” The admonishment lacked heat.
Chuckling, he pulled the bag from the napkin and knelt on one knee at her feet, dangling it between them. “Happy Christmas, from your goofball.”
Randi just stared at him, shaking her head and smiling in bemusement.
“A unique tea bag for my very special cup of tea.”
She reached for the trinket, and he laid it against her hand. “Are those diamonds real? Not crystals or something?”
So untrusting. Had to work on that. A few dozen kisses a day would wear her down in no time.
“Yes, real diamonds. A whole bunch of them. Each one represents the number of times a day I think of you. There’s no other like it in the world.” Holding it by the tag, he gave it a little spin, both of them watching, mesmerized while it threw out dazzling sparks of light. Enough to silence the dining room.
“Just like these diamonds, you dazzle me, Randi. I love being dazzled. Especially by you.”
She leaned forward and cupped his face between her soft hands. “I once thought your fire would burn me up and turn me to ash. But I was wrong. You light me up and energize me.”
“Our blend is the perfect formula for us.”
“Good Lord, man. Kiss her, you git!” Larry called out. “Vicar, how long will it take you to rustle up a wedding?”
“The usual. We can have it in a few weeks, what with paperwork and all. Have to go the normal route, you know.” The old man’s voice was robust with libations, but no less clear.
“Think you can pull it together by then?” Larry asked.
“I think we can wade through the bureaucracy, so we can marry in the local church. What do you think, darling?”
“I don’t care when, where, or how.” She slid to the floor to kneel with him, their bodies touching from knee to thigh, hip to hip, luscious breasts to his chest. “All I care is that it happens.”
Her Foreign Affair Page 30