Settling back, relaxing, Evan let her thoughts momentarily stray to her great-grandmother Emma Harte. It was she who had kept this Norman church in good repair over the years, and had arranged for central heating to be installed. “You’ll be warm,” Gideon had told her the other evening, knowing how much she suffered from the icy weather lately.
This morning she was cozy in her ankle-length, pale gray overcoat, worn with matching trousers and a sweater. She was in good form, although she did feel a bit top-heavy. For this reason she would be relieved when the babies were born. She couldn’t wait to see her twin boys, and neither could their father.
Evan smiled to herself, thinking of her genes, his genes. Twins ran in the Harte family, and seemingly she was carrying on the tradition.
Evan wondered if it would snow today. Wiggs, the head gardener at Pennistone Royal, had announced that snow would fall this weekend. There was nothing more picturesque than a winter wedding in the snow, especially in the countryside, which became a white and glistening wonderland. Her mother agreed with her about that.
Zeroing in on her mother, Evan thought about their conversation on Wednesday. In the afternoon a troubled Marietta had come to her. Something had happened that morning which had worried her so much she had felt compelled to confide in her daughter. As her mother had recounted the story, Evan had filled with unease herself.
It seemed that Marietta had driven down to Pennistone village with Angharad that morning, wanting to buy a few small things at the village newsagent’s shop. “We were minding our own business, selecting postcards and a few other items, when a handsome man walked in,” Marietta had explained. “He started going through magazines on the rack. Then suddenly Angharad caught his eye, and I couldn’t believe it! They were instantly chatting away as if they knew each other well. I’m sure Angharad was flirting with him. I was angry about her vulgar behavior with a total stranger, so I paid, and we both left the shop. I had taken only a few steps when I realized I’d left my glasses in the library area, so I went back. As I was entering the shop, I heard the woman behind the counter addressing the man as Mr. Ainsley. I was shocked, Evan. I grabbed my glasses and fled.”
At this point, her mother had paused for a moment, looking at Evan with concern, and then she had asked, “Could it have been Jonathan, do you think?”
“More than likely,” Evan had replied quietly, her unease increasing. “There is no other Mr. Ainsley. Except for Robin.”
Evan remembered now the genuine dismay she had experienced as she answered her mother. How unfortunate that it was Angharad, of all people, who had met Jonathan Ainsley. She was not only a flirt but impulsive, and she had slept around indiscriminately since she’d been fourteen. Evan couldn’t wait for the wedding festivities to be over, for her family to go back to London, then on to New York. She loved her parents and Elayne, but long ago she had become extremely cautious, even wary of Angharad. Furthermore, she knew that Gideon couldn’t stand Angharad and that Linnet held her at arm’s length. But on Wednesday afternoon, wanting to put her mother at ease, to reassure her, Evan had gone on in a steady, level voice, “I’m sure Angharad and Jonathan won’t run into each other again, Mom. Truly. That’s highly unlikely.”
Marietta had agreed, looking relieved.
Evan, however, had worried so much about this strange encounter that she had finally told Gideon about it. Later that evening, when Linnet returned from a visit to the Harrogate store, they had confided in her.
Linnet had listened alertly, instantly looking troubled herself. “I’ll let Jack know immediately. There’s the possibility that Ainsley knew very well who Angharad was. They might not have met by accident at all, you know. It could have been arranged to look like one, though. By Ainsley. He’s a sneaky chap, Jack says, and somebody’s feeding him information, of that I’m certain. And listen, aren’t you glad you agreed to go along with my plan?”
They had both said yes in unison. Linnet’s Plan with a capital P, that was what she called it, and it was already in operation. Evan felt at ease this morning, and all because of Linnet O’Neill, who was the smartest woman she knew, except for Paula.
There was a sound behind her, and Evan glanced over her shoulder. She saw Linnet, Julian, and Gideon coming into the church along with the vicar of Pennistone Royal village, the Reverend Henry Thorpe, and she waved, her face lighting up.
