Page 208 of Storm of Bells
‘She…she has?’ His gaze strayed to the prone,rumpled figure of Cora on the chaise longue, turning dreamy themoment his eyes fell on her bright red face. Oh boy. He had itbad.
‘Oh yes.’ I winked. ‘Why don’t you ask her todance later on?’
‘Do…do you think I could? Do you think shewould be amenable?’
I grinned evilly. ‘She will be.’
‘Oh, thank you, Miss Linton! Thank you somuch! Here is a little something I brought.’ Smiling brightly, hehanded me a slim book. ‘I didn’t have time to look into it, but theshopkeeper highly recommended it. He told me after he got a copyfor his wife, their marriage developed a whole new level he hadnever considered before. I wish you a long and happy marriage, MissLinton.’
I took the book, and looked at the title pagethat proclaimed in big, gold, cursive writing:
Guide for Newlywed Wives, by Mrs LouiseVirginia Screwbottom
Dear Lord.
That was it. He and Cora were meant for eachother.
With a bow and an innocent smile, Lord Johndisappeared in the direction of a certain chaise longue, and thenext person stepped forward. The line of gift-givers hadconsiderably diminished by now. Several more villagers arrived withgifts in hand, as did Lisbeth and Gertrude, both of whom hugged mewarmly. Then…
‘Congratulations,’ Maria said, with a face assweet as a bathtub full of vinegar, her teeth clenched together sohard it was difficult for words to fit through them. ‘I hopeyou…will…be…very…happy.’
Reaching out, she gave me…
A handshake.
Well, really what had I expected?
Anne followed after her twin sister, alsoreaching out her hand—then changing her mind and withdrawing itpromptly.
‘Congratulations.’ She inspected me throughnarrowed eyes. ‘I give you about two weeks before it all goes tohell.’
Wasn’t it wonderful to have lovingsiblings?
‘Oh, get out of the way, you two!’
Elbowing Anne out of the way, my sister fromanother mister stepped forward, beaming, her mother not farbehind.
‘Adaira! Lady Samantha!’
‘Oh, Lilly dear!’ Rushing forward, LadySamantha took both my hands in hers. She was sniffling audibly.‘I’m so happy for you!’ Slight worry swept over her face and,leaning forward, she whispered: ‘Err…I hope you are happy,too?’
Her eyes flitted to the open doors, beyondwhich, somewhere, her son was waiting for me.
‘Yes,’ I assured her, trying very hard not tolaugh. ‘Yes, I’m very happy for myself, too.’
‘Wonderful! Wonderful! Not that I everdoubted it, really. Ricky is a wonderful person, wonderful, it’sjust that sometimes he can be….well, ehem, anyway. Here, let meshow you your present!’
Stepping closer, I pulled her into a tighthug. ‘From you,’ I whispered, ‘I’ve already received the bestwedding present I could possibly want. Thank you for him.’
‘Oh, Lilly, my dear!’ The dear woman huggedme back and, unlike so many times before, I didn’t try to evade theflood of affection. I couldn’t. And honestly, I didn’t want to.
So…this must be what it feels like to have amother.
A wide smile tugged at my lips. My new lifeon the horizon was looking better with every passing minute.
When Lady Samantha finally let go and steppedback, her face glowed with motherly pride. I pretended not tonotice the sparkling drops on her cheeks.
‘Thanks so much for saying that, dear. Butstill…I couldn’t let this day pass without getting you a littlesomething special.’
