His Forbidden Debutante (30 page)

‘By now he has to realise you and I are meant to be together.’ He reached across the bed with his good hand and brushed his fingertips across her worried brow. ‘And don’t forget my letter. You promised to write me a new one.’

She grinned, a mischievous gleam in her eyes. ‘I did, indeed. Perhaps I’ll write you something naughty.’

‘Livie, you torture me.’ He caught her arm before she could move away and pulled her in for one long, last kiss. ‘Sweet dreams, my darling.’

She sighed against his cheek, resting there for a few beats of his heart.

‘You’ve already accomplished that, Randolph.’

And then she was gone.

Chapter Twenty-Four

‘You’re in a cheerful mood.’ Dinah arranged Livie’s hair in an elegant twist and pinned it into place. ‘You haven’t stopped smiling all morning. Does this have anything to do with the houseguest a few rooms over?’

‘I couldn’t say.’ Livie let out a nervous laugh that left Dinah shaking her head and grinning.

The maid continued to fuss, weaving pearled hairpins into the arrangement as she finished with a satisfied nod. ‘Perfect. Now do you prefer the ivory silk or pink organza with satin sash? They are equally becoming and a touch of bright elegance on this drab winter morning.’ Dinah brought the gowns forward, offering one then the other for Livie’s inspection.

‘I thought to wear my royal-blue day gown,’ she answered quickly. ‘These dresses are extravagant selections for breakfast at home, although you make a good point concerning the dismal weather.’ She looked towards the window. ‘I’ll wear the pink. It will match the blush kid slippers with pearl buckles I have hidden on the top shelf of the wardrobe. They are divine and I’ve waited weeks to have an occasion to wear them.’ Indeed, she’d be overdressed for the day, but it
would
brighten the morning and she anticipated Randolph’s surprised reaction to secure she made the right decision.

She’d visited him for the past two nights and enjoyed the heavenly bliss of their lovemaking. And while the smarter side of her brain warned she caused him unnecessary exertion when he should be resting, the wanton side, the part of her brain that misfired with excitement whenever she thought of him, never failed to convince she should sneak down the hall to check whether he needed something before finding sleep.

Thankfully, he always did.

Last night he’d fallen asleep a breath after their intimacy and she’d lost herself in the pleasure of listening to his strong heartbeat as she lay against the warm muscles of his chest. Now, in the light of the new morning, she realised how selfishly she’d behaved. He should be convalescing to restore his health and instead she sapped his strength at every available opportunity. Truly, she was shameless.

With a start she forced all focus to Dinah’s continued conversation for no other reason than to finish her preparations and apologise to Randolph.

‘Your earl may be here longer than expected if the sky tells the truth. My grandmother believed a good snow was on the way when flat grey clouds crowded the horizon just like they do now.’ She nodded in the direction of the window though the drapes obscured most of the view. ‘We are in for a wicked winter this year. The Serpentine is sure to freeze. Do you still fancy the idea of ice skating?’

‘Of course I do.’ She caught Dinah’s expression from the corner of her eye. ‘You disapprove?’

‘I have no opinion. I’m your maid.’ Said with succinct cheek, Dinah busied herself with arrangement of Livie’s undergarments on the counterpane and removal of the pink gown from the hanger.

‘You’re my friend.’ Livie parried.

‘I don’t want anything to happen to you.’ Dinah’s voice dropped an octave, her back half turned. ‘Not when you’re so very close to having a lifetime of happiness. That’s all.’

‘I know. Thank you.’ She twisted on the vanity stool to speak to Dinah directly. ‘But I can’t stop living because I was injured. I will never stop taking risks. After all Randolph and I have been through, ice skating seems the simplest feat.’ She wrinkled her nose at her own words. ‘No pun intended.’

For a few minutes they didn’t speak, the rustle of fabric and hard work of corset hooks and button holes enough to keep the two ladies concentrated and quiet. At last, Livie smoothed her palms over the flowing organza overskirt, the gown cut in the latest style, elbow-length sleeves and a broad sash finished with a soft, iridescent sheen. She completed her dress by donning the coveted blush slippers with moderate heels and, at last, silver earbobs and the fated charm bracelet added as the perfect frippery.

Dinah admired her from head to toe. ‘You look like a dream. Now hurry to see your earl before Dashwood or your sister arrives there first.’