It was the good-looking young vicar who led the way to the pew where Evan was sitting. She stood up and smiled as he greeted her warmly and shook her hand. They chatted for a moment, until Gideon said in a low but firm voice, “Could we get things started, please, Vicar?”
“Absolutely, Gideon. That’s why we’re here.”
And so in that peaceful, ancient church filled to overflowing with flowers and early morning sunlight, with only the vicar and two other people present as witnesses, Evan Hughes was married to Gideon Harte. It was exactly eight-fifteen on Saturday morning when they pledged their troth to each other with clearly spoken words and gold wedding rings.
This wedding ceremony, conducted in absolute secrecy ours before it was due to take place, had been Linnet’s brain wave a week ago. And it was Linnet who had insisted on the necessity for secrecy. “Nobody can know,” she had pointed out to Jack.
Nevertheless, he had been stubborn about Paula being informed. “She has to know,” he had said emphatically. “And so do Shane, Emily, and Winston. The four of them control the clans. They’ll keep their mouths shut, that I can guarantee. But they must be in the picture. However, I agree with you, Linnet, no one else should be told. Not even Evan’s parents or Robin can know. They’ll be told after the event. Everyone in the family will be told then.”
Linnet had nodded, had pointed out, “No one can be present except me and Julian as witnesses. The wedding has to be so low-key it will go unnoticed.”
And that was the way it was.
After the simple ceremony, the four of them followed the vicar into the vestry to sign the church register. Once that had been done, they all thanked the clergyman for his cooperation in Linnet’s plan.
When they left the church, Jack was waiting outside with several of his operatives, and he came forward to congratulate the bride and groom. A moment later he was ushering Gideon and Evan toward his Land Rover, along with Linnet and Julian. Once they were settled, he went back to the vicar, who was standing on the church steps.
“Thank you, Reverend Thorpe. We couldn’t have done it without you.”
The vicar grinned. “Not if you wanted it to be legal, you couldn’t,” he quipped. “I was happy to be of help, and I’ll see everyone later at the reception.”
With a smile and a nod, Jack hurried back to his car and drove out of the sleepy, deserted village. He was relieved that nothing had gone amiss, that Gideon and Evan were now well and truly married to each other. That was all he had been concerned about, making sure there was a wedding without a hitch.
There was an air of secrecy at Pennistone Royal when they got back. On the way there from the church, Gideon had called Paula on his mobile and exclaimed, “It’s done! We’re married! And no one is any the wiser.” So when they arrived at the house no more than ten minutes later, Paula and Shane came rushing out to greet them.
Paula kissed Evan and Gideon, and so did Shane, and then they congratulated them. Paula led the way back inside, heading for the breakfast room, and she explained, “Margaret has prepared breakfast for the seven of us, but she doesn’t know where you’ve been. No one does.” Glancing at her daughter, she said with a warm and loving smile, “I’m glad you had that brain wave of yours, Linnet, and that you put your plan into action. You’re a clever girl.”
“Thanks, Mummy, but I do feel a bit awful. I’ve deprived Evan of her beautiful wedding.” As she spoke, she looked across at her cousin and offered an apologetic smile.
“I don’t feel a bit deprived!” Evan exclaimed. “I feel privileged to be a member of this family, and anyway, it was a beautiful
wedding, with you and Julian there to stand up for Gideon and me.”
Gideon said, “She’s right, you know, Linny. The main thing is that we are married, and because of your plan Evan’s not a target. Thank God.”
They all seated themselves at the round table in the bay window of the breakfast room, and within seconds Margaret was bustling around serving ham and scrambled eggs, toast and large pots of tea and coffee, along with dishes of marmalade and butter.
Once Margaret had retreated, Jack said quietly to Paula and Shane, “The village was half asleep and completely deserted. I spoke to the vicar as you requested, Paula, and he’s going to phone a few key villagers later, tell them the wedding was private, held earlier today because of Evan’s condition. He’s also arranging for the Women’s Institute to give a special tea party in the church hall tomorrow, to make up for their disappointment. You know how much they enjoy a Harte wedding.”
