‘How long until the curtain goes up?’ Henrietta sat in front of a makeshift stage in the library next to David. ‘I’m too excited to wait much longer.’
‘Patience.’ Her mother-in-law sat down on her brother’s other side. ‘Although I have to admit I’m quite excited myself. It’s all been so secretive.’
‘I thought you were involved in the preparations?’
‘Only in set design, I’m afraid. I interrupted rehearsals this morning and I was practically thrown out.’
‘Quite rightly, too.’ Lord Tobias peered out from between two makeshift curtains draped from a wooden frame. ‘However, you’ll be glad to know that it’s almost time. Lights!’ He gestured to a footman who dutifully blew out all the candles except for those close to the stage. ‘Where’s Sebastian?’
‘On his way.’ The Dowager Duchess sat down next, arranging her skirts regally around her. ‘He was late getting back from the village, but he says he only needs a few minutes to change his clothes.’
‘I still can’t believe this is all real.’ David lowered his voice to whisper in Henrietta’s ear. ‘The boys seem almost at home here.’
‘That’s because they’re a part of the family now. Just like you are.’
‘I’m starting to realise that, unlikely as it seems.’ He shook his head slightly. ‘I’m grateful, but I’ll be a lot more comfortable when we’ve moved into our new cottage.’
‘I understand.’ She squeezed his hand. ‘Are you certain about staying in Yorkshire?’
‘Yes.’ He nodded decisively. ‘Lord Tobias’s offered me a good job in his stables. Head groom. I’d be a fool not to take it. Never mind his offer of tutoring for the boys.’
‘I’ll miss them, but you know you can visit whenever you want. You’ll always have a home with us, too.’
‘Who has a home with us?’ Sebastian murmured in her ear a second before his lips found her cheek.
‘Oh.’ She gave a guilty start, then caught her breath at the sight of him dressed in pristine black and white evening clothes. He looked dazzlingly handsome, not to mention almost neat and tidy, for once. ‘David and the boys. Obviously I would have asked you first...’
‘No need.’ He waved a hand as he draped himself over the chair on her other side. ‘The more the merrier. I’ve found I rather like big families.’
‘What’s this?’ His mother swayed sideways. ‘Is there something you two want to tell me?’
‘Not yet, Mama, but we’re working on it.’
‘Sebastian!’ Henrietta dug her elbow into his ribs, eliciting a small chuckle from him and a placid smile from his mother.
‘Good. Because it turns out I enjoy being a grandmother. I only wish that Anna was here to share the fun.’
‘When is she coming home anyway?’
‘Not for a while. Samuel doesn’t want to leave his grandmother just yet. Understandably. Poor Georgiana isn’t quite as indomitable as she seems.’
‘Your attention, please!’ Lord Tobias’s head poked through the curtain again. ‘Allow me to present the Gardiner brothers’ production of Nelson versus the Polar Bear and Other Adventures!’
‘Oh, good.’ Mrs Fortini clapped her hands. ‘Now hush, everyone.’
It was, Henrietta thought, linking her arm through Sebastian’s as the curtains swept back to reveal several large, white-painted boxes obviously intended to represent icebergs, quite the most bizarre, unexpected and inventive dramatical performance she’d ever witnessed. At some point during rehearsals, Oliver the polar bear appeared to have stolen centre stage from Nelson, who was now relegated to a supporting role while a storm whipped up a blue piece of cloth, presumably representing the ocean, Peter the pirate sang a sea shanty, Napoleon, aka Lord Tobias, fell headlong into an icy crevice and, at one particularly surreal point, Michael turned into an octopus, waving eight woollen tentacles around his head before being finally vanquished by the aforementioned polar bear.
‘What do you think the moral is?’ Sebastian turned his head, pressing his lips into her hair.
‘I’m not sure there is one, but the octopus and polar bear appear to have reconciled. They’re embracing now.’ She smiled happily. ‘I do like a happy ending.’
‘So do I. And here comes our young pirate, too.’ Sebastian leapt to his feet, pulling her with him. ‘Bravo! Encore!’
