WHEN DREAMS COME TRUE

by When Dreams Come True(Lit)

  If his mother was surprised to see them arrive home soaked to the skin, she didn’t make a comment… although Pierce thought Rawlins hid a smile.

  They went to their room, bathed, and made love the rest of the night.

  The next morning, Eden sent Betsy to the Widow Haskell’s for her dresses. Pierce found Eden later putting the clothes away herself in the wardrobe.

  “Where’s Betsy?” he asked.

  “She wasn’t feeling well so I sent her home.” She hung the green lace dress in the wardrobe. “You know, the dress I was wearing yesterday is hopelessly ruined from the saltwater. Neither Mrs. Meeks or Mrs. Ivy working together could save it a second time and they both let me know it.”

  “Don’t tell me those two are starting to get along?” Pierce asked, sitting down on the bed by the stack of clothes.

  “Isn’t it amazing? Your mother is especially surprised. She said the two of them have been rivals since the first day she came here as a bride.” She picked up the gold lace dress and straightened it on the hanger before moving toward the wardrobe. “Pierce, Annabelle and I—”

  “What ho, you and Mother are on first names?”

  “Yes, I think she likes me.”

  “Eden, she loves you. You are one of the family now.”

  “That may be true.” She smiled at the thought. “Anyway, we saw Mrs. Willis and her friends at church last Sunday. They scurried in and out as if they were afraid Annabelle would speak to them. I suggested she go to them and deliberately say hello, daring them to snub her, but she said to do such a thing would only make matters worse. Such are the rules in society. I wonder if I wasn’t better off not knowing them… but I’m sorry that my presence has brought her discomfort.”

  “Did you tell her that?”

  “I did. She told me those women had never been her friends and she much preferred having a daughter-in-law.” She hung the dress in the wardrobe.

  “I’ll have to take you shopping,” Pierce said. “You could use a few more articles in your wardrobe. Perhaps we should go to London.”

  Eden shuddered. “I don’t care if I ever see that city again. I prefer it here. From the moment I first saw your garden, I couldn’t believe there was a more perfect spot on earth.”

  “It is perfect—now,” Pierce told her with a smile and she laughed and gave him a quick kiss on the forehead as she reached for the last dress lying on the bed, the cream silk with the pearl bodice.

  Watching her, Pierce said, “It’s unfortunate those pearls aren’t real.”

  “But they are,” Eden said. She held the bodice up for his inspection.

  Pierce thought his heart would stop. He came to his feet. “They can’t be. Pearls aren’t this large or this perfect.”

  “These are. The sultan is very wealthy. Madame Indrani said that his family vaults are filled with pearls such as these. She was upset that this was all he sent me because he considered pearls the most inferior of his treasures. Plus, she felt these were rather small even if they are the largest I’ve ever seen.”

  Pierce took the dress from her hands and ran his thumbs over the creamy pearls sewn like beads across the bodice. They glowed with a life of their own and were each perfectly matched. He could scarcely believe his eyes. He tilted back his head and laughed with the full force of his being.

  “What is so funny, Pierce?”

  He held out the dress for her to see the pearls shimmer in the light from the window. “Eden, do you not realize what these are worth? My darling, we can keep Cornish King!”

  Her lips parted in dawning awareness. Her arms came around his neck and they danced together around the room until they were both giddy with good fortune, happiness, and love.

  Pierce didn’t waste any time in sending the pearls off to London for evaluation. There were four hundred and thirty-six perfect pearls. The same day, he also wrote a letter of apology to Whitby explaining that Cornish Ring was no longer for sale.

  He and Eden didn’t have to wait long for a response concerning the pearls. The London jeweler had an immediate buyer. The duchess of Langsley purchased them for twenty-three thousand pounds for her new Court dress which she hoped would outshine the duchess of Bedford’s Court dress.

  The Penhollow coffers were once again full.

  Mrs. Willis burst into her husband’s boudoir without knocking. She wore her nightclothes and slippers. He was still fast asleep under the covers, snoring heavily.

  With both hands, she gave his shoulder a rude shake, almost rolling him out of the bed. “Wake up, Mr. Willis, wake up! Disaster has struck!”