“That’s nice of him,” Shane said. “It might be a good idea to send down a few cases of bubbly for their party. What do you think, Paula?”
“It’s a very good thought, darling. I’ll have Joe run it over to the vicarage tomorrow morning.”
Gideon looked at Paula and grinned. “I bet you had a hard time keeping my father and mother away from this little breakfast, didn’t you?”
Paula began to laugh. “In a way, yes. Emily, in particular, wanted to be here to greet you and Evan. But to be honest, in the end she understood that it would be kinder to stay at Allington Hall with Evan’s parents. The only alternative was to bring them along, and I felt it would be better if we kept this really simple. Evan can rest later and get ready for the reception without pressure from any of us. And as soon as I phone Emily, she will tell Evan’s parents about your early ceremony.”
“And besides,” Shane interjected, “we have our work cut out for us. Once breakfast is over, Paula and I have to phone a lot of family members, Gideon, to tell them to come to the house at three rather than go to church for a two o’clock ceremony that’s not going to take place.”
“Are you going to explain the early morning marriage in the same way?” Julian asked, looking from Paula to Shane.
“Indeed we are, Jules,” Shane replied.-It’s the most logical thing to do. Evan’s looking more pregnant than ever, and why wouldn’t we all be worried that the twins might be born premature? I think everyone will buy our story.”
“And if they don’t, too bad,” Linnet announced. “Anyway, to tell them the real reason serves no purpose. It will make us all look a bit paranoid.”
“You are paranoid,” Lorne said from the doorway and strolled in, looking debonair in a white turtleneck sweater and jodhpurs. Smiling hugely at them all, he added, “I assume you were making a reference to Jonathan Ainsley when you brought up the word paranoid , Linnet. I think you all pay too much attention to him, give him too much credence. I think he’s a specter rather than a threat.”
“Perhaps you’re right,” Linnet answered, smiling at her brother. “But it just so happens that he did attempt to disrupt my marriage to Julian last month. Tell him, Jack.”
Jack Figg nodded, focusing on Lorne, who had pulled up a chair and sat down next to Shane. Jack began to explain. “My operatives and I thwarted a band of yobbos who were about to come down into Pennistone village and start trouble. Serious harm to the church and everyone in it was fortunately averted.”
“How did you find out?” Lorne asked, raising a blond brow.
“We got it from the horse’s mouth, so to speak,” Jack murmured. “From someone who was involved. But I prefer not to say who.”
Gideon leaned across the table and asked Paula and Shane, “Do you want me to make some phone calls for you? I agree that Evan should rest for a few hours, since it’s going to be a long day, and into the evening. But I’m totally free.”
“Not anymore you’re not,” Linnet teased. “You’re very much taken.”
“Yes, I am, and it’s great,” Gideon replied, smiling from ear to ear.
15
The fruitwood casket, scrolled with silver, had stood on the Queen Anne chest for Paula’s entire life. Many times in the past she had asked her grandmother where the key was, and Emma had always told her it was lost. The casket had been intriguing to everyone, because Emma would never explain what was in it, if anything.
But not anymore. Not only did it have its silver key in its silver escutcheon but the entire family knew what the mystery box had contained. Letters from Glynnis Hughes; Evan’s grandmother, written in the fifties to Emma Harte here at Pennistone Royal. And it was the letters which had solved Evan’s identity. Once Paula had found the key and opened the casket, she had discovered that Robin Ainsley, Emma’s favorite son, had been the father of Glynnis’s child, Owen Hughes, and Evan was therefore Emma’s great-granddaughter from America.
With Evan on her mind, Paula walked across the upstairs parlor and into her bedroom, her eyes focused on the casket. Lifting it down, she carried it back to her oval Georgian desk near the window in the parlor and smoothed her hand across the lid. On it was a small silver plaque; it was engraved with the initials E.H., which stood for Emma Harte. But they could also stand for Evan Harte, and perhaps, more than to anyone else in the family, this lovely old box should belong to Evan.
