“Yes,” she said.
Lady Dervinshire rustled around with something close by. A moment later, she was gently placing something in Cecily’s hands. Agnes helped her open it, and she felt along the inside of the box to see what it was. Her fingertips grazed a thick stack of paper and what felt like a new, metal inkwell, as well as a new feather pen.
“Stationary,” she said, enjoying the smell of the fresh, new paper.
Agnes squeezed her shoulder gently.
“This way, you can have Greta write to us whenever you want,” she said. “Mother picked this out for you. It has yellow and pink roses bordering the top of the paper. And the pen feather is white.”
Cecily smiled sweetly at the countess.
“Thank you, Mother,” she said.
Then, she heard the same process repeated beside her. Only when Val received a gift, no one had to help him open it or figure out what it was.
“These cigars smell fantastic,” he said. Cecily could tell that he was awed and genuine, and she gave him a warm smile.
“Those were given to me by a good friend, to open when my eldest daughter married,” the Earl said. “I do not care much for cigars, as I prefer the pipe. But I want you to have them, since you are the man who married Cecily.”
Val moved, and Cecily envisioned him looking at her father.
“That is very thoughtful of you,” he said, again sounding very sincere. “Thank you, my lord.”
Next came a larger box that was placed on Cecily’s knee. It only took her a moment for her to realize that half of it was on her lap, and the other half was on Val’s.
“And this is from all of us, to both of you,” Agnes announced proudly. “Father sent me to town with the money, Mother made the suggestion, and I picked them out.”
As soon as they opened the box, the smells of strawberry, blueberry and apple reached Cecily’s nose.
“Pastries,” she said. “Thank you, Aggie.”
The Duke cleared his throat as he helped Cecily close the box.
“Indeed,” he said. “Thank you, Lady Agnes.”
Agnes’s skirts ruffled, and Cecily knew she must have been curtseying.
“It is my pleasure,” she said sweetly. “And congratulations to the both of you again.”
Cecily opened her arms to her sister, who came immediately into them.
“Thank you,” she said, “for everything.”
Agnes squeezed her tightly.
“Anything for the best sister in all of England,” she said.
As her father ordered a footman to take their gifts to the carriage, where Cecily’s other belongings waited, Val offered his arm and gently helped her rise. The celebrations were over, and it was time for Cecily and Val to travel to their new home. The Earl was first, who approached the couple and took Cecily’s hands in his.
“I am so proud of you,” he said for the second time that day. “I wish nothing but the best for you, darling. If there is ever anything you need, do not hesitate to ask. There is nothing in the world I would not do for you.”
Cecily nodded, tears filling her eyes. She had known the farewell was coming, but she was acutely aware of how hard it would be.
“Thank you, Papa,” she said, holding him tightly for as long as she could. “I love you.”
Lord Dervinshire cleared his throat and pulled back from his daughter, giving her a kiss on her cheek.
“And I love you, Daughter,” he said. Then, he shook Val’s hand. Cecily could sense the shift in his mood. He suddenly seemed tense and wary, for which Cecily supposed she could not blame him.