‘Wonderful!’ Henrietta clapped enthusiastically. ‘A triumph!’
‘Do you really think so?’ Peter pulled his pirate’s eyepatch away from his face.
‘It’s the best play I’ve ever seen.’ David’s voice had a crack in it.
‘I agree.’ Even the Dowager Duchess was beaming. ‘I’ve seen a lot of plays, but that was spellbinding.’
‘Does that mean we can have some cocoa now, Aunt Elizabeth?’ Michael grinned cheekily. ‘And biscuits, too?’
‘Of course. You all deserve a reward.’
‘You certainly do.’ Henrietta bent to kiss each of her nephews in turn. ‘But you’ll need to have it up in the nursery. The guests will be arriving soon.’
‘Can’t we stay for the party?’
‘It’s not for children.’ David interceded, putting an arm around Peter’s shoulders and earning himself a wide smile. ‘But I’d like to join you upstairs for cocoa and biscuits.’
‘Are you certain?’ Elizabeth gave him a kindly look. ‘You’re more than welcome to stay.’
‘No, thank you.’ David shook his head. ‘I’d rather be with my boys, but I appreciate the invitation.’
‘Very well, but if you’re going to escape then I suggest that you hurry. I think I can hear the first carriages arriving now.’
‘Come along then, the rest of you.’ Lord Tobias tore off his French soldier’s costume and made sweeping gestures towards the doorway with his arms. ‘Let’s go and greet them. It’s about time I introduced my heir to the neighbourhood.’
‘Feeling nervous?’ Sebastian slid an arm around Henrietta’s waist as they moved obediently towards the door.
‘A little, but it’s very kind of your uncle to want to introduce us.’ She peered up at him. ‘What about you?’
‘Not nervous exactly, just slightly in shock. A month ago I was a single man heading home to run a biscuit shop with his widowed mother and unwed sister and now...’ He shook his head slightly. ‘It’s hard to accept that all this is real.’
‘I know. I still can’t believe that Tobias made you his heir. We aren’t really going to live here one day, are we?’
‘There’s no need to look so horrified.’ He laughed. ‘But who knows? Maybe I’ll decide to become a gentleman of leisure eventually. Or we could turn it into a maritime academy?’
‘I think it might be a little far from the sea. What about a baking school?’
‘It’s an interesting idea.’ He stopped and tugged her towards him. ‘Speaking of baking, I wrote to James a little while ago, asking him to look out for suitable properties for our tea shop.’
‘And he’s found one?’ She stood up on tiptoes, clasping her hands to her chest in delight.
‘He might have. Not on Swainswick Crescent, but only a few minutes’ walk away. Next door to his store, actually, with rooms upstairs for us to live in.’
‘That sounds perfect!’
‘Which means there’ll be no need to throw Nancy and Bel-whatever-her-name-is out into the street. They can stay and run Belles together if they want, with a wage increase naturally.’
‘As if you would ever have thrown them into the street!’
‘You’re right. Nancy would have thrown me back.’
‘At the very least, and you already have bruised ribs.’
‘You know...’ he slid his hands gently over her hips ‘...this will make an excellent story for the children one day. I offered your mother a manor, but she wanted a tea shop...’
<
br /> ‘Just for now.’ She drew in a breath and then smiled it out again, wanting to purr like a cat at his touch. ‘But maybe I’ll want to be a lady of leisure some day, too. You never know what the future will bring. I certainly never expected to find a sailor in my kitchen in the middle of the night.’
‘And I never expected to find anyone as perfect as you.’ He grinned. ‘Not beautiful perfect, obviously. Inner perfect.’
She clucked her tongue. ‘You know, you’re allowed to give me compliments now that we’re married. I only objected at first.’
‘I don’t believe you ever officially withdrew your objections.’
‘Well, I’m doing so now.’ She gave him an arch look. ‘You haven’t even mentioned how I look this evening.’
‘Lovely, but I’m used to you now.’
‘What difference does that make?’
‘Quite a lot actually. When you love someone, you don’t really notice what they look like any more. You only see the essence of them. You could be the most beautiful woman in the world—you might actually be, come to think of it—and I still wouldn’t notice. To me, you’re just Henrietta.’
