Page 95 of A Murder at Kew Gardens

Grandmother continued as though she had not spoken.

“Petunia.”

“Yes, Grandmother?”

“You may carry the ring.”

Petunia went very still.

“The ring?”

“If you can be trusted.”

“I can.”

“We shall see.”

Grandmother walked out.

There was silence for perhaps three seconds. Then the entire room erupted again.

I stepped back and looked at Cosmos.

He had Claire’s hand in his. He was too thin. There were shadows under his eyes that would take weeks to leave.

But he was home. He was free. And in three days he was going to marry the woman he loved.

For the first time in nearly two weeks, there was nothing left to rescue my brother from.

And I had no idea what to do with myself.

Chapter

Thirty-Five

A Wedding

Grandmother arranged the wedding in three days. I do not know why this surprised any of us.

By Thursday morning, a special license had been acquired, a clergyman had been produced, and the drawing room at Wilton Place had been turned into a garden of blue delphiniums and hydrangeas, and white roses. Mrs. Ellison had discharged her Easter debt, because the flowers were magnificent.

Claire arrived at half past ten in pale blue silk, the waist of which Grandmother's woman had sat up two nights adjusting. No veil. No attendants beyond Chrissie and me. She looked beautiful. Not bridal. There had been no time for bridal. But happy, and that was the better thing.

"You are certain?" I asked, while Chrissie worked the last button at her wrist.

Claire found me in the glass. "About marrying your brother?"

"About doing it today."

"I would have done it yesterday."

I smiled, because there was nothing in the world I wanted more for the two of them than this.

Then Steele's voice came up from the hall, low and unhurried, answering something of Grandmother's.

Grandmother had invited him. Of course she had invited him. He had spent weeks keeping Cosmos from the gallows, had turned half of Scotland Yard to the business, and had very nearly got himself killed.

He belonged here. I had simply not thought what it would be to stand in a room with him among a veritable garden.