  Mr. Willis recovered his balance and sleepily stared at his wife. “Disaster?”

  His wife threw herself dramatically into the chair opposite his bed. “Yes, disaster. My dresser has heard from the upstairs maid who learned from the cook who lives with her sister in Hobbles Moor that Lord Penhollow’s new bride is an heiress! A fabulously wealthy one!”

  Mr. Willis swung his legs over the side of the bed. “An heiress? Why, I thought Lord Penhollow’s mother said the girl was a nobody.”

  “She did, or at least that’s what I thought she said. And then there was all that nonsense about the girl losing her memory…” She paused, raising her hand to her lips “You don’t believe that could be true, do you?”

  Mr. Willis pulled off his nightcap and scratched his head. “Tell me exactly what the servants are saying.”

  His wife drew a long-suffering breath. “My dresser said the word is that Lord Penhollow’s wife has recovered her memory and he’s discovered she is a great heiress.”

  “If she’s recovered her memory, who’s her family?”

  “I don’t know. My dresser doesn’t know and she says even the new Lady Penhollow’s own maid doesn’t know. Do you think she could be. from the merchant class?” Mrs. Willis asked hopefully, thinking that would justify her snubbing the wedding invitation.

  “I don’t know,” her husband said gravely. He rose from the bed and began pacing furiously, the tail of his nightshirt flapping behind him. “Dovie, we have made an error,” he said at last.

  “An error? Oh, I’d feared you would say that. But what if she is some shopkeeper’s daughter?”

  “It doesn’t matter. Penhollow is the force to be reckoned with in Cornwall and now he is richer than ever. Besides, his wife is a countess now. You will pay a call on her and express our sincere regrets for being unable to attend the wedding. Invite them to dinner too. Yes, that will make a good impression. Oh, did we send a gift?”

  “No,” Mrs. Willis said miserably. This was not how she’d wanted matters to go. What if the new countess snubbed her after her behavior last Sunday in church?

  “Then we’d better,” Mr. Willis said, sitting at his writing desk. He pulled out paper and dipped his pen in the inkwell. “Deliver it to her personally today.”

  Mrs. Willis came to her feet, hovering anxiously around his desk. “But I have nothing to give them on such short notice.”

  Her husband frowned thoughtfully. “What of that silver centerpiece downstairs on our dining room table?”

  “Why, that’s been in my family for several generations!”

  “Then we are bloody tired of it, aren’t we? Wrap it up and present it to the new countess.”

  “But Mr. Willis—”

  “Dovie, do you ever want to return to London again?”

  “And escape the ennui of being buried alive in Cornwall? I’d do anything! Besides, Victoria is planning on a London season now.”

  “Then you won’t quibble when I tell you to package up your silver geegaw and toddle over to pay your respects to the new countess. Lord Penhollow has power, Dovie, and if we ever wish to see our fortunes reversed, we need his influence. Now off with you while I draft a note to Danbury and Baines to tell them of this new turn of events.” He turned his attention back to his writing and his wife had no choice but to do as he’d ordered.

  In spite of Pierce’s letter withdrawing the offer
, Lord Whitby arrived at Penhollow Hall demanding that Pierce sell him Cornish King.

  Eden hid in their bedroom to avoid more contact with Lord Whitby. Pierce hurried Lord Whitby down to the stables to have their discussion there rather than in his study.

  Unfortunately, Lady Danbury, Lady Baines, Mrs. Willis, and Victoria Willis all decided to call. Eden felt she had no choice but to receive them, especially since their presence made Lady Penhollow very happy. They brought some lovely wedding gifts including a very expensive silver centerpiece from Mrs. Willis.

  “Mrs. Willis, the workmanship on this piece is exquisite,” Eden said, examining the design of merhorses rising out of the waves around Neptune. “It’s so heavy. It must be quite old.”

  “One hundred and thirty-seven years to be exact,” the older woman said with a smile that appeared more like a grimace. Eden invited them all into the Garden Room, reasoning that Lord Whitby would not see her if she stayed in the back of the house.