‘Thank you... I think.’
‘I did just say that I loved you.’
‘True.’
‘And you love me, too?’
‘Also true.’
‘Excellent. In that case...’ He reached into his pocket and pulled out a red velvet box. ‘I ordered this for Christmas, but I thought you might like to wear it tonight.’
‘Is this why you went into the village?’ She opened the lid to reveal a small padlock-shaped locket complete with a tiny key. ‘Oh, Sebastian, it’s beautiful.’
‘It’s so you never doubt that I’m yours. My heart belongs to you now, Henrietta.’ He grinned her favourite lopsided grin. ‘I couldn’t have been happy giving up my freedom for anyone else.’
‘It’s the most wonderful present I’ve ever received.’ She sniffed as he lifted the locket and fastened it around her neck, his fingers lingering briefly. ‘Can I have the key?’
‘Of course.’
‘There...’ She opened it up and pressed a kiss to the inside before holding it out for him to do the same.
‘You want me to kiss it?’ He looked amused. ‘Aren’t you supposed to put a picture inside? Or a lock of hair?’
‘Maybe, but for now, I just want a kiss. Now hurry up before mine escapes.’
He pressed his lips to the metal. ‘Will that do?’
‘That’s perfect.’ She closed the lid and turned the key again. ‘Only it makes my present seem a little unimpressive.’
‘I’m sure I’ll love it, whatever it is.’
‘Well, it’s in a similar vein... Remember how I once offered to knit you a scarf?’
‘You’ve made me one?’ His grin seemed to take over his whole face. ‘Well, a handmade gift is even better. I’ll treasure it for ever.’
‘Just as long as you wear it.’
‘Every day. Even when I don’t go outside...’
‘Are the two of you coming?’ Lord Tobias poked his head back around the library door.
‘Imminently.’ Sebastian slid the key back into the box and inclined his head. ‘I just need to kiss my wife first.’
‘Again?’ Lord Tobias rolled his eyes. ‘The poor woman never gets a moment’s peace. Make it quick, then.’
‘Understood.’ He gave a mock salute and then cupped her face in his hands. ‘I’ll take a lot longer about kissing you later, I promise.’
‘Paying special attention to my ankles, I hope?’
‘Naturally.’ He lowered his mouth towards hers. ‘Don’t I always?’
‘Oh!’ She gave a start a split second before their lips touched.
‘What?’ His head spun towards the door. ‘What’s the matter?’
‘I can hear music!’
‘And?’ He blinked. ‘Is that bad?’
‘It could be. Your mother said this was going to be an evening party, but I never thought... What if there’s dancing?’
‘Does it matter?’
‘Yes! I don’t know any steps. I’ve never danced before, not properly. I’m not a lady!’
‘As it happens, I don’t know any either. And I’m not a gentleman, as I believe I’ve mentioned a couple of times.’
‘But people will be watching us!’
‘Then we’ll make the steps up as we go along...’ He rubbed his thumbs tenderly across her cheekbones. ‘That approach seems to have worked pretty well for us so far, don’t you think?’
‘You’re right.’ She thought about that for a few moments and then laughed, her heart swelling at the thought. ‘I suppose it has.’
‘Now about that kiss...?’
‘No time.’ She twisted away, reaching for his hand and dragging him towards the door.
‘But...’
‘Your family are waiting.’
He shook his head with a mocking sigh. ‘Is this what I gave up my freedom for? Not even a single kiss?’
She stopped at the door, blowing a kiss over her shoulder. ‘You can’t say I didn’t warn you. You’re mine now, Sebastian Fortini, and I intend to keep you.’
Epilogue
Bath—January 1807
‘What did he want?’ a belligerent voice called from the kitchen as Beatrix Roxbury—more familiarly known to the patrons of Belles as Belinda Carr—bolted the shop door behind the last customer of the day. Not that the man in question had been a customer, more of a friendly, helpful and, in her opinion, extremely handsome fellow shopkeeper, but there was no way on earth that Nancy would ever agree with that description.