‘What do you know?’ She strode towards the door not waiting for an answer, and just as Dinah had predicted, Whimsy and her husband stood sentry outside the guestroom in some type of serious conversation that fell silent once she stepped within earshot.

‘Good morning, Livie. How beautiful you are in that gown.’ Whimsy smiled, her greeting sincere. ‘We’ll be down to the breakfast room shortly.’

Livie slanted a peek at Dash who flicked his gaze to the ceiling. Then she stared at the guestroom door as if wishing would enable her to see through the panel. ‘I’m not ready to eat just yet.’

‘Well,’ Dash replied with sudden interest in the conversation. ‘You can’t go in there.’

‘Why not?’ Livie straightened her shoulders. ‘Randolph and I are to be married.’

‘Livie.’ Whimsy’s tone expressed censure. ‘So much has happened. You shouldn’t presume the Earl will propose. He has indicated as much to Dash, but with light of the recent occurrences it may be best to allow the man to heal first.’

‘What?’ Livie’s voice rose in kind to her temper. ‘How many trials must I endure before you realise Randolph and I belong together? I expect opposition at every turn from your husband. It’s his nature.’ She skewered Dashwood with a sharp stare to drive her point home. ‘But you? I would have thought you’d know my heart better and understand my wishes.’ She covered her face with her hands, praying for patience and simultaneously fighting back tears. The charm bracelet slid down her wrist with a tinkling reminder of all that had transpired during Wilhelmina and Dashwood’s courtship and suddenly, she didn’t give a fig about pleasing her sister or garnering her brother-in-law’s approval. She removed her hands from her face and, in a lightning-fast action, twisted the knob to Randolph’s room, but it held tight.

‘What’s happened? Why is the door locked?’ At her sister’s silence and brother-in-law’s stony expression, Livie’s heart plummeted to her soles.

‘There’s been a recent development.’ Dashwood’s voice sounded grave.

‘The vicar should arrive shortly. We need his immediate assistance.’ Wilhelmina patted Livie’s hand in a show of reassurance. ‘Why don’t you go downstairs…’

‘The vicar? I’ve caused a fever? Good heavens, worse, last rites?’ Livie’s trembling whispers exposed her fear of either condition being true.

‘Lavinia,’ Whimsy chastised. ‘Please calm down. Don’t jump to unwarranted conclusions.’

‘Then let me inside.’ She almost stamped her slipper, and would have if she believed it would grant her entry.

Dash cleared his throat and gained Livie’s avid attention. ‘I think
you’ve
made enough visits to
this
chamber the past three days.’

Mortification caused heat to steal up Livie’s neck, robbing her ability to argue, no matter his chafing undertone prodded she reply.

‘I cannot allow it to continue and furthermore…’ – he glanced at the pocket watch he retrieved from his waistcoat – ‘…I have no more patience for the subject.’ He snapped his watch closed and replaced it. ‘Whimsy, please take your sister downstairs to the drawing room at once. All of us will assemble there and discuss what is to be done.’

Wilhelmina clasped her hand and tugged. Confounded about more than a few things, Livie followed, though she grumbled all the way. ‘Why does Dashwood have to be such a boorish, cantankerous man? How you put up with his overbearing nature I cannot fathom. Randolph would never order me about with such blasé dismissal.’ She said the latter in a way which clearly boasted
my earl is better than yours
.

But Wilhelmina could not be goaded and only smiled as they took the stairs and headed towards the front of the house. Once they entered the front hall Aunt Kate intercepted their path in a flurry of nervous energy.

‘There you are, Livie. Why you look as elegant as I’ve ever seen you. You have a becoming glow about you and a beguiling twinkle in your eye.’ Aunt Kate beamed, her compliments stated in loud exclamation. ‘I’m so happy you’ve finally come down.’

Livie’s eyes flitted over Aunt Kate with a mixture of curiosity and appreciation. Her silvery grey hair was pulled back in a tidy bun and she, too, wore an elaborate gown only seen on special occasions. Livie pushed her spectacles higher, hoping to gain clarity, but her attention quickly strayed beyond her aunt to the ambience of low conversation and muffled laughter coming from the drawing room. Someone’s masculine chuckle escaped when the door opened and she could have sworn she detected the subtle notes of a violin. She rose on her toes and extended her neck in a search for more clues. ‘What exactly is happening this morning? Do we have company?’ Again she attempted to peer around her sister who now blocked the closed entrance to the front of house with the efficiency of a stone wall.