I’m going to give it to her, Paula decided, lifting the lid, looking at the faded, red-velvet lining. It was empty, since Paula had given Glynnis’s letters to Emma tied with blue ribbon to Evan last year. And she must also have the diamond star, Paula suddenly thought; it will match the diamond star earrings Emily has given her for a wedding present.
Smiling to herself, almost laughing, Paula stood up and hurried back into her bedroom, opened the wooden jewelry box which stood on her dressing table, and took out the Victorian star brooch. It was very old, too; it had been given to Emma Harte by Arthur Ainsley’s mother when Emma married Arthur in the 1920s, along with a pair of matching diamond earrings. Paula was laughing to herself because she was thinking of her cousin Emily, who years ago had asked Emma if she could borrow “those old diamond earrings of yours, Grandy.” Grandy had shaken her head and said, “I didn’t know diamonds got old, Emily, but of course you can borrow them.” Later, Emma had given the earrings to Emily, because her mother, Elizabeth, had been an Ainsley.
Evan was also part Ainsley, through Robin, so she should have the brooch which belonged with the earrings, Paula thought, and everything would be neat and tidy that way. She had no trouble remembering how much her grandmother liked to keep things straight in her head, in her business, and in her life. Neat and tidy, Emma had called it.
The sound of the door opening and Lorne calling, “Mother, are you here?” brought Paula hurrying out into the parlor, the brooch still in her hand.
“Darling, what is it?” she asked, staring at her eldest son.
“Can we talk for a few minutes?” Lorne said, joining her near the fireplace, sitting down on a sofa.
“But of course we can. You sound anxious, Lorne. Is everything all right with you?”
“It is, Mums, yes. Except that I worry a lot about you these days, you’ve seemed so tired lately.”
“I have been, actually, Lorne. Since before Christmas. But now this wedding is finally happening today, I’m sure I’m going to be much better. It’s been a worry.”
“Because of that bloody cousin of yours?”
“Only partially. There’s been a lot to organize with Emily. She so wanted Gideon’s marriage to be perfect, and in a way she was cheated this morning. I feel sorry for her in that sense.”
“Because she didn’t see Evan walking down the aisle? Standing at the altar with Gideon? Is that what you mean?”
“Yes, I do. But she saw the need for the secret ceremony, immediately it was suggested, and the reception is going to be both beautiful and glamorous. I told her she’ll see Evan and Gideon go onto the floor for the first dance, and she knows that will take the place of her being at the actual
ceremony.”
Lorne shook his head, looking across at his mother, and said, in the quietest of voices, “Do you really think Ainsley is dangerous?”
“I’m afraid I do … through other people acting on his behalf. He would never be caught red-handed, he’s far too smart for that. Let’s not forget that he is a Harte, whatever else he is.”
“Too bad,” Lorne muttered and went on, “Jack told me a short while ago to watch myself at all times, That I could well be a target because I’m your son, and also that I’m an easy target because I’m so damned visible as an actor.”
“You must listen to Jack,” Paula exclaimed, her voice rising an octave. “He’s right. Maybe you should have a bodyguard; a lot of famous actors and actresses do, as you well know.”
“Not for me, Mums, thanks for the suggestion anyway. I’ll keep my eyes open and watch my step, as Jack has cautioned me to do. But Ainsley can’t disrupt the reception, that’s a foregone conclusion. There’s so much security here at Pennistone Royal, a fly couldn’t get in.” He grinned. Then his eyes went to the diamond brooch and he asked, “What’s that you’re holding? The famous Ainsley pin?”
Paula smiled. “I’m going to give it to Evan today, since she is a descendant of Arthur Ainsley, and Emily’s given her the matching earrings, the ones Grandy gave her years ago. They belong with the brooch, it’s a matched set. And now it’s going to be complete again.”
“That’s nice of you and Emily, passing down family heirlooms. A rather charming tradition, actually. Anyway, I also came up to ask you what the drill is for this afternoon now that everything’s going to take place here.”
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