Page 48 of Truly, Madly, Daring

“Yes!” Delia replied enthusiastically. “She has the most extraordinary eyes, such a vivid green. I’ve never seen such a colour.”

“Ah, you’ve not met Bedwin and his sister, then. She’s very like them,” Aunt Lucy said.

“And is she blushing scarlet?” Wrexham asked them with amusement.

“Yes, the poor dear.” Aunt Lucy chuckled. “Now, we had better go into dinner. Cook has delayed and delayed it and she’ll be beside herself by now.”

Emmeline let out a sigh of relief, both that the critique of her assets was over, and that she could eat. “I’m famished,” she admitted to Wrexham, taking his arm.

He patted her hand and smiled. “Fear not, pet. Our cook is a wonder. You’ll be well fed, I promise. But… Emmeline?”

She turned to him, waiting as he lifted his hand to brush the back of his fingers against her cheek, then trailed his finger down the bridge of her nose. “You were right, it isn’t turned up at all.”

Emmeline laughed and reached up to kiss him.

“I told you so. Now, for heaven’s sake, take me into dinner before I faint from hunger.”

18th of February 1845, Cawston Hall, Cawston, Norfolk.

Emmeline blinked sleepily as the mattress shifted beneath her.

“Wrexham?” she said, reaching a hand out to the place beside her where her husband had been.

“Here,” he said, his voice low as he found her hand and squeezed it before letting go. “Go back to sleep.”

Emmeline stared blearily at the clock on the bedside table. “It’s barely six in the morning! Where are you going at this hour? Come back to bed.”

“I’d like that more than anything,” he said wistfully. “But I suspect either Cecil or my father will come crashing in upon us at any moment and I’m damned if I’ll greet them in my nightshirt. I’m going to take a bath and get dressed.”

Emmeline let out a groan of protest. “I dislike that man more intensely with every day that passes.”

“You’ll get no argument here, pet, but you don’t need to get up just yet. Go back to sleep. I’ll have Janet bring you some breakfast in an hour, how’s that?”

In the dim light, she saw him walk around the bed, tying the sash on his dressing gown as he went. He stood beside her, and Emmeline stared up at him.

“No, if he’s coming, I’m going to be right beside you,” she said, dragging her unwilling limbs into a sitting position. She stifled a yawn and heard Wrexham chuckle.

“Stubborn little thing, aren’t you?”

“I’m not little, and you don’t know the half of it,” she retorted.

Wrexham bent, and she moved towards him, touching his face with her hand before their lips met. “I’m beginning to, my lady,” he said with quiet amusement. “At least take your breakfast in bed, for my sake. Then I shan’t feel so guilty for waking you.”

“Very well. If it pleases you.”

“It does. I shall have it sent up.”

With a sigh, Emmeline rearranged the pillows and sat back against them while Wrexham walked through his dressing room to the lavish bathing room, which had both hot and cold running water. A short time later, she heard the muffled sounds of Wrexham speaking to Lennox, his valet, and closed her eyes until Janet arrived with her breakfast on a tray.

“It looks like it will be a fine day, my lady. The rain has gone, and the skies are clear. We may even see some sunshine,” Janet said, and set the tray before her.

Emmeline gazed upon the simple repast of hot chocolate, toasted crumpets, and a dish each of butter and jam with pleasure.

“Cook asked that you let her know your preferences as soon as you are able, but I assured her this would suit you for this morning. I hope that’s correct?”

“Perfectly,” Emmeline said happily, slathering a crumpet with butter. “And if I haven’t said so, you’ve managed the past few days marvellously, Janet. I know it’s been terribly trying for you, what with us being new to each other and that awful journey, but you’ve been an absolute wonder. Truly.”

Janet went a becoming shade of pink. “Thanks ever so, my lady. Truth be told, I’ve enjoyed it. I’d never left London before Mr Humboldt came and fetched me. When I realised it was an elopement, well, I thought it were dreadfully romantic, like, and I’ve never dressed a marchioness before, and what with you being such a beauty. Reckon I’ve died and gone to heaven, I have.”