  Overjoyed at seeing her friends and being included in their number again, Lady Penhollow quickly accepted their excuses for not attending the wedding. Even the servants were pleased. At a moment’s notice, Lucy sent up a tray of cakes that made Lady Danbury very happy. Rawlins seemed to stand taller with his chest puffed out, while Mrs. Meeks bustled around importantly.

  “Where is Lord Penhollow?” Lady Baines asked conversationally.

  “He has a visitor,” Eden answered, trying not to convey the anxiety she felt.

  “Oh,” Lady Baines said with mild interest.

  “My husband was wondering if he could call later and discuss a mining question with Lord Penhollow.”

  Eden and Lady Penhollow’s gazes met momentarily and she saw a twinkle of laughter in her mother-in-law’s eyes.

  “I’m certain that will be fine,” Eden replied, tranquil and relaxed. Everything would be all right now, she told herself. Life could not be better.

  She was offering another cake to Lady Baines when a man’s angry voice drifted in from the open windows. The women all turned in the direction of the sound.

  Lord Whitby was stomping up from the stables and coming through the garden. Pierce followed him at a more leisurely place. Whitby’s face was red with anger, his hat down low over his eyes. He shouted at Pierce, calling him vile names.

  Eden realized with a start that Pierce assumed she was still upstairs. She prayed Lord Whitby didn’t come into the house and struggled to keep her composure in front of their guests.

  “Who is that rude man?” Mrs. Willis asked.

  “Lord Whitby wishes to purchase Cornish King and can’t seem to understand Pierce refuses to sell,” Eden offered in explanation. “I am so sorry for the interruption.”

  “Lord Whitby?” Lady Danbury searched her memory and then frowned. “I remember him. He’s known for having a disagreeable temper.”

  “Eden, perhaps you should play the piano-forte for us?” Lady Penhollow asked. “To cover up the sound of his voice?”

  “I didn’t know you played,” Mrs. Willis said, and Eden couldn’t help smiling.

  “A bit. However, the pianoforte is in the other room.”

  “Well, let us go,” Mrs. Willis said. The other women quickly seconded her opinion.

  Eden had no choice but to lead them to the drawing room. Fortunately, she could see out the window that Lord Whitby was mounting his horse and would soon be leaving.

  She sat on the bench, placed her fingers on the keys, and began playing a concerto that had been adapted from harpsichord for the pianoforte.

  As always, she lost herself in the music. The women listened with rapt attention and the sound of Lord Whitby’s voice seemed to fade away—

  “I know you!”

  Startled, Eden looked up. Lord Whitby stood in the doorway. His eyes burned with righteous anger.

  He stepped into the room, ignoring the other ladies. “We’ve met before,” he announced. “At a whorehouse in London.”

  For a moment, Eden was paralyzed. She could do nothing but stare at him.

  Her guests were all too stunned to speak. Then Lady Baines said, “Have you gone quite daft, Whitby? This is the countess of Penhollow you are talking to!”

  Lady Danbury leaned toward Lady Penhollow, Victoria, and Mrs. Willis. “Bad ton, bad

  ton,“ she whispered as an indictment against Whitby. ”He’s scandalous.“

  Whitby realized he had an unintended audience. He turned to the women. “It’s she, I tell you. No one else could be so beautiful and also have her talent at the pianoforte.”

  “Whitby, have you been drinking?” Lady Danbury drawled.

  At that moment, Pierce came up behind Whitby and said in a deadly voice, “You shall meet me, sir, for that slur against my wife.”

  Whitby paled. He backed into the room, away from Pierce. “It’s her. I remember her.”

  Pierce’s hand shot out and grabbed him by the neckcloth. “You would stake your life on it?”

  Whitby’s Adam’s apple bobbed up and down. He looked nervously toward Eden and then back at Pierce. “I had been drinking quite a bit that night,” he managed to squeak out around Pierce’s choke hold.

  “Then I suggest you apologize to my lady wife.”

  “Accept my apology?” was all he croaked out.

  Eden bowed her head, too overwhelmed for a second by the close call to answer immediately. She got up from the bench and walked over to him. “I accept your apology and ask you, my lord,” she said to Pierce, “to not take this matter further.”

