Luke looked on as the three of them began to cry. He fished in a pocket and procured a very sodden and decidedly useless handkerchief. He glanced at Natalie who shrugged. Lady Cotswalts placed a gentle hand on his arm.
“Let us get you into something dry. We do not want you catching your death before your wedding.” Lady Cotswalts led him from the room.
“I did not bring anything with me to change into.” Luke swallowed.I really should have planned this better, why does Emily always seem to bring out such madness in me?
“I shall see if Alexander or Peter has something you can borrow.” Natalie looked him up and down. “I suspect Alexander might be a better fit, though you may have to roll up the sleeves and trousers.”
“Excellent. See what you can sort out.” Lady Cotswalts gestured to a nearby servant. “What guest rooms are prepared?”
“The room his grace stayed in, the guest room by the Eastern Library. I can have one of the maids light a fire, your ladyship.” The servant curtseyed.
“Yes. Please see to it. And perhaps a towel or two.” Lady Cotswalts muttered.
“I shall see myself to my room, and await Emberly in my chambers.” Luke made to follow the servant, but Lady Cotswalts slipped an arm through his.
“Nonsense, dear boy.” She smiled at him. “I would like to get to know you. To hear of your plans for the wedding and my dearest Emily.”
“My plans?” Luke asked.
“Of course, I expect you will be married by special license. I suppose you could do the reading of the banns and all that, but I do not get the impression you or my daughter will have the patience for such things.” Lady Cotswalts stroked her chin thoughtfully.
Luke swallowed and glanced over his shoulder at Emily. She was still entangled in her sisters embrace, but her head was visible. She looked back at him, her eyes brimming with tears and a smile on her face.
“Help!” he mouthed.
She paused, looked at her sisters and then flashed him a wicked grin.
“Please?” He tried to look imploringly at her.I was not supposed to be the one trying to win over someone’s mother, I have no idea what I am doing.
“Penance.” She mouthed back.
He shook his head.I suppose I did say I would do anything.
He would spend the rest of his life proving that he would always choose Emily. And he let her mother lead him away, knowing that they would have all the time in the world to love one another.
Epilogue
“Now, Emily, mother always told us to be ladylike and never curse, but I am telling you now that there is one notable exception to this rule.” Rose reached over and wiped the sweat from Emily’s brow.
Emily was in her room at Warren castle. Pain wracked her and her breathing came in hard, harsh pants. She felt sure she would split in two, that if something did not change soon she would die. She gripped the sheets of the lying-in bed with white knuckles.
“And what is that?” Emily panted, letting out another groan.
“Childbirth.” Jane said simply. “You may curse as much as you like.”
The midwife, Anna, nodded. “Some women swear it helps with the pain, Your Grace.”
Emily let out a string of expletives that would have made a sailor blush. The pain was still awful, but the shocked expression on Lucy’s face was, at the very least, amusing.
“How have you both done this more than once?” Emily grimaced.
“The mind does its best to forget the experience.” Jane said.
“Besides there is nothing quite like the beauty of holding a babe in your arms for the first time.” Rosed added, smiling at her. “And I will add that the first one is always the hardest and generally takes the most time to arrive.”
Emily let out another string of curse words, her jaw clenched so tight that she was surprised none of her teeth broke. She let out another cry of pain, and Jane took a hand in hers.
“Just breathe, little sister. All will be well.” Jane soothed.
