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“Oh, but you and the children are welcome anytime, Your Grace.”Abigail had reached out a hand and squeezed.“We will have some grand party soon.”
“Let’s get through the Season first,” Rose said.
“And speaking of the Season, Easterling has invited us to Crestview,” Matthew said...so casually Rose knew he had planned the announcement.He must have facilitated the invitation sometime today, but Lady Chester’s appearance had worked to his advantage.
“Crestview!”Rose said.How many times would she ask,who is this man?
“Those invitations are hard to come by,” Abigail said.“Crestview?My, wait until I whisper that news to Lady Selland.”
“Almost impossible,” Rose said.“And you have my blessing to share such news.”Rose smiled, feeling both pride at Matthew’s news and relief that Abigail was still Abigail.Crestview was the last important ball of the Season.Rose had been there once with Edmond and that was the first year of their marriage.Only ten to fifteen married couples a year received the prestigious invitation.
“Almost,” Matthew said with a sly smile.“My dear, don’t you think Lady Chester would like to retire?It has been a long and fraught evening.”They all stood.Matthew rang the servants’ bell.“Raleigh will escort you up.If you need anything, he can take care of it.”
Abigail wrapped her arms about Rose and whispered, “I was worried for no reason.We’ll talk more tomorrow.Oh, and my lady’s maid is downstairs, if your man would send her up.”She bobbed a curtsey in front of Matthew and left them alone.
Matthew had also been waiting for this moment.Rose still had to explain today.He went to the door and gently closed it.“Would you like something to drink?”
She shook her head.“I’ll just have the last of thechocolat.Your brother was clever to think of it.”
Matthew poured his drink while he explained.“Baker’s was started by a proper Irishman.Mr.Hannon imported beans from West India.Evidently, he was quite skilled at his trade.”
“Are you invested in chocolate?”she asked.
“No.I just read a lot about such things.”He took his seat.“Your afternoon was eventful,” he said.
“Raleigh should mind his own business.”She felt like a child being chastised by a parent.
“I wouldn’t have gotten to where I am without Raleigh’s keen ears.He does what I pay him to do, Rose.And will continue to do so.Tell me about Sandhurst.”
“Oh, must I?I really don’t ever want to speak of the man.If there were ever opposites, it was Edmond and Cyril.”
“What did he want and why come all the way to Highwood to get it?”
Matthew had that look, as if he knew the end of the story.She ran her fingers over her forehead, pushing a few strands of hair aside.
“Raleigh mentioned something about diamonds,” Matthew prompted.
“Does the man hear everything?”
“Pins dropping, Mrs.Hardy.During a storm.”
She smiled at the description of Raleigh.“I have a set of family diamonds, which Cyril thinks should be in his possession.I have a mind to give them to him, just so he will leave me and the girls be.”
“Diamonds can be purchased anywhere.”
“Not these diamonds.They are blue.”
“If I knew anything about diamonds, I might be impressed.”
“You should be.They are worth more than I am,” she said.Who would have guessed Father’s wedding gift to her would be Cyril’s obsessive obstacle.Better that than focusing on the girls.
“A purely subjective statement, Mrs.Hardy.I think you need other opinions.”His eyelids had lowered, examining her closely.Ready to devour her, if she wasn’t mistaken.
“I don’t want him to have the diamonds, but I wouldn’t die for them either.I wouldn’t want to go through life thinking Cyril is plotting to take them from me through some hurtful means.I would rather just hand them over with the promise he never speaks to me again and he never threatens to take my daughters through the guardianship.”
“Valuable, indeed.”He’d leaned back, leg crossed over his knee.
“What would you advise?As my husband, is it not your decision to make anyway?”Rose was perfectly competent to make her own decisions, but when it came to Cyril, she wanted the support of an authority like Matthew.He would do the right thing, she was certain.And knowing that, she could face Cyril.
