Page 69 of The Return of the Rake

The Mermaid’s Tale, Little Valentine, 30th October 1815.

“Oh, Hilda, do stop sobbing. It’s a celebration, not a wake!” Anne exclaimed, hugging her old friend to her.

“I know it,” Mrs Fairway sniffled. “Only you looked so beautiful walking down the aisle, and that wicked man looked so proud and h-happy.”

Anne’s throat tightened at the memory. He had looked proud, so very proud and happy. “He did, didn’t he?” she said, her voice trembling.

“Oh, don’t you start!” Mrs Fairway protested, half laughing, half crying. “Run along now and see to your guests. I’m quite all right and, unless I miss my guess, that husband of yours won’t take much more.”

“And you’ll be content here, won’t you, while Jasper and I go away on honeymoon?”

“Content?” the lady retorted with some asperity. “With the place to myself, no cooking, no guests, nothing to do but please myself? No, my love, I’ll be utterly wretched,” she said dryly, before shooing Anne away with instructions to mingle.

Anne laughed, hurrying over to the Countess of Beaumarsh, who had delighted her by attending the wedding.

“Clementine, how elegant you look! You put me quite in the shade with those Parisian fashions you have brought to town. I am all envy. You do realise Madame Auguste has been following you about with a sketch pad, drawing every item you are wearing?”

Clementine laughed. “Well, good luck to her. You know I haven’t much interest in fashion, but Beau finds such delight in it. One must keep up with him,” she said, rolling her eyes, despite the audible affection in her voice.

“You are happy?” Anne asked, though it was a foolish question, for Clementine glowed with it, and her husband was never far from her side.

“More than I could ever have dreamed but never mind that. I am dying to know everything about Mr King. He looks rather intimidating,” she mused.

Anne laughed, wondering what her friend would think if she knew the entire truth. “I shall tell you, but not right now. There’s not the time to do the story justice.”

“Then you must come and stay with us the moment you can,” Clementine insisted. “Oh, and while I remember, Bea invited you too. She was so sorry not to come but Stonehaven finds travelling such a trial. He sends his best wishes too, by the way, and said to tell this Mr King that he’d better look after you, or else!”

Anne laughed, hearing the words spoken exactly as Stonehaven would have said them and feeling a rush of affection for her old friend. “You’ve seen them, then?”

“Yes, we came directly from Haven House. They are doing splendidly, and the way Stonehaven is finding his way around that enormous old house is a wonder.”

“I’m so glad,” Anne said with a sigh, glancing across the room to find Jasper watching her. She smiled, her heart fluttering with anticipation and impatience, then suddenly realised she had not heard a word more that Clementine had said. Tearing her eyes from the only person she truly wished to be with, Anne forced her attention back to her friend. “I beg your pardon, what did you say? I’m afraid I was woolgathering,” she said contritely.

Clementine snorted. “No, you weren’t. You were wishing me and everyone else to the devil. Not that I blame you in the least. Go on, go to him and slip away. I’ll make your excuses.”

“Oh, Clementine, do you think I—”

“I think the poor man might do something dreadful if you don’t,” Clementine retorted, laughing. “Go, go. Don’t worry about a thing. I shall play hostess. I’m getting rather good at it,” she added with a wink.

Anne did not need asking again and hurried away.

King sighed, wondering how it was possible to be so deliriously happy and so damned aggravated all at once. For Anne’s sake, he was delighted by how many people had come to the wedding and wished them well, and he was glad the wedding breakfast had been deemed such a success, but now he wanted them all to go to the devil.

“King?”

He turned, smiling despite his impatience as he saw Alfie holding out a hand. King shook it warmly.

“My sister sent Anne her apologies. She was so dreadfully disappointed not to come but she’s still feeling wretched and has a nose like a beacon,” he said cheerfully. “The poor thing hates being ill and is a dreadful patient, I can tell you.”

King nodded, sorry for the woman but not much caring if she came or not. He lowered his voice, relieved to have this chance to speak to Alfie before they left for their honeymoon.

“Did you have any success?”

Alfie grinned at him and reached into his coat pocket. “Here.”

King tucked the sealed paper away without looking at it. “What is it?”

“You’ll see, but it’s the best you could have hoped for.”