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“Elizabeth is with Papa. Arabella is across the hall in another room with Lily, helping her ready the petal maids.” She was not to come out until just before they ran the gauntlet. Arabella and the girls would go first, followed by her, and then Elizabeth would immediately precede Cat and Papa. Thankfully, Arabella’s condition, as well as her emotional state, had much improved since her arrival. She looked almost her old self again, if a bit thinner and more sober of manner.
Elizabeth returned with Papa, and Harriett went to fetch Arabella. She saw Elizabeth cast one furtive glance at their prodigal sister, who stared down at the carpet. Her older sister’s jaw tightened, and Harriett winced. Clearly, forgiveness was not yet an option. Then the music began to swell, and they began the long walk down the aisle.
Many a sniffle was heard as Cat and Hammond exchanged their vows before the assembly, and their chaste kiss elicited a collective feminine sigh. That theirs was a love match was plain to all present.
As they progressed back up the aisle, Harriett was pleased to mark that Arabella’s presence appeared to be of only minor interest to the crowd—the nasty looks Nanette was casting her way were of far greater import. For the benefit of their audience, she smiled beatifically at her erstwhile rival as she passed, causing the woman to puff up like an angry, wet hen.
Murmurs rippled behind them as those who had taken note began to spread the word. Beside Nanette, Russell stared straight ahead. She knew from his letter that he held no ill will toward her, but such was certainly not the case concerning his lady wife, who was most apparent in her animosity.
The newlyweds were bustled off to their carriage amid a deluge of flower petals and exuberant cheers. Harriett stood with Roland and watched with contentment the departure of her baby sister. “Tonight’s celebration will be our last in London for a while,” she said, leaning on his arm as they turned to go back into the church.
“Oh, I think we might be able to return next Season,” he said lightly. “By then we’ll be an old married couple and of no interest. Some new scandal will come along and London will forget all about us.”
Though she tried to repress it, a smile quirked the corners of her mouth. “Actually, I think I might like to stay in Cambridgeshire next Season.”
“Oh? Eager to have me all to yourself, are you?” he teased, his low laugh sending a tingle of anticipation up her spine. “I’m sure we can find ways to keep ourselves entertained while in the country. We can always play footman and kitchen maid.”
Blushing, she laughed. “Mm. Yes, there is that. But in truth, I rather doubt I shall be able to travel again until at least a year has passed.”
Roland stopped in his tracks, his glance darting to her midsection. “How long?”
“Why, on our wedding night, of course,” she said with mock indignation.
“Well, of course,” he agreed, a slow smile spreading across his face to light his honey-brown eyes. Coming closer, he reached up and caressed her cheek. “Perhaps I spoke too soon about our scandal blowing over so quickly. I’m tempted to cause another—right now.”
“Are you?” She felt the familiar pull of desire as his eyes darkened.
“I am. Your sister’s wasn’t the only love match made this Season, you know.” Bending, he drew her into his arms and kissed her.
Delighted gasps mingled with mutters of disapproval from several of the stragglers who’d been lingering in the church vestibule.
Harriett, however, didn’t mind at all.
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Epilogue
Kimbolton Castle, Cambridgeshire, 1744
“William, don’t wander,” Harriett called, laughing as Arabella shepherded their wayward son, scolding him all the way back to where Isabelle and Eudora played on the blanket. At not quite two, his little legs were too short to allow him to escape his aunt.
“She seems happy here,” said Roland, handing her a glass of lemonade and sitting down beside her.
“Yes, I suppose she is.” Indeed, her sister seemed happier now than she had been since she was in pinafores. “She’s settled in quite nicely. But I still think she ought not to give up entirely on the idea of marrying. It’s been more than two years.”
“I wouldn’t be in any rush to suggest it,” advised her husband. “Here, she at least has a measure of peace and security. London holds nothing but anxiety and possibly even pain for her.”
“I wasn’t thinking of London,” Harriett replied, shifting a bit to better avoid an inconveniently placed tree root. “I doubt she’d want to go there any time soon with him still about.” She’d finally told him the rest of the tale about a year ago. “But she might consider marrying someone else, someone local.”
“Perhaps.” His noncommittal answer told her he didn’t think there was much chance of it happening.
“I don’t suppose we’ll make it to London any time soon” she sighed, patting her swollen belly. “Only one month left before this ship sails.”
“And I shall be quite content to remain here after its launch,” he said, stretching out in the shade cast by the willow under which they sat. He looked at her adoringly. “London has its charms, but none of them as charming as you, my love.”
Smiling, she set her book aside, using the letter she’d received earlier that day to mark her place. “Cat thinks Papa will be too busy wooing Widow Wallingford to care whether or not we visit, and Elizabeth won’t be there either. She and her friend Mrs. Wortley have decided to have an adventure, apparently. They are planning a trip together to tour the ancient wonders of Greece.”
Elizabeth had begun writing her almost as soon as she’d left London, but she’d yet to come and visit Kimbolton. Harriett doubted she ever would with Arabella living there. Not necessarily a bad thing she thought as she looked out at her sister and the children playing happily together.