Jasper appeared out of nowhere. He held a glass of champagne, or at least it appeared the beverage filled his glass. It certainly wasn’t tea or coffee despite the hour was incredibly early, just half nine if the clock in the hall stood correct. Dash joined him and the two stopped beside the trio of ladies as, in the front hall, the butler opened the door and Esme entered, swathed in a long cloak of blue velvet that lent her the appearance of a princess seeking shelter from the inhospitable cold. Her maid trailed two steps behind, a gloriously wrapped package with ribboned bow in her grasp.

‘Thank heavens I’m not too late.’ Esme thrust her wrap into a nearby servant’s waiting hands. ‘The traffic leaving London centre was ridiculous. I worried I wouldn’t make it here in time.’ She rushed across the tiles and embraced Livie before she caught her breath. ‘Does Penwick know how lucky he is? I doubt it, but he has the rest of his life to find out, doesn’t he?’

Dash interceded as soon as Esme released her. ‘That’s enough conversation. I think, at last, we have it all arranged.’

Livie’s stomach coiled into a knot and then she caught the gleam of mischief in her brother-in-law’s eyes before he blinked it away. Caught within his own charade, his face let loose with a grand smile as obvious as a white flag of surrender.

‘Come along, Livie.’ He looped his arm through hers to provide escort. ‘You’ve waited long enough to take this walk.’

Pure recognition, wonderful and enthralling, flooded to her toes. The tender notes of a violin beckoned her forward and, as she turned the corner and crossed the threshold of double doors, every person in the crowded room rose to line a petal-littered aisle. Her eyes followed the path to her beloved in full formalwear and sword at the front of the drawing room. Her heart skipped, pounded, leapt to join his in promise.

Aside Randolph, the vicar smiled in the golden glow of two crystal candelabras and her vision blurred as the fresh rush of tears threatened to spill over. She managed to chase them away in time to meet Randolph’s gaze, though her breath caught at the realisation all her worry was for naught.

Emotions whirled. Words evaporated on her tongue. How had this all been planned so efficiently while she had no inkling of the arrangements? Wilhelmina. Her wonderful, sometimes exasperating and bothersome, always loving sister. All her clever subterfuge aimed at this achievement.

‘Is this my wedding?’ Livie begged an explanation but no one supplied an answer. She glanced to where Whimsy and Aunt Kate stood in a well-matched pair of adoration and responsibility and her heart grew another measure. Still, there was no time for nostalgic revelry. Dashwood did not pause. He ushered her past Jasper and Emily, then further, to where Esme stood at the corner of the first row of chairs.

‘This is it,’ her friend whispered, ‘the moment you’ve dreamed of forever.’

Livie hardly had a chance to appreciate Esme’s sentiment. Dash stopped as they reached their destination and, without looking back, for there was no longer any reason to regard old letters or bittersweet memories, she accepted Randolph’s gloved hand and took her place beside him as the vicar opened his bible and addressed the seated crowd.

‘I require and charge you both, as ye will answer at the dreadful day of judgement when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed, that if either of you know any impediment, why ye may not be lawfully joined together in Matrimony, ye do now confess it. For be ye well assured, that so many as are coupled together otherwise than God’s Word doth allow are not joined together by God; neither is their Matrimony lawful.’

Lavinia heard a few sniffles from the front row and smiled, her deepest emotions on a short tether. That is, until Dashwood cleared his throat loudly as if to speak. Her heart palpitated with his teasing gesture, drawing the wait for objections while the vicar attended the audience to an unbearable tension. Such a ridiculous notion, yet she breathed a sigh of relief when the vicar resumed the ceremony.

‘With this ring I thee wed, with my body I thee worship, and with all my worldly goods I thee endow. In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.’

Randolph’s vow spoke directly to her heart. Her hand trembled within his as he slid his signet ring, heavy and far too large, to the base of her finger. They’d seen and heard enough of diamonds to last a lifetime. Perhaps a new goldsmith could design a wedding band with the Penwick crest in just her size. The thought pleased and she smiled up at her new husband, her pulse pounding in her ears, every breath brimming with the most joyous emotion imaginable.

‘God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Ghost, bless, preserve, and keep you; the Lord mercifully with his favour look upon you; and so fill you with all spiritual benediction and grace, that ye may so live together in this life, that in the world to come ye may have life everlasting. Amen.’