Page 69 of A Taste of Miss Honey

Chapter 22

All Duties Paid in Full.

The Vicarage, Little Valentine, East Sussex, 5th April 1816

“Izzy, Izzy, look at me!” Caspar said, jumping up and down on Izzy’s bed. The little boy had been thoroughly overexcited ever since Beatrice had arrived with her husband, Lord Stonehaven. To have Clemmie and Bea and Izzy together all at once was so thrilling to him he’d been thoroughly naughty all morning, but no one had the heart to scold him.

“Oh, you little devil, there you are! I am sorry, Miss Izzy,” Mrs Mabbs exclaimed, bustling into Izzy’s bedroom, which was already bursting at the seams. Clemmie, Bea, and Polly rushed about as Janet bore their good-natured advice with a placid smile, everyone intent on getting Izzy ready for the big day.

“Don’t worry, Mrs Mabbs, he’s just a little high-spirited today,” Izzy said with a laugh, as Mrs Mabbs caught the boy around the waist and hauled him from the room under her arm as if she were carrying a rolled carpet.

“I’m flying!” Caspar squealed, not in the least dismayed by this brusque treatment.

Bea closed the door after them, shaking her head. “He’s grown so much. I can hardly believe it.”

“I know, like a little weed,” Izzy agreed, picking up the letter she had received from Angel the day before.

The wicked girl had not said a word as Izzy had stood beside her, and they had wept together over their loss. She had held Angel’s hand as Papa had committed Black Jack Baxter’s soul to the hereafter and not once had she spoken of her intention to leave. Izzy opened the letter once more, reading the words again.

Dearest Izzy,

My best and only friend. I am so wretched that I cannot attend your wedding. Darling Pops would have me ignore all these stupid mourning rules and celebrate with you, but I am not quite so brave as to endure the censure of everyone in the town, and even if I was, I would not hurt Mama so, for she would be mortified.

Besides which, Black Jack left me a mystery to unravel, a treasure to uncover, if you can believe it. By the time you read this, I will be gone, but I will be back soon, once I have fulfilled the blood oath I swore to him and inherit the fortune he has left me, assuming I am clever and brave enough to find it. Don’t worry for me, love, I’ve pirate blood in my veins, remember? I’ll see you soon, my dearest friend. Be happy.

Yours ever,

Angel.

“These are lovely, Izzy,” Clemmie said, bringing her attention back to the here and now. Izzy smiled, tucking the letter away as her sister gazed down at the delicate necklace of deep blue sapphires and diamonds that Beau had given her as a wedding present.

There were matching jewelled hair combs too, and earrings, as well as two beautiful bracelets, and Izzy knew they would look splendid against the silver blue gown she had chosen to wear for the ceremony.

“I’m so glad you are going to stay in Little Valentine, Izzy,” Clementine said, watching as Janet secured the pretty combs in Izzy’s carefully arranged hair. “I think Papa missed you dreadfully while you were gone. If we all left him, he’d be rather devastated, not that he would ever let on.”

Izzy nodded. “I know. But I will be gone for a while, on my honeymoon. I’m glad he knows I’ll be back to stay, though. Not that it will be the same for him with us at the castle. I’m afraid the house will feel very empty.”

“At least he still has Caspar and little Daisy,” Bea said, sitting down on the edge of the bed. “They’ll be a comfort to him.”

Izzy nodded as she lifted her chin so Janet could put the necklace on her, but she still felt rather guilty. It was foolish, she knew, for Papa was well-loved by everyone, and would never be short of visitors, but still she worried for him.

“There,” Janet said, stepping back to admire her handiwork.

“Oh!”

All the women sighed happily as Izzy turned to face them, and Bea fumbled about for her handkerchief, hurriedly passing it to Clemmie, who dissolved into tears.

“Oh, our l-little Izzy, all grown up and g-getting married!” she wailed, as everyone gathered around to comfort her.

The Vicarage, Little Valentine, East Sussex, 5th April 1816

“Are you all right, old man? You look a little dazed,” Hartwell observed, sitting at his ease among the debris of a splendid wedding breakfast.

The ceremony had gone off without a hitch, if you didn’t count the vicar sniffing with emotion at intervals.

“I am,” Ben admitted, staring at his wife, who was sitting with her father and sisters and laughing merrily. The sound wrapped around his heart, making it feel oddly light. “Dazed, that is. I can’t quite believe it.”

Hartwell nodded, looking oddly solemn for once. “You’re a lucky fellow. If ever I find myself a girl that suits me as well as your lady suits you…. Well, I shall snatch her up, just see if I don’t.”