“Lord Darling, Marquess of Basingstoke,” Juliet said.
“That particular marquess is to be on his way here shortly,” the earl said, “by way of somebody’s uncle.”
Before Beatrice could ask how somebody’s uncle had got involved in Lord Darling’s future, the earl said, “Darden and I will wait our turn to see Lily and we will have a second glass of ale to restore ourselves, if one of the footmen will be so good.”
“That is a fine notion, Father,” Darden said. “And I will write to Hamill about club matters—I left some things up in the air on account of our speedy departure. In any case, far be it for us men to try to get ahead of a pile of women when a baby is involved.”
That was all the convincing anybody needed, though Cordelia privately thought Darden dead wrong in his ideas. As far as she could see it, Van Doren had been a veritable mother hen during Lily’s illness and she very much approved of it.
They had all leapt up and run up the stairs to the nursery.
Beatrice had been nesting in the months leading up to her confinement, but it perhaps came as a surprise the exact extent of that nesting. They had all seen the piles of clothes embroidered and the stuffed toys made and they’d been perfectly aware that she had grand plans for a nursery.
However, when they’d left for Town, Lily had been still in a small set of rooms next to Beatrice’s bedchamber. Now, the nursery had been finished and the nurse and Lily had made their move there.
It was entirely charming. There were soft colored forest scenes painted on the walls, filled with fairies peeking round leaves and an owl on a high branch overseeing it all. The crib was painted white and intricately carved with flowers and greenery. There were two large dressers to contain all the embroidered clothing Beatrice had worked on. Felted animals to play with sat in every corner and airy white crepe curtains let the sun through. Two large chairs in pale blue velvet sat on either side of the fireplace.
It was a magical little place.
The nurse curtsied as they came in and stepped aside to reveal Lily determinedly holding herself up on her feet by way of one of the chairs.
Her round chubby cheeks dimpled at seeing she had visitors. She boldly took steps away from the chair, wobbled, and collapsed on the rug. She laughed and seemed delighted with herself.
Lily promptly got on hands and knees, as that was still her speediest mode of transportation, and got to a stuffed sheep. She gamely held it up to show to everyone as if it were the crown jewels.
All was well. Though she’d known it from hearing it, Cordelia felt as if shereallyknew it from seeing it.
Her niece was just as cheerful as she had been when last they’d seen her.
Lily had come through.
Beatrice picked up her daughter and her stuffed sheep. “Now, my dear Lily, we shall like to hear all about Aunt Cordelia’s season. It has been cut short on account of your croup, but we will be interested to know what has happened so far.”
Nobody could be sure if Lily was in fact interested, but she did drop the sheep and clap her hands rather enthusiastically.
A sound behind them made Cordelia turn.
“What are all of you doing here?”
There was Van Doren, looking as cranky as ever, and looking quite ridiculous in his nightdress and a bright red nose to go with it.
“They have come to check on Lily, my darling,” Beatrice said, laughing at the sight. “Back to bed with you before you come down with a fever.”
Van Doren sighed. “I was rather hoping thiswasa fever dream,” he said, wandering back down the hall.
Everything was just as it ought to be. Lily was well, Van Doren was cranky, and Beatrice was delighted with him.
Only a few hours ago, Cordelia had feared such a happy outcome would never be.
“Let us all arrange ourselves on the carpet and admire Lily while you tell me everything, Cordy.”
“You will not believe the everything, Bea,” Juliet said, throwing herself down.
Ah yes. The everything. Lord Harveston.
As Lily wobbled on her fat little legs, tipped over, bravely got up again, shoved her stuffed sheep into their faces, and used any chair she could grab to steady herself, Cordelia told Beatrice all about Lord Harveston.
*
