Page 135 of Aurelia

“That is exactly what I will do, Roland. But first I must ask Guustin and Nora if they will come.”

“No,” he corrected, slipping his hands around her waist and lifting her into his lap. “First you must give your brilliant lord and master-to-be a proper kiss and cuddle for coming up with such a perfect idea.”

“Hmm. A proper kiss and cuddle?” she asked, wiggling her bottom on his lap in a way that was destined to leave him in torment. “But is this really proper, Lord Crewe?”

He laughed. “Oh darling, not if you do it correctly. Not at all proper…”

And he proceeded to show her exactly what he meant.

Chapter 30

Aurelia’s heart swelled as she looked around the drawing room at the small gathering of friends and family who’d come together today to celebrate their wedding.

The ceremony and breakfast had passed in a blur and soon everyone would be leaving. She wanted to brand the moment into her mind so that she could enjoy it later at her leisure.

Celsa was sitting next to Sir Gideon and the two were engaged in what seemed to be a heated argument, at least on one side. The handsome baronet looked amused while Celsa was incensed. Aurelia could not help feeling a little relief that her new daughter was not, for once, casting languishing gazes at Guustin, who was chatting with his mother and Larissa. Whatever the three of them were talking about was causing smiles all around.

Viscount and Viscountess Lampton and Baron and Baroness Shield—who had, on surprisingly short notice, made the journey from their estates just south of Edinburgh—were chatting with Roland.

They had arrived the day before and stayed last night at Castle Crewe. Aurelia had been concerned about how they would react to the presence of Nora and Guustin at the festivities and had been pleasantly relieved when both women had been civil, if not effusive, to Nora, who’d arrived shortly before the ceremony that morning. If they thought it odd to have the mother of Roland’s illegitimate son at his wedding, they were too well-bred to comment on it.

“You look happy.”

She glanced up at the sound of Guustin’s voice and smiled. “I am. Very happy.”

“I am glad,” he said, sitting down on the settee beside her and lowering his voice to say, “And I am also very grateful for your generosity toward me and my mother, not just for today, but for Christmas.”

“I am so delighted she is willing to make the journey, Guustin. For a while I worried that we would never be able to convince her to go to Wych House.”

He chuckled. “There was no possible way she could hold out when you, me, Celsa, and my father all weighed in. We are both looking forward to it and it will certainly be an interesting Christmas.”

“My brother and sisters will adore you,” she assured him. “As for my mother and father?” She shrugged. “They are generally too involved in their own affairs to take much notice of anyone else.”

“It really does not bother you to see my mother and father together?” he asked, a wrinkle of concern between his green eyes as he turned to where Roland had joined Larissa and Nora.

“I adore your mother,” she said, meaning it. Every now and then Aurelia felt a twinge of jealousy that Nora and Roland shared a child, but there was nothing left between Nora and Roland except the mutual love of their son.

Roland and Aurelia had both agreed that they would all travel to Hampshire together. They would leave in Roland’s traveling coach tomorrow, even though that only left them one night to celebrate their wedding. But they were already getting a late start and would be arriving at Wych House a week after all the others, so they did not want to delay.

Aurelia was so happy that she had done as Roland suggested and had written to Phoebe telling her about Nora and Guustin and asking her sister if she thought it would be alright for all of them to come for the holiday.

Phoebe’s reply had come back immediately. She had been delighted by Aurelia’s marriage and had insisted that Aurelia bring whomever she wanted for Christmas. Regarding ex-lovers and illegitimate children, Phoebe had amusingly written, Paul and I will welcome all your family with open arms. And he says it will be your new husband’s duty to draw our mother’s fire as Paul has already had to do so for six months.

Aurelia’s only regret was that she would miss the first week of the celebrations. But fortunately, several of her sisters would be going to London right after the holiday, so she would see them in town, as well.

All too soon the small party began to break up and their wedding guests began to take their leave.

Nora and Guustin were the first to go. “I still have a bit of packing to do,” Nora said, her eyes tired from the day’s exertions but amusement glittering in them. “I am so excited about our journey tomorrow that I doubt I’ll get any sleep at all tonight.”

The next to depart were the Lamptons and Shields, both of whom reminded Aurelia and Roland that they had promised to visit their estates—which bordered each other—next summer.

“You can take a look at my collection when you come to stay,” Viscount Lampton said, sliding a sly look at Roland. “And perhaps you might consider doing a spot of work for me. I can offer wages far more generous than Crewe.”

Aurelia lifted her eyebrow at Roland. “Hmm, higher wages?”

Roland laughed ruefully and shook his head. “Lord, Lampton! Don’t be giving her any ideas. She already has plenty.”

Last, but not least, to leave were Gideon and Larissa.