  “I won’t take it further, if Whitby doesn’t,” Pierce said pleasantly.

  “I… won’t.” Whitby almost choked on the words.

  “Very well, then.” Pierce released his hold and Whitby drew a great shuddering breath of relief.

  Pierce appeared totally unconcerned. “For your impertinence, Whitby, no horse from my stable will ever be sold to you. Nor is Cornish King available to you for breeding purposes.”

  Whitby could only nod.

  “And,” Pierce continued, “if I ever see your face at Penhollow Hall again, I will call you out.”

  “Yes, I understand,” Whitby said, backing toward the door. His voice sounded strained. “I’m so sorry for the interruption, ladies, and for the misunderstanding, my lady.” He nodded to Eden. “Good day to you all.”

  The second his heel touched the foyer, he whirled about and was gone. They all waited until they heard his horse riding off in the distance.

  “Well,” Lady Penhollow said. “That was rather fun. He is such an unpleasant man.”

  The other women giggled their agreement. Then Mrs. Willis changed the subject by saying the Penhollows must come to dine soon.

  “But you will come to my house first,” Lady Danbury said, as if unwilling to be outdone.

  “No, mine,” Lady Baines chimed in.

  “I said something first,” Mrs. Willis snapped, and the three began to argue.

  Lady Penhollow sat watching them with a small, contented smile on her face. Eden knew then that everything was going to be all right.

  Pierce lifted her hand and kissed the tips of her fingers. “Forever,” he promised.

  “Yes, forever,” she whispered.

  Epilogue

  Penhollow Hall, 1824

  “Mama Mama!” four-year-old Julian cried out excitedly as he ran through the garden to where Eden sat on the bench next to the fountain. His brothers, eight-year-old Giles and six-year-old Matthew, followed at a more sedate, worldly pace, while Pierce carried two-year-old Brock, the baby of the family. Asleep, Brock rested his head on his father’s shoulder.

  Pierce doted on each of his sons. They’d all been blessed with his dark good looks—although two of the boys had Eden’s green eyes—and were all excellent riders.

  “What is it, Julian?” Eden asked, setting her book aside. She was over nine months’ pregnant and definitely feeling the strains of these last few weeks of waiting.

  Julian skidded to a st
op in front of his mother. “Father showed me the money tree!” He opened his fist and there was a copper penny. “We went with all the children in Hobbles Moor and I found this all by myself.”

  “Well, aren’t you clever?” Eden said, ruffling his dark hair.

  Julian grinned with pride.

  “I helped him,” Giles interjected. “He wouldn’t have found anything without me.”

  Julian was ready to object, but Eden valued peace in her home. “I’m certain that both you boys worked together,” she said soothingly.

  Giles snorted his opinion.

  Pierce handed Brock to Betsy who had come running at the first sound of the boys’ voices. She now served as the boys’ nursemaid and dearly loved them. “I’ll just take this one and tuck him in. Come, Master Julian, it is time for your nap too.”

  Julian wasn’t happy about that until he remembered his penny. “Look, Betsy, I found a penny under the money tree.”

  “Oh, did you now? You know, magic things happen to those who have found pennies.”

  Now she had all three boys’ attention. Julian slipped his hand in hers and even Giles and Matthew trailed after her. They all loved Betsy’s stories, especially the one about the day their father had rescued a beautiful mermaid from the sea. “Well, there’s supposed to be a powerful charm in each and every penny you find under that tree…” Betsy began as she led the boys inside.

  Pierce sat down on the bench beside Eden, placing his arm around her. “How are you feeling?”

  “My back aches, Pierce. I can’t wait for this to be over.”

  “You say that with every child.”

  “Yes? Well, you’d think that after four, I’d get it right. I’m not a good pregnant woman,” she admitted.

  “You are a beautiful pregnant woman.”

  His words brought her close to tears. Mary Westchester and her husband had come to visit a few months ago as they did every year and Mary had pointed out that Pierce’s love for Eden had never dimmed over the years. Eden fingered the gold medallion she still wore around her neck and realized once again how blessed she was.

  Still… “I love my boys, but I pray this one will be a girl,” she said wistfully.