Fortunately, Verity did not give a toss where anybody was sitting. She had been seated next to Henry and he held her hand under the table.
After the wine had gone round, the duke said, “Here we all are. Your Majesty, it has become somewhat of a tradition in this house that my youngest daughter, Lady Valor, starts us off on account of threatening to never leave me and be my hostess forever. Valor?”
Verity was certain her eyes had gone wide. At least, if they were anything like the eyes of her sisters. Valor was wildly unpredictable.
Valor herself was wide-eyed. “Am I allowed?” she said.
“Why not?” the duke said.
“Because you might go to prison, Papa. On account of I’m too young. You’d have to go in my place.”
“Oh dear,” Verity whispered to Henry, “Winsome and I told her that.”
“Prison? What in the world were you planning on saying?” the duke asked.
“Now I am too intrigued, I must hear it,” the queen said. “Go on, child, nobody is going to prison.”
Valor seemed much encouraged by that assurance. “Well, I will say that just because five of my sisters have made a mistake doesn’t mean we all need to make that mistake.” She paused and stared meaningfully at Winsome. “It’s too late for Verity, but it’s not too late for you.”
These sage words of advice were met with silence, as nobody quite knew what to say to it. Suddenly, the queen laughed. She said, “Am I to understand that you are firmly against your sisters getting married? Why?”
Valor looked at the queen as if she was perplexed as to why it would need explaining. She said, “The men stare at you while you sleep. Mr. Stratton already admitted it!”
“One time,” Mr. Stratton muttered.
“I see,” Queen Charlotte said. “I suppose it is hard that you do not have your sisters by your side any longer. I suppose it is hard that they have all gone to other counties.”
“It really is!” Valor said.
“Well, young lady, consider this—I was not just sent to another county, I was sent to another country. I did not know the language or the culture very well and I did not meet my king until our wedding day.”
This, quite naturally, horrified Valor. “Did you try to run away?”
“Certainly not. I faced it,” the queen said. “And over time, the one thing I learned from the English is their ability to chin up and soldier on. As you will do, even if you find the circumstances trying.”
“Maybe I could.” Then, seeming to consider the idea, Valor said, “Do you want to see my dog? He really is tremendous.”
“Perhaps later,” the queen said kindly. “I do like a tremendous dog.”
And so, they went on very jolly after the hurdle of Valor’s speech had been cleared.
It did eventually come time for the couple to depart. Dear Lady Pegatha had given over her house and would stay at the duke’s house for the night. In the morning, the couple would set off for the Isle of Wight.
They were waved off by a crowd of people, including the Queen of England. Never had any couple been so blessed.
And then, alone. Finally.
Lady Pegatha’s household staff were the souls of discretion. A sideboard in the dining room had been set up with cold meats, cheeses, rolls, and pastries. Bottles of champagne, hock, and lemonade stood on ice blocks in porcelain buckets. Where the people were who had set it all out, Verity could not say. They had seemed to disappear into the walls.
Though it was very considerate of them, she was not at all hungry. Rather, she pointedly glanced at the stairs. Her baron smiled, grabbed a bottle of the hock and two glasses, and took her by the hand. They ran up the stairs laughing all the way.
Henry’s room in his aunt’s house was far different than what she was used to. She had grown up in a house of seven sisters and their rooms were light and airy and dusted in chiffon and pastels. This was so manly and full of dark wood and the scent of bergamot and oakmoss. It was all man, and it took her breath away.
Then Henry, her all man, took her breath away.
With four older sisters married, Verity had been well informed of all that would take place. She did find, though, that she hardly needed their information. She came to the conclusion that when one was with the right person, no particular instructions or preparations were needed.
Once Henry had removed his shirt and she saw him, the him under his well-pressed linen and perfectly tied neckcloth, she trusted her instincts. As it happened, her instincts were rather good.