‘Who?’ She smiled mischievously.
‘You know very well who!’ The voice sounded exasperated.
‘Do I?’
‘James Redbourne!’
‘Oh, yes, of course.’ She allowed herself a small giggle. ‘Silly me.’
‘Well?’ Nancy demanded as she went through to the kitchen.
‘He didn’t want anything, actually, but you might want to brace yourself.’
‘I’m always braced, especially where he’s concerned.’
‘So I’ve noticed.’ Beatrix murmured, drawing her apron over her head and hooking it over a peg in the corner.
‘What?’
‘Nothing. He just brought a message from Mr and Mrs Fortini, that’s all.’
‘Sebastian and his mother?’
‘No. Sebastian and Henrietta. They’re married!’
‘Married?’ For the first time since they’d met, Nancy seemed unable to form an opinion.
‘They went to Gretna Green and they’ll be back here in a few days.’
‘With the boys?’
‘No. They’re staying in Yorkshire with their father.’
‘What’s Henrietta’s brother doing in Yorkshire?’
‘I presume Mr Redbourne told him where to find them.’ She paused slyly. ‘I wouldn’t be surprised if he paid for him to get there, too. It’s just the sort of thing he’d do.’
Nancy’s lips thinned. ‘You seem to have a very high opinion of Mr Redbourne.’
‘I do.’ Beatrix kept her tone placid. ‘I think he’s a good man.’
‘Harumph.’
‘You might have to get used to him. I expect he’ll be spending a lot more time here with Mr Fortini. Maybe it’s time to—’
‘Never!’ Nancy glared and then grimaced. ‘I suppose we ought to start looking for new positions then, not to mention somewhere else to live.’
‘No need. Henrietta says they’re starting a tea room and they’re going to live there, too. So they want us to stay and run Belles. Which makes you the new manager!’
‘I’m the manager?’ Nancy looked almost on the verge of tears before she cleared her
throat briskly. ‘Well, that’s very good of them, I will say—and a relief. I didn’t want to be sharing a house with a pair of newlyweds, thank you very much. Much better for us spinsters to stick together.’
‘Mmm...’ Beatrix chewed on her bottom lip for a few seconds before coming to a decision. ‘About that, being a spinster, I mean... I think it’s time that I told you the truth.’
‘About who you are?’ Nancy looked amazed for the third time that evening.
‘Yes. I should have told you from the start, but I was scared and I didn’t know who to trust. Now I know I could trust you with anything. My life if it came to it.’
‘Well, it’s about time you realised that.’ Nancy appeared both pleased and embarrassed at the same time.
‘I’m sure you must have wondered who I was.’
‘Once or twice.’
‘Which is why I’m so grateful that you never insisted I tell you. Here.’ She pulled out a chair from the table. ‘You might want to sit down.’
‘This sounds serious.’ Nancy made a show of seating herself. ‘Let me guess. You’re a runaway princess.’
‘Nothing so romantic, I’m afraid. However, for a start, my real name isn’t Belinda. It’s Beatrix.’
‘Oh.’ Nancy looked disappointed. ‘That’s not so shocking.’
‘That was the easy part. I’m not a spinster either. I was married two months ago.’
‘What?’ Nancy gave her a look that implied she’d just taken leave of her senses. ‘But you’ve been here for a month! And you said you were in Bath for a while before that.’
‘I know. I can’t say I have a great deal of experience of married life...or any, in fact. I ran away from my husband.’
‘Why?’ Nancy’s eyebrows shot up, her expression shifting to one of outrage. ‘What did he do?’
‘Nothing. He never had a chance. I never even got to the wedding breakfast.’
‘You mean you ran away on your wedding day?’
‘Yes.’ She pursed her lips, wondering how to explain. The only way she could think of was to go back to the beginning. ‘The truth is that I am—was—quite wealthy. My mother died when I was a baby and my father a few years later. He was a merchant, dealing in tea mostly, and after he died, his entire fortune came to me.’
Unexpectedly Wed to the Officer--A Historical Romance Award Winning Author Page 22
