They exchanged greetings and Juliet did not waste a moment before inquiring if her wedding present—an ode calledWhen the Love is True—had been properly hung yet.
“As you are aware,” the duke said, “I early concluded that such an important piece of literature must be housed in a special room. I have spared no expense in remaking the music room into what we now call the ‘family room.’ Carpets were replaced, paper hangings selected, and the finest furniture installed. All done for the family, as I will never allow an outsider through its doors.”
“It’s marvelous, Juliet,” Rosalind said. “And Viola, the portrait you painted of us is hung in there too.”
“Any gift from the Bennington family will find its way to that place of honor,” Conbatten said. “I will never house these remarkable gifts anywhere else.”
Soon after, Beatrice and Van Doren, being just across the road, were led into the drawing room.
After greetings were exchanged, meaningful looks were passed between the sisters. Juliet said, rather forcefully, “Conbatten, Van Doren, come and meet Chester while we wait for everybody else.”
Clever Juliet. As she had not asked those two gentlemen whether they cared to meet Chester or not, they were stuck with it.
Viola slipped off to the far end of the room with Beatrice and Rosalind while Juliet and Cordelia informed Van Doren and the duke of everything they knew about Chester. And probably some things they didn’t, but thought must be true.
Viola, Beatrice, and Rosalind sat themselves in a cozy corner. Viola said, “Now, before I tell you of my progress, you will tell me of your own. Rosalind, how does Conbatten treat you?”
Rosalind leaned back and looked very dreamy. “He is wonderful. You would be surprised to know how many times danger has lurked round me, but Conbatten always spots it. Just now, on our way over here, he noted a carriage driven by an intemperate coachman and he threw his arms round me lest our own carriage was forced into a sudden swerve to avoid it. It seems he is always saving me from something or other.”
“Now, I did wonder,” Viola said, “if all those stories that go round about him are really true.”
“The bath,” Beatrice said, laughing.
“Yes,” Viola said, “the idea that he takes a bath at precisely ninety-eight degrees.”
“Oh yes, that is perfectly true,” Rosalind said. “I often join him in it.”
“Do you?” Viola said, intrigued by the idea.
Rosalind nodded. “I wear my best diamond necklace and we have all of our important marriage conversations in it while we drink champagne.”
“What are important marriage conversations?” Viola asked, wishing to be prepared for what they were comprised of.
“Well, I might say that I was thinking of changing the wallpaper in the dining room and Conbatten will say I must have whatever I wish. Or I might say that I adore the emerald ring he just bought for me, and he’ll say he’s decided I’d better have a necklace to match it.”
“That’s rather smashing,” Beatrice said. “I wonder if I could talk Van Doren into a bath.”
“He is such a curmudgeon,” Viola said, “except when it comes to you. I imagine you could talk him into anything. I trust he remains very solicitous of you?”
“Exceedingly so,” Beatrice said. Then she dropped her voice very low. “I expect that care to only increase very soon. I am with child and past the danger, but he does not know it yet.”
Viola and Rosalind grasped their sister’s hands. “Wonderful!” Rosalind exclaimed.
Viola glanced down to her sister’s midsection. It was indeed looking rather thicker than it ever had.
“He does not notice, though?” Rosalind asked. “When you…well, when you are…less dressed?”
Beatrice giggled. “Hehasnoticed my recent expansion, but I have been clever about it. I fret to him that I am eating too many cakes, and really, I am eating everything in sight these days. He says I may grow as big as a house and he will not mind it. I will tell him soon, I just wished to get to Town first. I feel wonderful, but if he’d heard the news in Somerset, he’d never have allowed me into a carriage.”
“Good thinking,” Viola said.
“Now Viola, we can wait no longer,” Rosalind said. “Have you seen Lord Baderston?”
“I have,” she said. “He is everything wonderful and I will see him on the morrow too. He took my supper at Almack’s and we had an in-depth conversation about our opinions on things. We are so similar!”
“And he understands your ideas about loyalty?” Rosalind asked.
“Yes, and he seemed quite eager to prove his loyalty.”
