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‘Ring for Poole, Jack.’ Eleanora resumed her seat. ‘You will stay for dinner, I insist. Your coachman will be looked after.’
Nancy glanced at Freddie. ‘It will be too late to return to Doughty Street if we dine here.’
‘We could be on the road chasing after the runaways as far as they know,’ Freddie said, laughing. ‘I’m starving and I expect you are, too, Nancy. It’s a long time since our picnic at the zoo.’
‘What’s this?’ Eleanora demanded. ‘Who on earth picnics at this time of the year, especially in a park filled with beasts of all kinds?’
‘You’d be surprised,’ Nancy said, smiling up at Freddie. ‘It was absolutely lovely.’
Jack tugged at the bell pull. ‘You can tell us all about it at dinner. It seems that we have been ousted from our place as the young rebels, Eleanora, my love. We are a respectable married couple, giving shelter to runaway lovers, and now Ashton and Nancy are the unconventional pair.’
Nancy joined in the laughter but she could not help wondering what Felicia would say if she discovered her absence.
Chapter Eleven
When Nancy returned to the house in John Adam Street, she was relieved to discover that Felicia and Claude had returned from the theatre earlier and had gone straight to their room. This was according to Molly, who was the only one in the house who seemed to have worried about Nancy’s prolonged absence. She listened eagerly to Nancy’s account of the evening’s happenings while she helped her to undress.
‘My goodness, miss. Did you know that Reuben’s dad rents his land from Sir Jack? Isn’t that a coincidence?’
Nancy reached for the silver-backed hairbrush. ‘It is indeed. Are you serious about Reuben, Molly?’
Molly’s cheeks reddened. ‘Yes, I suppose I am.’
‘We will be going to Devonshire for Christmas. You’ll miss him.’
‘Yes, I will. I keep hoping he’ll ask me to marry him, but he’s a bit shy.’
‘Maybe he needs a little nudge.’
‘In what way, miss?’
‘If you tell him that we’re returning to Devonshire in a week or so and you might not be able to come back to London, that should do the trick. If he’s in love with you, as I suspect he is, he won’t want you to leave.’
‘But if he doesn’t say anything, what will I do?’
‘Trust your heart, Molly. If you think he loves you and you love him, he won’t want to lose you. From what I’ve learned of him, he works hard and he’ll provide well for you.’
Molly laughed. ‘You sound like my ma. Begging your pardon, miss.’
‘Not at all. Those who love you want only the best for you, Molly. I plan to take a cab to Highgate early tomorrow morning. Tamara and William are to be married in the local church and I want to wish them well. You may come with me and perhaps you’ll see Reuben. The wedding might give him ideas.’
A small crowd had gathered outside the church. Nancy and Molly were the last to arrive and they slipped into a pew unnoticed. William stood in front of the altar with Jack as his best man, while Eleanora and Flora sat together at the front of the congregation. A slight disturbance outside marked the bride’s arrival and Tamara entered on her cousin Baldwin’s arm. She was simply dressed in her best gown with a fur-lined cape and a matching bonnet, which Nancy suspected had been borrowed from Eleanora. There was no sign of Tamara’s father and Nancy wondered if anyone had told him about the wedding, but Tamara gave her a radiant smile as she walked past and Nancy was happy for her. The ceremony was simple and short, and after the signing of the register the bride and groom processed down the aisle rather more quickly than was usual. Nancy followed the party outside, where it had started to rain mixed with sleet. However, the happiness on Tamara’s face banished any greyness in the weather, and William looked very inch the proud husband.
‘Thank you for coming, Nancy.’ Tamara handed her the posy of hothouse roses. ‘None of this would have been possible without your help in the first instance.’
‘True love always wins,’ Nancy said, smiling. ‘Congratulations, to you both.’
‘We’re leaving straight away.’ William slipped his arm around his bride’s waist.
‘I don’t want to risk a scene with Papa,’ Tamara added wistfully. ‘I hope by the time we return from our honeymoon he will have come to accept the situation.’
‘I wouldn’t count on it.’ Baldwin puffed out his chest. ‘But I will have a few words to say to him, Tamara. Don’t worry about a thing.’
‘We’re going to have the wedding breakfast without the happy couple.’ Eleanora smiled happily. ‘You are welcome to join us, Nancy.’
‘I would love to but I have to get back to John Adam Street. Felicia is a late riser, but she’ll be furious if she finds out I came here without asking her.’
‘The woman is a tyrant.’ Jack placed his arm around his wife’s shoulders. ‘You missed our wedding, Nancy. You could at least come and help us celebrate Tamara and William’s nuptials.’
