Page 129 of A Much Maligned Miss

Caroline held out her left hand and Teddy inspected them solemnly, running a finger over the sparkling emerald there. “Yes,” he said, nodding. “You’re married alright. Mama has a sapphire engagement ring, and Miss Pomfrey wanted a ruby one, but Captain Gerrard can only afford a garnet on his wages.”

“Ah, the unfortunate captain,” Gervaise murmured. “Tell me, is his sorry excuse of a brother-in-law to take part in this wedding?” He waved a hand to indicate they should continue and they started up the stairs together.

“Miss Pomfrey wouldn’t marry him without her brother there,” Teddy confirmed. “It’s too bad for he wanted Carstairs to stand up with him as groomsman, not Pomfrey!” He turned to Caroline. “Did you have your brother at your wedding, Miss Halperston?”

She shook her head. “No, only Reg and Mrs. Chelmsley were there besides the vicar.”

“I must say, I prefer Reg to your brother,” Teddy confessed artlessly. “Edgar Needham’s a bit of a poor stick, isn’t he?”

Caroline’s lips quivered and Gervaise decided it was laughter rather than tears this time. “Why do you say that?” she asked unevenly.

“Well, he’s not much fun, is he? The whole journey here he was casting a damper on everything and looking sick as a parrot,” Teddy said critically. “And he looked like he was going to faint when he came back to the house earlier. Colfax had to help him up the stairs and he was moaning the whole time about disgrace and ruin. I thought he had an injury, but Mama said it was just distress of mind and I shouldn’t pester him.”

It was clear from Teddy’s stern expression that he considered such behavior most unmanly. They had reached the landing by this point, and a maid was waiting there quietly to lead Caroline away to her bath.

“You go on ahead to take your bath,” Gervaise said, dropping a kiss on Caroline’s brow. “Teddy and I will proceed to the doll wedding. Effie packed up your things for you, and your dressing robe will be ready and waiting. You can join us when you are ready.”

Teddy, who had looked as though he would object strenuously at having to part with her so soon, held his tongue, looking from one to the other as Caroline was led away.

“Have you really been at the police station all afternoon?” he asked as he led the way to his room.

Gervaise gave him an admonishing look. “Where did you hear that?”

“The kitchen. Cook told Reg he was ever so brave and by rights he should get some kind of medal. He went ever so red. Why should Reg get a medal?”

“Because he saved someone’s life.”

“Not Edgar’s?” Teddy said with disapproval.

“No, not Edgar’s.”

“I suppose you like Miss Halperston now,” Teddy said moodily.

“I do,” Gervaise admitted promptly. “How clever of you to notice.”

Teddy frowned. “You didn’t like her before.”

“No,” he conceded. “But then I did not notice her secret prettiness as quickly as you did.”

Teddy looked gratified by this admission and pointed to a bookcase where a handful of his toy soldiers were propped up against the book spines. “Here’s the wedding party,” he said and Gervaise leaned down to inspect the little congregation. “Did you dance with Miss Halperston at our Christmas party?” Teddy asked, adjusting the position of two of his soldiers.

“No,” Gervaise admitted. “But I did hide behind a curtain with her. That has to count for something surely?”

Teddy frowned at him. “Which curtain?”

“The blue one,” Gervaise remembered from their game of play-pretend.

Teddy’s frown cleared. “If you were playing hide and seek you jolly well ought to have asked me to join you.”

“It was a special kind of hide and seek. Meant only for courting couples.”

“So, you did court her?”

“Somewhat after the fact, but yes.”

“I expect you started liking her on the day of Pomfrey’s court martial,” he mused.

“Which day was that?”